If you haven’t heard of singer-songwriter Joey Stuckey, his new EP, “Six String Soldier†is an invitation to a full, Americana sound that goes from ballad-infused to bluesy in a heartbeat and never looks back.
Opening up for bands the likes of Bad Company and Trisha Yearwood to James Brown and Smash Mouth, Stuckey is no stranger to the industry and has also worked in the industry for decades as a producer, composer, musician and sound engineer with Alan Parsons, Chuck Leavell and Mike Mills (R.E.M.) as well. With a vocal sound that bites at times and is smooth at others, he’s able to tell a ton of stories across the seven-song EP that his guitar backs up.
The thing that makes this EP a special one is Stuckey’s versatility. Make no mistake, he’s a top-notch guitarist as every track showcases a solo or a riff you’ll get stuck in your head. The case usually with strong guitarists, Stuckey could and should get a pass if his voice wasn’t able to get the job done, but like Eric Clapton, he’s got a solid voice that grows on you the more you listen. But unlike Clapton, he’s got a grit and snarl to his voice- a unique timber that adds flavor to his work that can’t be done with a guitar. Simply put, he doesn’t sound like anyone and is a natural teller of tales.
Such is the case with “Another Girl,†a track with plenty of excellent guitar work and lyrics, but thanks to some rasp from Stuckey and memorable licks, it’s a winner.
But away from the more rough tracks, Stucky can sing a ballad too. “All Roads Lead To A Broken Heart†is the type of track you’d expect in a southern dive bar with live music. A story that plenty can relate too, Stuckey shows us again that he’s as versatile on the microphone as he is with the ax. Add in the vocal harmonies and pure soul feel and it’s almost like a Meat Loaf track at times.
Behind his stellar string work, balanced vocals and a great backing band, this EP grows on you. Perfect for a long car ride and even better for a night alone, the tracks featured are proof that Stuckey deserves far more mainstream recognition than he’s gotten thus far in his career.
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