Head Above Water

iTunes Review

For his third studio long-player this Austin, Texas singer/songwriter has unveiled 12 tunes that are hard to pigeonhole into one particular genre. Though his past efforts leaned more on the twangy side of Americana rock and pop, Head Above Water whirlpools an organic mix of rootsy rock (“I’ll Take You”) with adult alternative serenades (“You Burn Me”) and tunes that funk it up with a danceable rhythm section (“You Can Count On Me”). The instantly catchy “Rock Angel” opens with Coldplay-esque falsettos and instrumentation that mirrors a diverse record collection, pulling from some of indie rock’s winding guitar chimes as well as bluesy organ grinding and memorable melodies that echo ‘90s commercial alternative radio. But Rhyder hasn’t totally left his country roots in the dust. “It’s the Country that Saves Me” makes good on the title with a family-man narrative marinated in the imagery of heartland living and some of the red-dirt twang that helped him get here. Similarly, the title track abounds with a serenade anchored in Nashville balladry.