Healing Tide
Healing Tide | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | August 10, 2018 | |||
Recorded | March 2018[1] | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 45:26 | |||
Label | Strong World Entertainment, Thirty Tigers | |||
Producer | Buddy Miller | |||
The War and Treaty chronology | ||||
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Singles from Healing Tide | ||||
Healing Tide is the debut studio album by American duo
Background
Before combining to form The War and Treaty, Michael Trotter Jr. sang in church before serving two tours of duty in Iraq.
Bruce Warren of WXPN explains, 'After he [Michael Trotter Jr.] left the service, he met Tanya at a music festival they were both playing. Tanya walked up to Michael after their shows, exchanged phone numbers, and their relationship blossomed in and out of the recording studio.'[19] Tanya told Billboard, "it's kind of like when we first started dating; I told him we have to jump off the building at the same time, holding hands. It's a question you have to ask before you make that decision -- ARE you ready to love me? Are you ready to go through all the things a relationship requires you to go through and still be there?" Michael expressed, "She did not know I was a wounded war veteran when we dated [...] I never talked about it. She was very confused -- Why is this guy running and ducking under the bed when he hears fireworks on the Fourth of July? Why do I find him hiding in a dark corner when the rest of the day he was so bubbly and happy? She was like, 'You've got to let me in Mike. You've got to tell me what's going on so I can make a decision if I want to roll with this.' And when she finally convinced me to let her into the dark side of me, I just gave her everything, told her everything I went through and, then, 'Are you ready to love me baby? Are we still good?'[20]
In 2016, the duo released Love Affair as Trotter & Blount led by the single "Imagine".
When asked if there was a connection with the song "Imagine" penned and recorded by
The same year, they released the single "Hi Ho" as The War and Treaty, was described by Paste writer Chris Estey as 'the break out soul hit'.[11] In 2017, they released the EP Down to the River, heralded by Estey as 'a splendidly made immediate classic about conflict and redemption.' Expressing further that, 'both seem to have been holding back plenty of passion and pain in their lives previous to knowing each other, and it's this kind of expressive blues and soul and folk and gospel that truly connects to every listener who may desperately need it.'[11]
Zoë Madonna of
Recording
Healing Tide was recorded live and produced by
Michael Trotter Jr. recalled to Billboard, "I remember we recoded the album so fast, like 14 songs in pretty much four days, and no third takes. We did two takes because we felt really guilty, and Buddy was like, 'This is not right. Something has to be wrong. We should do it again,' but a lot of times it was right the first time." Featured artist Emmylou Harris brought brownies from her mother's recipe to the recording session of "Here Is Where The Loving Is At".[20]
In an interview with Two Story Melody, Michael Trotter Jr. spoke on the recording process with Buddy Miller, expressing, "It went from working with this icon to someone who truly cares and wants to keep it authentic. He would tell us, "No, that's too much," or "Let's clean up that growl some and really let the story come through," or "Maybe that resonator makes it too country in a way y’all don’t want." All of it was a partnership. Buddy has a unique way of reminding you of yourself. We had a blast working with him and watching him work. He's very shy, and most people don't see that shyness up close and personal! He's worked with everyone — Dolly Parton, Emmylou Harris, Band of Joy, Patty Griffin — but he forgets all of that when it comes to you. He says, "Today, I’m producing The War and Treaty." It's humbling and unique. He's taken the position of godfather in our lives, and we truly love him and his wife, Julie. She came down a few times during our sessions. Anyone who knows her knows that she's a riot. She could be a comedian in her own right; twenty seconds with Julie is enough to prove it! She sat in on our session one time, and she couldn't believe that that sound was coming from a studio in her home! The whole process was unique, from spending time with Julie and watching her interact with our son, Legend — she even brought him a stuffed animal — to eating homemade brownies made by Emmylou Harris herself."[25]
Composition
Warren of WXPN describes the title track "Healing Tide" as 'a spiritual distant cousin to Delaney & Bonnie's "Soul Shake,"' on which 'Michael and Tanya wrap their powerful voices around a driving beat that shimmies and shakes with relentless rock and roll powered soul music.'[19]
Hight for
Hight describes "Here Is Where the Loving Is At" as a 'loping string band number' on which Emmylou Harris and 'the Trotters paint a picture of lasting partnership as an earthy, effortful endeavor. "Just hold me to the words I say", Tanya implores, attacking the start of the next line with a teasingly determined growl. "And don't go looking somewhere else instead."' For the recording session at Buddy Miller's Nashville home, Emmylou Harris brought brownies.[22]
Whilst on "Hearts", 'a gospelly piano ballad in 6/8 time, the couple swap grand declarations of the bleakness they'd face without each other's company. They turn fierce when they declare their shared conviction during the bridge: "We've got a reason to keep our love growing strong / Everything between us helps us move along." Then their belting softens into an intimate murmur of shared belief: "We'd find each other's hearts."'[10]
