Rosetta West channel the raw spirit of live roots music on new album 'Gravity Sessions'

When you put on Rosetta West’s new 'Gravity Sessions', it can feel like you’re eavesdropping on a séance. On their latest live album, the Illinois trio invite us into the raw electricity of a room where every note feels unguarded and alive.

Captured live at Chicago’s Gravity Studios, these seven tracks are less about flawless execution and more about conjuring a feeling. The EP opener 'Dora Lee (Gravity)' sets the tone immediately with its brooding slide guitar, echoing toms, and a groove that feels like a late-night drive through a storm you’re not entirely sure you’ll survive. This is music that moves in shadows and refuses to offer easy comfort.

But the beauty of these sessions lies in their flaws. You hear strings squeak, sticks hit rims by accident, and the faint hum of amplifiers, all reminders that real music breathes and sweats. Each song feels like a living organism, shifting and evolving right before your ears. The lyrics weave together fragments of rural mythology, cryptic confessions, and whispered threats, creating a tapestry of imagery that’s equal parts Southern Gothic and Midwest noir.

Rosetta West seem to revel in the absence of pristine and polish. In an era of overproduced nostalgia acts, 'Gravity Sessions' feels like a battered love letter to authenticity. This is roots music for those who prefer their whiskey neat, their boots scuffed, and their stories messy. It’s a rare reminder that sometimes, the real magic happens when you stop trying to control the storm and just let it wash over you.