Spanning 17 tracks and releasing just after his birthday, the new album represents a subtle departure in sound for Lister as he branches out to explore the 60’s Blues and 70’s Rock ‘N’ Roll influences that were a soundtrack to his childhood, giving us a more intimate peek into the life of Lister than ever before. While his previous efforts have blended traditional pop/rock songwriting and contemporary guitar production that is destined to be experienced in a live stadium, ‘Along For The Ride’ retains the ethos while shifting the focus slightly to blues-rock stylings to create anthem styled tracks, that are also given a more sharpened sense of story-telling for this time around.
The hotly anticipated LP release will be releasing on Straight Talkin’ Records, the label that Lister founded with his own wife Stephanie. Promising to take listeners on a musical journey punctuated by some tender moments, swelling choruses and solid backing band performances – ‘Along For The Ride’ finds Lister veering into some resilient Blues influences fuelled equally by the everyday and the ‘amp to 11’ musical philosophy that have found Lister sustaining his career as an independent musician for over 25 years. He also uses his famed six-string insturment that Lister has formed a symbiotic relationship with. It makes his raw sound feel exciting due to its versatility as it helps him to seamlessly switch between an in-your-face, riff-laden attitude and a gutsy spirit which helps Lister to reflect a more intimate side without drifting from his blueprints.
A natural choice for a single due to its cheerful subject matter and the multiple solo’s that are sprinkled throughout the eclectic track at numerous intervals, with a shorter solo and a longer solo dominating the scene between the heartfelt verses and the crowd-pleasing chorus of the perky cut. There’s little in the way of electronic production – such as keyboard notes, whirring synths and auto-tuned vocals – with the track reflecting a classic Jazz or Blues bar feel in its classical use of the guitars and the drums. There is a distinctly Jazz element to the track that may please fans of Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio and Booker T & The MG’s because the Blues-Jazz fusion of Lister’s sound feels traditional. His husky vocals tell a cheerful story of giving yourself a second chance and taking a leap with a fresh start to overcome heartbreak and grow as a person. It feels in-your-face while veering into intimate territory by following a personal narrative.
By echoing fan-favourites of his discography like ‘Soundman’ while referencing the Blues and Jazz-Rock records that he loved during his upbringing, Lister evolves upon his sound in refreshing ways while giving maturity to his signature blueprints, and you could argue that it’s a great time to be an Aynsley Lister fan. So are you ‘Along For The Ride’ from next month onwards?
Words by Jacob Braybrooke
Send Your Love to Aynsley Lister Online