Lil' Red & the Rooster serves up blues with a modern twist in "Stack 'Em Up Baby" [Review]

The first blast from Lil' Red & the Rooster's upcoming full-length album "7" is a brilliant new single, "Stack' Em Up Baby." It is a cocktail shaker of energy that feels righteous and mirthful. Think of the smoky cool of Rickie Lee Jones singing with the beats of a Tom Waits' groove and the blessing of Ray Charles's soul and Kenny Burrell's finesse, all contained in the opening credits of a 1960s spy series. That's the cinematic, jazzy cool that propels this first taste of what looks to be an attention-grabbing project.

The track's sound is sultry and soaked in retro class. It digs heavily into vintage vibes but doesn't lose its raw blues roots. From the first notes, it's apparent that Lil' Red & the Rooster are reawakening feelings. Picture velvet suits, smoky lounges, and unapologetic funk, all rooted in the Gospel, Blues, and Pop Jazz pocket.

Behind the magic, there's an all-star gram collaboration, including Grammy-nominated keyboardist Bobby Floyd of Ray Charles, the Count Basie Orchestra, and Dr. John fame. His B3 organ and piano textures carry the song, as soul is intertwined in the notes of every passage with grace and heart. Floyd's touch adds an authentic and professional polish that helps keep the track timeless yet current.

"7" is a record about freedom and lifting yourself out of tricky situations, a message that hisses beneath "Stack' Em Up Baby" like a slow-burning fuse. Evidently, it is an album toying around with old-school sounds for fun but rather one using energy to engage the modern world using retro wisdom. With new tracks ready to land every three weeks in a waterfall release, this first single blazes a bold trail. If "Stack' Em Up Baby" is any indication, "7" will be a party of resilience, spirit, and soulful rebellion. Lil' Red & the Rooster are not only paying homage to the past, they're deliberately resurrecting it.