Album Review – Ritch Henderson’s “Alive in Alabama”

#570 (Americana) on the Country DDS.

When you’re born and raised in certain parts of rural Alabama where meth, opioids, and generational poverty ravage communities and offer little upward mobility or windows to the outside world, you look for any ladder to take you up and out wherever it might be found. For Ritch Henderson, this was writing poetry when he was young to cope, and eventually signing up for the United States Marine Corps.

Little did he know that signing up for the military would mean going from the frying pan into the fire, where PTSD would haunt him no differently than the ghosts of the rural South, and ultimately lead to his own addiction issues that he would spend over a decade attempting to overcome.

If there is any consolation, it’s that the shortest distance to the songwriting muse is suffering, and this is what has put Ritch Henderson in touch with some of the most potent inspirations and experiences to allow him sing right from the soul in a way that separates his songs from the massive onslaught of new recorded music.

After making a name for himself in the live setting and releasing a few singles, Henderson released his debut album Fallacies and Four-Letter Words via the Alabama Sound Company in March of 2023, earning praise from those fortunate enough to stumble upon it. Now the Cullman, Alabama native has released a new 10-song album called Alive in Alabama completely as a surprise and 100% independent.

In a similar manner to Alabama songwriters like Drayton Farley and those of The Red Clay Strays, Henderson puts songs before genre, and fearlessly looks to share vulnerability and insight culled from real world experiences, though sometimes the sentiments here feel even more raw and sincere. The album is a bit unpolished in regards to the overall mastered sound. But each song comes with interesting wrinkles and sometimes flourishes of instrumental genius that keep them interesting.

In certain moments Alive in Alabama doesn’t worry itself too much with offering revolutionary ideas or intricate storytelling through poetic brilliance. “Songs I’ve Loved” is simply an homage to other modern-day songsmiths like Evan Felker of the Turnpike Troubadours, and Tyler Childers. “Dust Here in the Wind” works out from a similar song concept as a certain classic rock band from a breadbasket state.

But where Henderson really seals the deal with attentive listeners—and gets some of them swearing he’s one of this generation’s best songwriters—is tracks like “Time Well Spent,” which weaves so much wisdom into every turn of phrase it leaves one speechless. “Same Size Hole” busts through the ideas of class and status to remind us that we all return from when we came. “Greedy” shows off Ritch’s hand with involved storytelling.

Alive in Alabama certainly includes country inflections throughout, but it’s just as much a rock album, blending the two influences until it’s safe to call it solidly Americana. A case could be made that spending a little more time refining his recordings and being more purposeful with his releases would go a long way for Ritch. But it’s also hard to argue with how potent and powerful many of his songs come across.

8/10

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