Caleb Caudle: Better Hurry Up
I have to be honest. When the opportunity to review Caleb Caudle’s new album came my way, I could not resist. I was lucky enough to be introduced to Caleb’s music by my friends, Josh and Janette Nicholls. They have the best house shows at their South Carolina home, and I was fortunate enough to witness one with Caleb. About a year or so later, I hosted Caleb in my own home in Indiana for a great weekend of music, food and laughter. I will never forget cleaning up the kitchen that afternoon and hearing Caleb singing in the shower down the hall, getting ready for the show. Not only is Caleb a gifted songwriter/singer, but he is a good human too. His determination, hard work, and heart of gold have helped him evolve into the artist he is today.
Better Hurry Up is his 8th studio album and follows the amazing Crushed Coins, which was released in 2018. The new album’s list of contributing artists is impressive, including Elizabeth Cook, Gary Louris, and John Paul White on backing vocals. Many other musicians contributed to this project as well. From the harmonica, pedal steel, mandolin, and organ, it is apparent that Caleb collected some of the best for his album. It was recorded in just a few days at the Cash Cabin, the private sanctuary that Johnny Cash built in 1979. It is now used as a recording studio and has hosted some of the greats including Johnny himself, Emmylou Harris, Loretta Lynn and Todd Snider. I do believe the ghosts of the past conversations and music that were shared here had a definite impact on making this album.
Photo By Melissa Payne
The title track is a groovy mix of slide guitar and organ and is backed by claps, stomps and an all star choir made up of Caleb’s wife, his parents, the band, and everyone else who contributed to the making of the record. To me, the meaning of the song is to try to do the best in your life, without fear….because nobody knows how much time they have left to do it. “And when you feel the walls closing in you must be leaving, leaving, leaving. Know it’s just as much about the places you go as it is about the places you don’t. But time is running out so you better hurry up.” The sing along in the chorus makes you feel like you are in a spirit filled church on a Sunday morning. I bet that was the same feeling Caleb and his crew had in Mr. Cash’s cabin while recording this song.
“The Dirty Curtain” is my favorite song on the album. It is a foreboding tale of the abuse of power and how people have to keep fighting the good fight and to “just be the light.” The lyrics “the wolves are howlin’ and the sheep are lost. They blame the voiceless when they are not to blame. Behind the dirty curtain, ain’t nobody feeling no shame,” have a dark, sinister feel. But then Caleb sings the chorus of “well I’ll go and fight forever, just to be the light,” and the age old tale of good vs. evil is told. Musically, this is a beautiful song. Lyrically, it is just so damn relevant.
My second favorite song is “Monte Carlo.” This one is a get in your car and drive really fast kind of song. The combination of Caleb’s amazing voice and the backing vocals of Elizabeth Cook make this song an Americana/rock classic. “Now I’m driving through the Smoky Mountains in a Monte Carlo, stop at a casino, bet it all on black” can be interpreted a few different ways by the listener. That is part of the beauty of Caleb’s songwriting....he is a storyteller, but not in a deliberate or blunt way. His lyrics are a poetic way to share his thoughts and feelings. And this is why “Monte Carlo” is one of my favorites. I know what it means to me, but I guarantee you it will mean something totally different to someone else. The musical vibe of this song is a bit different than what I am used to from Caleb, and I really dig this new sound.
Caleb said he wanted “an earthy, funky sound” for this album and “Reach Down” delivers. It is definitely funky. You may find yourself clapping along. You may even find yourself dancing along, while washing dishes on a Tuesday night. I totally admit it. The lyrics about helping others made me smile as well. “If one of us is held down, neither one of us is free” goes into “Brother lift brother, lift sister too, keep on lifting ‘til there’s nothing else that you do.” This song is exactly what we need right now.
“Front Porch” is a gorgeous song that is unmistakably Caleb’s sound. Beautiful lyrics of coming home to the “thunderstorms and lightning bugs” and the memories of “the smell of my grandfather’s truck” make me feel like I am 10 years old again and sitting on my Grandma’s porch swing. Caleb has a way of describing the nostalgia of those moments and the life lessons we learn along the way. To me, this song is about how it feels to come back home after being gone for a while. “And it feels just like no time has passed at all. And I know these roads with both eyes closed and they’re prettiest in the fall.”
Better Hurry Up is a fantastic album from start to finish. The musicians, the lyrics, the vibe, and most of all Caleb’s voice, just come together and make an amazing record. As I said before, I have been a fan of Caleb for a while now, and this is absolutely his best work yet.
Cover Photo By Mike Dunn
Article Photos By Melissa Payne
Article By Amy Ellis