Discography Deep Focus: Leon Bridges

Story posted September 24, 2022 in CommRadio, Arts & Entertainment by Matt Zwiercan

Leon Bridges is the definition of an old soul. The 33-year-old must have a DeLorean parked in his garage, because his sound feels transported from a time well before he was born.

Hailing from Fort Worth, Texas, Bridges’ music focuses around that good old Texas soul and his silky smooth voice, making listeners second-guess if they’re actually listening to something from their grandparents’ record collection.

Bridges has been nominated six times for a Grammy award, winning once.

Although his career has lasted less than a decade, Bridges has cemented himself as the face of the soul revival in the 21st century.

 

“Coming Home” (2015)

Bridges’ debut record channels the spirits of soul and R&B legends like Sam Cooke, Otis Redding and Smokey Robinson to create something new, yet familiar.

This album features that classic crooner sound which takes the audience for a stroll down musical memory lane. Toe-tappers like “Smooth Sailing” and “Better Man” encapsulate the upbeat vibe Bridges attempts to create.

The highlight of “Coming Home” is undoubtedly “River,” a beautifully somber track where Bridges revisits his religious roots.

Another aspect that stands out is the production on this record. To capture the essence of that ‘60s soul, Bridges and his band recorded the album with vintage equipment.

This record’s biggest (and only) flaw is that it plays it safe. Bridges’ voice and the production are fantastic, however there is little to no new ground explored for a genre trying to revive itself in this new era of music.

Bridges’ debut album feels like a compilation of music he likes to listen to, however often hides his own artistic vision.

“Coming Home” debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard Top 200 and was nominated for the Best R&B Album Grammy, and “River” for Best Music Video the following year.

Reviewer’s Favorite Songs: “Smooth Sailin’”, “Shine”, “Here in my Arms”
Reviewer’s Least Favorite Song: “There She Goes”

 

“Good Thing” (2018)

Where “Coming Home” is a recreation of a different era’s sound, Bridges steps to his own tune on “Good Thing.”

This LP is littered with funk and traditional R&B while at its core still has core elements of blues and soul.

A key highlight of this Grammy-nominated record is the production, most notably in tracks like “Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand” and “If It Feels Good (Then It Must Be)”.

Hit single “Beyond” has seen the most commercial success of any song on the album, so much so that Bridges has released multiple versions of the song, one featuring country star Luke Combs.

Reviewer’s Favorite Songs: “Beyond”, “Mrs.”, “Forgive You”
Reviewer’s Least Favorite Song: “Bad Bad News”

 

“Texas Sun” (2020)

Collaborating with Texan band, Khruangbin, this EP is a beautiful blend of blues, country and funk that became the blueprint for the “Gold-Diggers Sound.”

The funk-inspired instrumentals create this psychedelic vibe that blends really well with Bridges’ more traditional soul/R&B tone in his voice.

The self-titled track “Texas Sun” showcases the range of both of these artists to create a country-inspired track that pays homage to their home state.

Reviewer’s Favorite Song: “Texas Sun”
Reviewer’s Least Favorite Song: “C-Side”

 

“Gold-Diggers Sound” (2021)

This record feels most like Bridges’ sound. His third solo project beautifully balances the ‘70s influence with modern R&B to create the “Gold-Diggers Sound”.

“Motorbike,” a hit single off of this album, is fun, catchy, and although sounds the most like a traditional pop song, still fits the theme the album creates.

“Gold-Diggers Sound” strays away from the traditional love songs that can be found on Bridges’ former solo works, however is filled with great features and can sometimes find that blues sound that Bridges was inspired by.

Reviewer’s Favorite Songs: “Motorbike”, “Steam”
Reviewer’s Least Favorite Song: “Sweeter (feat. Terrance Martin)

 

“Texas Moon” (2022)

Khruangbin and Bridges pick up right where they left off with “Texas Moon”, however where the first collaboration between the two blended their genres to seemingly create their own, this EP feels similar to a run of the mill R&B record.

One thing this EP does very well is oppose the theme of their former collaboration, staying with a darker theme throughout the 5 tracks.

That being said, something feels missing from “Texas Moon”. More of what popularized Bridges’ music as well as implementing Khruangbin’s psychedelic sound could have made this EP a smash hit.

Reviewer’s Favorite Song: “Mariella”
Reviewer’s Least Favorite Song: “Father Father”

5 Essential Leon Bridges Songs:
River
Beyond
Here in my Arms
Don’t Worry (feat. Ink)
Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand

Matt Zwiercan is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email mzz5317@psu.edu.