Good People grabs onto Malone’s “keyboard wizardry” and serves up a variety of bluesy rock, ranging from contemplative ballads to all-out sweeping jams, all carried along by smokey vocals and Malone’s unmatched ability to wrest every possible drop of emotion out of the keys.
In addition to the seven originals on the collection, Malone puts his own distinctively original stamp on three covers: “Bad Moon Rising” — written by John Fogerty, whom Malone has played keyboards with since 2011 — Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well,” and the Bob Dylan classic “Tangled Up in Blue.”
Malone employs a staggering amount of talent on Good People, recruiting musicians who have worked with everyone from Dylan to Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty, Tori Amos, and many more. The album was recorded over 3 years in Los Angeles, New York City and New Orleans.
WHAT THE CRITICS SAY:
“From complex turbo-charged polyrhythmic soul-jazz excursions to the most fundamental folk-rock anthems, Malone knows how to light it on fire.” — American Songwriter
“A compelling listen and an astute example of talent and tenacity mined in equal measure.” — Goldmine
“Perhaps the best is a reworking of Dylan’s ‘Tangled Up In Blue’ which places Bob’s piano and vocal front and centre…an exhilarating ride through a familiar classic.” — Blues in Britain
“‘Good People’ is an album that captures the experience of the plague year perfectly and I think it’s his best yet. It’s a mix of remembrance, numbness, regret and, ultimately, recovery…and finishes on a note of pure defiance with a joyous “Tangled Up in Blue.” — Music Riot UK
“[Malone’s] take on Bob Dylan’s “Tangled Up In Blue” breathed new life and energy into it, but the one that blew me away was “Oh Well” by Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac, speaking about energy.” — Bangor Daily News/Kennebec Journal
“'Head First' is an exceptional song. Bob sounds like an older black blues singer here doing a ballad that slips into orchestration. The backup singers, as usual, are stellar like a church choir.” — Americana Highways
"Universal appeal." — Albuquerque Journal
“Keyboard wizard. Talented songwriter. Voice of a generation. Good People.” — Geoff Wilbur’s Music Blog
TRACK LISTING:
1 - Good People
2 - Bad Moon Rising
3 - Empty Hallways
4 - All There Is
5 - Head First
6 - Oh Well (CD only)
7- My Friends and I
8 - Prelude & Blues
9 - Sound of a Saxophone
10 - The River Gives
11 - Tangled Up In Blue
