The journey following Jaime Wyatt since she was first launched to new listeners in 2017 has been an eventful one, although undoubtedly not as much as the huge roller coaster for the artist herself. If 2020 was a pivotal year for this West Coast native on many fronts, the latter months of 2023 sees a huge explosion of professional artistry with a forceful new album stamping its mark from fresh perspectives. FEEL GOOD bursts with soulful positivity and the stance smoothes a transformation from hard edged country to a sincere partial dip into the rhythmic world of roots rock induced RnB.
The new album, Wyatt's second on New West Records, is under the stewardship of Adrian Quesada from The Black Pumas and thus on the surface exists in a different sphere to FELONY BLUES that fell into the laps of an informed fanbase. However, the trademark hearty vocals keeps much of the original impact intact and there is a fighting chance that many Jaime Wyatt fans will effortlessly move with her on this personal journey of artist exploration.
The conduit between the past and the future lies in a distinctive album cover. The typeface and image are rinsed with retro, yet open up the wares and we have a modern take on a seasoned musical style. The next phase of integration lies in the trailblazing track that both launched the sound and opens the album. 'World Worth Keeping' is profound in lyrical intent and boisterous in shaking a listener from any slumber.
A further ten tracks cumulate in a 45-minute listen as an abundance of emotions and tempos fill the airwaves. There are even pickings in the latter stages that refine the revolution. Away from the upfront appeal a couple of deep cuts deserve pulling to the fore. 'Fugitive' hasn't been one of the pre-release singles and sheds the soulful trappings a touch to impressively come across as a more conventional rocker. Perhaps providing a link to the past. A couple of tracks later in the running order 'Moonlighter' closes this chapter of Jaime Wyatt's recording career with an anecdotal piece similarly out of sync with the core sound. There are even mild strains of twangy country that could prove a pointer to the future especially as there may be unfinished business in challenging the norm of ingrained conservative values.
Rewind back from the closer and 'Jukebox Holiday' is more aligned to the soulful aura as hip swaying tendencies kick in to revel in the moment. If the opening track emboldens the present, the true essence of the album's spirit lies in title track 'Feel Good', self-explanatory in sentiment and almost gospel-like in propelling an upbeat feeling.
Of the other two singles, 'Love is a Place' spills out with emotional zest and swivels on a soulful organ sound to embrace a queer identity. 'Althea' taps into the presence of the goddess of healing and compassion as the vibes lower into laid back territory to inject more goodness into an environment awash with cool sounds.
Staying with cool sounds, none are more chilled than the sultry undertones of 'Hold Me One Last Time' where flumes of brass greet a track allowing the vocals to express themselves in alternate ways to what we have come to expect. This track does end with a scratchy explosive outro to liven things up. This leads into the piano and stringed intro to 'Where the Damned' which does expand mid-song into a more expansive sonic swirl.
'Back to the Country' completes the quartet of single releases and houses some trademark guitars coupled with Wyatt's distinct vocal presence. This is an example of the album being creatively produced by injecting fresh ideas while retaining the core credentials of an artist catching wide ears with an effervescent demeanour. 'Ain't Enough Whiskey' brings the eleven-strong complement up to its full number in the penultimate slot and comes across as a memorable aside.
FEEL GOOD is an album delivered with swagger and sophistication. Some familiar traits are carried forward as Jaime Wyatt transcends as an artist wrapped in the cloak of the moment. That cloak appears a good fit and represents somebody at ease with the direction they are currently travelling alongside life affirming decisions made.