"Jeep Cherokee Laredo" is described as 'sensual heat [...] with its sly, New Orleans-style syncopation and burbling organ. "You keep on peeking through the foggy windows / Please disregard all sly innuendo", they playfully scold a would-be busybody, flaunting the pleasure of the mischief shared between the two of them' Commenting on Michael Trotter Jr's songwriting, Hight expressed 'the lyrics, penned by Michael (the author of all their material, who often describes his writing's autobiographical inspiration) have a big-talking punch equally connected to hip-hop and the blues' whilst 'the ardor that the Trotters bring to the a capella number "Love Like There's No Tomorrow" is at once particular and sweeping.'[10]
Zoë Madonna of
Promotion
On August 23, 2018, The War and Treaty announced the Healing Tide Tour, commencing October 2, 2018 in Los Angeles and ending in Indianapolis on November 17, 2018.[26][27]
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Rolling Stone | [31] |
Healing Tide received an aggregate score of 79/100 on
Zoë Madonna of
Writing for
Track listing
All tracks are written by Michael Trotter Jr.[31]
No. | Title | Producer | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Love Like There's No Tomorrow" | Buddy Miller | 2:24 |
2. | "Healing Tide" | Buddy Miller | 3:33 |
3. | "Are You Ready to Love Me?" | Buddy Miller | 3:34 |
4. | "Hearts" | Buddy Miller | 5:13 |
5. | "Jeep Cherokee Laredo" | Buddy Miller | 3:18 |
6. | "One and the Same" | Buddy Miller | 4:00 |
7. | "If It's in Your Heart" | Buddy Miller | 5:05 |
8. | "Here Is Where the Loving Is At" (featuring Emmylou Harris) | Buddy Miller | 4:20 |
9. | "All I Wanna Do" | Buddy Miller | 4:13 |
10. | "It's Not Over Yet" | Buddy Miller | 5:20 |
11. | "Little New Bern" | Buddy Miller | 4:26 |
Total length: | 45:26 |
Charts
Chart (2018) | Peak position |
---|---|
US | 11 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[8] | 26 |
US Americana/Folk Album Sales (Billboard)[32] | 18 |
US Rock Album Sales (Billboard)[32] | 46 |
References
- ^ a b c "The War And Treaty – Healing Tide – Rough Trade". Rough Trade. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- ^ "Healing Tide – The War and Treaty". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
- ^ "Healing Tide / The War and Treaty TIDAL". TIDAL. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- ^ "Are You Ready to Love Me? / The War and Treaty TIDAL". TIDAL. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- ^ "If It's In Your Heart / The War and Treaty TIDAL". TIDAL. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- ^ "Healing Tide / The War and Treaty TIDAL". TIDAL. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- ^ a b "The War and Treaty Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
- ^ a b "The War and Treaty Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 August 2018.
- ^ a b c MOSELEY, EUNICE (April 14, 2016). "THE PULSE OF ENTERTAINMENT: TANYA BLOUNT AND MICHAEL TROTTER, JR. RELEASE 'LOVE AFFAIR'". EUR/Electronic Urban Report. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
- ^ National Public Radio. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
- ^ a b c Estey, Chris (July 17, 2017). "The War & Treaty "Down To The River" A Sight To Behold". Paste. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
- ^ "Blount 2 Blount Duo Brings Gospel to Another Level". MadameNoire. January 30, 2011. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
- ^ Jehnzen, Daevid. "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit – Original Soundtrack". AllMusic. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
- ^ "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) - Soundtracks". IMDb. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
- ^ "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) - Full Cast and Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
- Billboard.biz. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
- Billboard.biz. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
- ^ Hopkinson, Natalie (February 2, 2000). "Breaking Her Silence". The Washington Post. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
- ^ a b c d Warren, Bruce (June 4, 2018). "XPN's Gotta Hear Song of the Week: "Healing Tide" by The War and Treaty". WXPN. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
- ^ a b Graff, Gary (July 12, 2018). "The War and Treaty Get Real About Relationships on 'Are You Ready to Love Me?': Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
- ^ "Love Affair by Trotter & Blount on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved March 7, 2018.
- ^ Boston Globe. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
- ^ Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
- ^ a b c Horowitz, Hal (August 23, 2018). "The War and Treaty Rises with 'Healing Tide'". American Songwriter. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
- ^ Turner, Luci (June 12, 2018). "THE WAR AND TREATY – THE STORY OF HEALING TIDE". Two Story Melody. Retrieved August 25, 2018.
- ^ "We're thrilled to be heading out on our first headline tour this fall! Tickets go on-sale tomorrow, August 24 at 10AM local time unless otherwise noted. Find tickets and see all show details at thewarandtreaty.com". Instagram. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ "Tickets for the #HealingTide Tour, our fall headline run, are on sale now. Find tickets and show details at thewarandtreaty.com". Instagram. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
- ^ "Healing Tide by The War and Treaty Reviews and Tracks – Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
- ^ Hynes, Jim (August 9, 2018). "IRAQ VETERAN & GIFTED SOUL SINGER SLAY AS WAR AND TREATY ON R&B DEBUT 'HEALING TIDE' (ALBUM REVIEW)". Glide Magazine. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
- ^ Shahen, Jim (August 8, 2018). "The War and Treaty Rises with 'Healing Tide'". No Depression. Retrieved August 24, 2018.
- ^ Rolling Stone. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
- ^ Billboard.biz. Retrieved August 23, 2018.