The song feels deeply personal, profoundly affecting, and, in the case of John DeNicola's "Amen and Hallelujah", completely captivating. Best known for co-writing the culture-defining classics "I've Had the Time of My Life" and "Hungry Eyes," DeNicola has spent much of his career working behind the scenes. However, over the last four years, the NYC-based music veteran has emerged as an artist with a voice and stories of his own to share. His brand-new single, "Amen and Hallelujah," is a soulful homecoming, a testament to friendship, and a poignant reminder of music's ability to heal.
It's featured on DeNicola's new album, "Don't Wait," a record whose themes are influenced by the death of his childhood friend and Sweetback bandmate, Tim Lawless. In a rare and sentimental move, DeNicola reunited the original members of their 1970s soul band Sweetback, after several decades had scattered the group members across three thousand miles. The result is a sound that's thoughtful and refreshingly of the moment. "Amen and Hallelujah" is a feat of horn-heavy, retro soul-indebted yacht rock, elegant groove-man mode. It's hard not to hear reverberations of Steely Dan's polish, the cool nonchalance of Hall & Oates, and even the laid-back magnetism of Mac DeMarco intertwined in the song. But it's DeNicola's voice, weathered by emotion and years, that gives the track a sense of integrity and weight.
There's a warmth to the arrangement that conveys a sense of conversation between old friends. The rhythm section swings easily, the horns poke and jab with determination, and a sense of gratitude and spiritual reflection permeates the proceedings. The title "Amen and Hallelujah" says everything about respect for life, love, and for those of us who have passed away but have made a difference. DeNicola demonstrates how good songwriting changes. On this track, he taps into decades of artistry and centers something that feels both timeless and timely. For longtime devotees and newcomers alike, it's a song that welcomes you in, envelops you in memory, and sends you off humming with hope.
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