Love Rat: Southern Shaman Album Review

Reviewed by Harry Kaplan

Birmingham’s Love Rat delivers an album that continues the rich history of Alabama’s irreverent and raucous brand of southern rock in the tradition of The Drive By Truckers and The Dexateens. Throughout its tracks, the band deftly navigates the nuances of the human experience, tackling love, laughter, and the occasional foibles. The musicianship on Southern Shaman is on display, showcasing the individual talents of each member. Mandi Rae Trott brings her unique flavor to rhythm guitar and vocals, setting a rich foundation for the songs. Warren Amos’s lead guitar work adds a layer of emotional depth, while Jon Breland’s bass provides a steady heartbeat throughout the album. The driving force of Brant Benefield’s drums and percussion propels the music forward, creating an infectious energy that is hard to resist.

Adding to the rich auditory experience are the contributions of Matt Monk on harmonica and percussion, whose melodic embellishments enhance the storytelling aspect of the album. Derek Nolin’s keys and vocals add an atmospheric quality that complements the overall sound, drawing listeners deeper into the musical narrative. The pedal steel played by Ford Boswell and the fiddle work by Nathan Sanders bring authenticity, deeply rooting the album in its southern rock heritage while allowing it to also explore new territory. Ham Bagwell adds a second lead guitar, which is essential for any southern rock outfit.

The lyrics throughout the album are extremely thought provoking and profound, definitely reminiscent of early Drive By Trucker’s releases. No track exemplifies this better than Play For My Life. A beautiful harmonic experience that engages all five senses. The guitar work is outstanding and the harmonies and musical interplay between Mandi and Warren are other worldly. This coupled with a memorable slide guitar solo makes this track a standout among the other eight “keepers”.

Did someone mention pedal steel? Look no further than the opening track, Moon And Tides which provides super twangy and explosive pedal steel fills that are complimented expertly by the timely addition of fiddle. Those elements really make this track shine brighter than 50,000 lumens. Enough light to illuminate a football field on a Friday night in October. Mandi’s voice is perfectly suited for this track as she belts out the first verse:

"Lord I'm a wreck
Can’t change the hand dealt from the deck
Just got to do the best that I can to play the game and win"

What would a country/southern rock album be without some reference to addiction or self medication? The answer is it would be missing a key element of the equation. Love Rat checks the box on that one with Guy For That, which pays homage to the local candy man. “Whatever you need, he’s the guy for that.” It could be some weed, powder, or it could be a hard to find power tool, he’s the guy for that. This track features probably the most scorching guitar solo on the entire album. If the studio version of this number contains this much raw energy, I can only imagine what a live version would be like.

Southern Shaman is not just an album; it’s an experience that eloquently captures the struggles and joys of self-discovery. Each track serves as a reminder that every journey, with all its bumps and detours, is as significant as the destination itself. This opportune exploration of life’s intricacies will leave listeners reflecting on their own paths, making it a remarkable addition to the southern rock genre.

Listen and buy Southern Shaman here