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4 out of 5 stars

Lord Huron, Vide Noir © RepublicOn stellar third teaser track “Wait by the River,” Alternative rock band Lord Huron continues to build the case for their highly-anticipated album, ‘Vide Noir.’

After releasing “Ancient Names, Pt. I” and “Ancient Names, Pt. II”, alternative rock band Lord Huron are back with “Wait by the River.” “Wait by the River” is the third teaser track from their highly-anticipated new album, Vide Noir (April 20, 2018).  Vide Noir is the band’s first album in three years (Strange Trails, 2015).  What’s notable about Strange Trails is the hit it spawned, “The Night We Met”.  The hit wasn’t spawned thanks to the popularity of the album, but rather the song’s use in the Netflix series, 13 Reasons Why.  But this isn’t about “The Night We Met,” it’s about “Wait by the River.”

Cutting straight to the chase, “Wait by the River” is a stunning record. Featuring a prominent bass line early-on, the old-school vibes are real.  Oh, the nostalgia!  After an air of mysteriousness complementing the robust bass line, the full-fledged soulfulness kicks in.  That soulfulness includes marvelous use of upper register piano ostinato, straight from the vintage bag of tricks. As for frontman Ben Schneider, he’s “the cherry on top” with his cool, yet potent vocals.  Some vocal effects are thrown in to make things interesting, but it’s the more traditional moments from Schneider that make “Wait by the River” the winner that it is.

Final Thoughts 

What more is there to say? Lord Huron are on a roll three singles into Vide Noir.  “Wait by the River” is arguably the best offering from the album as of yet.  That’s saying a lot, considering just how awesome “Ancient Names, Pt. I” is in its own right.

Lord Huron • Vide Noir • Republic • Release: 4.20.18
Photo Credit: Republic

the musical hype

the musical hype (Brent Faulkner) has earned Bachelor's and Master's degrees in music (music education, music theory/composition respectively). A multi-instrumentalist, he plays piano, trombone, and organ among numerous other instruments. He's a certified music educator, composer, and freelance music blogger. Faulkner cites music and writing as two of the most important parts of his life. Notably, he's blessed with a great ear, possessing perfect pitch.