Rustin in the Rain

by Tyler Childers

Overview

Tightening his belt to deliver a record that runs less than a half-hour -- a considerable shift after 2022's triple-album Can I Take My Hounds to Heaven? -- Tyler Childers cuts away all the extraneous fat on Rustin' in the Rain, an album that's as succinct and resonant as an old '60s or '70s LP left to gather dust in a dollar bin. The connection to the past is intentional and apparent on Rustin' in the Rain: he takes the time to deliver a bruised cover of Kris Kristofferson's "Help Me Make It Through the Night," a song that seemingly appeared on every other country album of the early '70s. At times, Childers does nod to the shaggy beginnings of '70s progressive country -- the title track gallops like a runaway steed -- but he's not beholden to the outlaw caricature that's calcified over the decades. He dabbles in scripture on "Luke 2: 8-19," finding space for Margo Price to play the role of an angel; he leads his Food Stamps band through a rolling, sunny groove on "Perchon Mules," and concludes the record with "Space & Time," a slow-burner that recalls the glory days of country-soul. Although each of these songs could be viewed as traditional from a certain angle, Childers's perspective and execution gives his music a freshness. This is a singer/songwriter whose honky tonk weeper is all about "Phone Calls and Emails" and decided to give "In Your Love," his sweetest ballad, a video depicting a romance between gay coal miners in the '50s: he's explicitly treating country music as a genre that evolves, one that can encompass all manners of stories by building upon what's already been laid at the foundation. With its empathetic heart and kinetic kick, Rustin' in the Rain illustrates how vibrant and vital that idea can be. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine

Product Details

Release Date:	09/08/2023
Label:	Rca
UPC:	0196588113819

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Tyler Childers   Primary Artist,Vocals
Alan Bartram   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Jesse Wells   Banjo,Guitar,Guitar (Electric),Mandolin,Guitar (Baritone)
James Barker   Guitar (Electric)
Charles James Cain   Guitar (Acoustic)
Margo Price   Vocals (Background)
Jason Carter   Vocals,Vocals (Background)
Ronnie McCoury   Vocals,Mandolin,Vocals (Background)
Erin Rae   Vocals (Background)
Rod Elkins   Drums,Shaker,Tambourine,Vocals (Background)
S.G. Goodman   Vocals (Background)
Chase Lewis   Piano,Synthesizer,Vocals (Background)
Craig Burletic   Bass,Double Bass,Fretless Bass,Vocals (Background)

Technical Credits

Sam Waxman   Artwork
Kris Kristofferson   Composer,Lyricist
Kenny Miles   Mixing,Engineer,Mixing Engineer
Ian Thornton   Art Manager
Daniel Bacigalupi   Assistant Engineer
Gordon Davidson   Engineer
Joe Wyatt   Engineer
Dan Chertoff   A&R
Sean Sullivan   Engineer
Food Stamps   Producer
James Barker   Engineer
Pete Lyman   Mastering,Mastering Engineer
Jesse Wells   Engineer
Tyler Childers   Composer,Lyricist,Producer
S.G. Goodman   Composer,Lyricist
Chase Lewis   Producer
Tom Ashpitel   Engineer
Arielle Blattman   A&R
Geno Seale   Composer,Lyricist
Adam Hathorn   Illustrations