Album Review: Jeremy Steding 'Odessa'

With the first few notes of the jaunty fiddle and driving guitar, Jeremy Steding’s latest ropes you right in. Odessa, the singer-songwriter’s fifth album kicks off with the dynamic title track where his distinctive vocals convey a triad of strength, grit - and a bit of attitude, and from there flows graciously into current single, the heartwarming, sentimental “Feels So Good To Be Back Home,” and “It Takes A Lifetime” - one of those rare songs where melody, lyricism and delivery perfectly complement one another making the song’s impact undeniable (if you don’t love this song then…I can’t help you) - before dancing the night away on the flawless two-stepper “Late Night Love Song.”

The eight-track collection, all of which Steding had a hand in writing, also includes the edgy, urgent tale of regret “All These Lights,” “Blinded by the sight of my shortcoming everything I saw/I saw wrong/I look past your love and left you wanting,” and the dance hall ready “I Need A Texas Song” which extols the charms of other cities, but puts forth a longing for all the Lone Star State has to offer, as well as two intense tracks which close out the record: “Whiskey Institution” which explores how the libation changes him and “Get Me The Hell Off This Rig” an emotionally stirring story song about a guy stuck working a job he doesn’t like that will certainly be relatable to many.

In “I Need A Texas Song” Steding sings of wanting “A Texas song, the kind they only sing back home” - with Odessa, he has eight of them all of which will have people singing not only in the place he calls home, but far beyond as well.

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