On its surface — to the average listener — Marcus King’s new album, Mood Swings, imbues sexy, sultry, and soulful R&B energy: specifically that of a vintage era in which the likes of Al Green, Bill Withers, Marvin Gaye, and others ruled the airwaves.
But it doesn’t take long to realize that lyrically, the tracks are full of deep personal struggle and ongoing battles with mental health, hence the title.
The juxtaposition between the soulful instrumentation and spine-tingling vocal delivery paired with the troublesome lyrics creates a one of a kind soundscape. Mood Swings is King’s magnum opus, and draws on some of his darkest moments. With this display of vulnerability throughout, he establishes a beacon of hope not just for himself, but hopefully for anyone going through similar struggles.
Iconic producer Rick Rubin — who has worked with everyone from Adele to the Red Hot Chili Peppers to Johnny Cash — was apparently instantly drawn to King’s guitar playing, strong voice and songwriting, and after witnessing a live performance, randomly cold-called him to float the idea of working together.
Naturally, it worked out.
“Terrible, hopelessness.” After a brief, crackling monologue from a vintage voice, this sentiment repeats several times before the opening title track kicks off with one of King’s signature bluesy guitar riffs. The soundbite sets the bleak tone for the album lyrically, but again, the high-powered heart and soul instrumentally and vocally produce much light.
“Mood Swings” showcases the A+ soul from the get go, with a steady driving percussive groove, immediately reeling the listener into King’s world. “Feel like I can really be myself around you / Mood swings like a pendulum / I can’t break loose,” he sings in the chorus. He’s one of the lucky ones equip with one of the best young voices – period – and additionally has impeccable guitar abilities to match.
The vintage soul feels carry on in the second track, “Fuck My Life Up Again.” Between the sultry bass line, swelling orchestral strings, gospel harmonies, and jazzy piano, this bonafide R&B-fueled banger depicts a familiar vicious cycle. The beauty behind the sorrow in this track is how palpably real it feels with the title alone, not censoring the intense emotion behind it.
The third track, “Soul It Screams,” breaks the tension with its breezy, whimsical acoustic guitar picking, and King’s raspy, tender vocals taking center stage. The stripped down easy-listener serves as a key changeup in the album, displaying his sonic versatility.
Songs like “Save Me” again hearken to a bygone era in a most authentic way. It’s peak soul music with a groove that could kill and vocals to match. It’s clear through the first half of this album that King is not just at the summit of modern southern rock and blues, but now also soul and R&B. He lives in rarified air that few other present-day artists have endured.
The gospel element within the album might just peak with “Delilah,” a piano-rock ballad filled with a bottomless ocean of spirit. The tone on the guitar solo around two minutes captivates with its fuzzy-buzzy video game-like sound, completely jarring the track in a most delightful manner.
He debuted the song on The Tonight Show, and performed it again earlier this month on The Kelly Clarkson Show. On the track, King states, “‘Delilah’ is one of the first songs I co-wrote after moving to Nashville in 2018. It’s a coming of age story and a fine example of a song I was just really wanting to get out and was so glad when we finally figured out how to give it some life.”
Sexy, sexy baby makin’ music. That’s just the feeling — the sound — that comes through the speakers with some these tracks (despite the lyrics), and “This Far Gone” is Exhibit A. If you want to set the mood with some candles and rose petals scattered on the bedroom floor and bed, maybe consider putting this number on. The energy alone is something of a sonic aphrodisiac. But again: just don’t dwell too much on the lyrics.
Ending things with the mellow, distraught acoustic number, “Cadillac,” King finishes on a lullaby-like note. “Don’t wake me up / I’m just sleeping / Tell everyone that I’m dreaming / Nothing keeps my scars from bleeding / Will you come home when my heartbreak stops bleeding,” he croons in hypnotizing fashion.
Through all the masterfully soulful instrumentation and top-tier production, Mood Swings is an album delivering a message of hope. Rubin helped King discover a new approach when dealing with crippling anxiety, inspiring him to shift his perspective. “He helped me view mental health as a writing partner in a way,” King recalls. “I’ve learned it can give me that creative spark.”
King is a Grammy-nominated fourth generation musician from Greenville, South Carolina, who started playing guitar at 8-years-old following in the footsteps of his guitarist father and grandpa. Logging thousands of miles on the road as The Marcus King Band, he established himself with unparalleled performance prowess and a dynamic live show.
King temporarily hangs up his gritty blues rock shoes in Mood Swings, opting towards the relentlessly soulful, sexy, and sultry R&B sounds, but with the juxtaposition of heart-wrenching personal lyrics, creating one of the best albums of the year.
He recently kicked off his massive spring and summer tour in support of the album.
