Aaron Neville
Apache
(Tell It)
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
There are few vocalists as distinctive as New Orleans’ Aaron Neville. Between solo outings and those with his brothers in the legendary Neville Brothers Band, Neville’s golden tenor has captivated generations of lovers mostly through ballads. From his first hit “Tell It Like It Is” to 1989’s “Don’t Know Much,” his Grammy-winning collaboration with Linda Ronstadt, and onto 2013’s terrific set of Don Was produced doo-wop covers, his dulcet voice has charmed a generation.
But one thing Neville isn’t known for is his songwriting. Even 1967’s “Tell It Like It Is” was penned by someone else and given to Neville. Proving it’s never too late to change, the 75-year-old Neville pens or co-writes all but one track on this album that also shifts away from the honeyed (some might say syrupy) love tunes most listeners associate with him. The opening “Be Your Man” starts with a ’70s funk vibe that sounds like an outtake from the Shaft soundtrack, while other tunes dip into Dap-Kings styled R&B (“All of the Above”) and a gutsy, bubbling New Orleans groove with horns on “Hard to Believe.”
Certainly Neville has benefitted from the work of sympathetic producers. From Don Was to Daniel Lanois, as well as this disc’s Eric Krasno (who is known for his work with Soulive, co-wrote nearly every song and contributes guitar), Neville excels when the production supports but doesn’t overwhelm his unique shimmering voice. Kranso has nailed a perfect sound for the singer to delve into, providing a tougher, grittier backing and letting Neville reveal that his singing is just as effective on harder edged material.
That doesn’t mean he has abandoned the ballads he sings so convincingly. On the contrary, songs such as the cliché titled “I Wanna Love You,” the slow gospel/blues of “Heaven” and the Spanish Harlem rhythms of “Sarah Ann” allow Neville to let that sweet tone splash over quieter, more tender fare. But the album’s title that has not only been Neville’s nickname (a picture of his Apache tattoo spread across his back is included in the booklet), but an indication of the various bloods—including Native American — that run through his DNA, suggesting this might be Neville’s most personal project yet.
His approach, even this late in life, hasn’t lost an ounce of its shimmering luster and these original tunes never devolve into some of the sappy qualities that occasionally marred Neville’s earlier releases. Those who believe the singer’s best work is behind him will rethink that after one spin of the impressive Apache, an album—significantly the first on his own label– that ranks with the finest in Neville’s storied career.