Nathaniel Rateliff

In Memory of Loss is a haunting, patient, and deeply introspective album.

Produced by Brian Deck, a veteran of the business whose credits include indie legends Modest Mouse and Iron & Wine, Memory employs elements of folk and Americana along with bluegrass and gospel. The album was recorded with his band (formerly called The Wheel), which includes members of the electronically moody Bela Karoli.

Memory is beautifully sparse, combining acoustic guitar with piano, strings, and vocal harmonies. It has a soft, dark, yearning quality made for rainy evenings and a bottle of whiskey. But Nathaniel Rateliff's voice is the defining element. One can't help but compare him to legends like Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits with a voice that is world-weary, honest, and every bit as commanding on the record as it is in person.

In the tradition of Johnny Cash, this singer-songwriter has the capacity to win over even the most die-hard punk fans with songs like "Early Spring Till," one of the standout tracks on the album. It begins minimally and lilting, with lyrics like: "I've been the bum who's underfed / I've been the one who should've said / maybe I'm wrong and I've always been that way." It finishes with soaring harmonies, a driving kick drum, and unexpected guitar distortion.

With Memory, Rateliff has brought Denver into the national spotlight and shown us what this city is capable of producing.

Grade: A