By: Emily J Ramey

Rating: 4 of 5 stars

Despite the fact that the young Nashville band’s real power is in the kinetic heat of their live show, Saints fans couldn’t stand not having those dirty delta blues tunes to spin whenever they pleased.  And so, The Delta Saints have answered those requests with their debut EP, Pray On.  With such a fiery live reputation, I had pretty high expectations, but with Pray On, The Delta Saints have drowned out any doubts of their fearlessness or brazen strength as musicians.

“Train Song” roars in with buzzing harmonica and raging drums that sound alarmingly like a speeding steam engine.  “Momma” possesses a raucous and roiling chorus that sets it apart from the other tracks.  “Pray On” is a heavy, churning tune, showcasing the gravelly, growling vocals and wailing guitar that The Delta Saints have come to be known for.  “Steppin’” starts out slow, gathers speed, and quickly engulfs its audience with a rapid-moving current of instrumentation, driven by searing harmonica and thunderous bass lines.  “3000 Miles” is like the clearing of the storm.  The clouds part for this lyrical and resonant refrain, allowing The Delta Saints to reveal a clearer, lighter side.

It might surprise their audience to learn that despite their fiercely passionate music, The Delta Saints themselves are all class and old world simplicity.  Like ancient bayou blues musicians, they dress in suspenders and collared shirts, allowing their music to be wild and uncouth while they remain refined and worldly.  Even their album cover – which looks like a 20th century letter, red wax seal and all – manifests dignified, aesthetic charm.  It seems to me that this dichotomy between music and persona is what makes The Delta Saints so fascinating.

Emily J Ramey is a burgeoning young music writer, living and working in Nashville, TN. Her background includes journalism classes at New York University and a Music Business degree from Belmont University. Check out her blog at listenerextraordinaire.wordpress.com.