Eric Bibb Dear America (2-LP, 180g Vinyl)

(Mascot Music) 13 tracks, gatefold cover.


When Eric Bibb set out to write the title track of his latest album, Dear America, the songwriter unpacked a seven-decade relationship with a partner in dramatic extremes. Bibb has known many different Americas, the good, the bad and the ugly. Born in New York City on 16 August 1951, Bibb still vividly remembers the folk revival of the sixties. But equally vivid are the dark social flashpoints of last year, when protesters highlighted the open wound of US race relations while a bitter presidential election drew jagged battle lines.

But just as the history of the United States has light and shade, so does Dear America. It is an album that combines its examination of the nation's most toxic issues with hope, love and a brighter path to the future. All is not lost, Bibb insists, and neither are we. Bibb leaves no doubt that the future is ours to shape.

Dear America was recorded before the pandemic paralysed recording studios around the world. The chemistry on the album is palpable, and each musician plays with the emotional commitment the material demands.