Musical Thesis: Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats “Tearing at the Seams”

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At the center of every album is a musical thesis. This thesis can be the driving force behind the album, a theme that interweaves songs together, or a feeling you are left with after the very last song plays. With some albums, the thesis is easy to find. On others, it is hidden and requires you to be more than a passive listener. These reviews are not about rating an album. Instead, it is about uncovering a musical thesis.

You ain’t gone far enough to say
At least I tried
You ain’t worked hard enough to say
Well I’ve done mine
You ain’t run far enough to say
My legs have failed
You ain’t gone far enough
You ain’t worked hard enough
You ain’t run far enough to say
It ain’t gonna get any better

I have written these words so many times that you might as well chisel them on my headstone, but it bears repeating once again. Art comes in many forms and knows countless interpretations, but the best and most memorable moments of human expression find me when I need them. The movie, Into…