WARREN HAYNES | MILLION VOICES WHISPER
Review by Betsy Benson
Legendary guitarist, singer, and songwriter Warren Haynes (Allman Brothers Band, anyone?) debuted his newest solo album since 2015’s Ashes & Dust, gifting us with Million Voices Whisper on November 1, 2024. The album boasts eleven songs and features artists to the tune of Lukas Nelson, Jamey Johnson, and Derek Trucks. A little bit country and a little bit rock ‘n’ roll, Million Voices Whisper is comforting, fun, and thoughtful — it’s also not without notes of blues and funk, as with Go Down Swinging and Lies, Lies, Lies, respectfully. My favorite song on the album, These Changes (featuring Derek Trucks), is one of those cool love songs you will likely find even the most anti-sentimentalist swaying along to and is trademarked by Haynes’ signature guitar solo skill, made all the better by Derek Trucks in a seamless and soul-searching lead.
You Ain’t Above Me also stands out, not only as gut-punch bluesy but as an anthem for the down-trodden and peeved, a song that’s a must-have on that one playlist we've all made for when we’re perhaps not at our best, but man do we feel better after pressing play. Besides Haynes’ classic soulful voice and belting of ‘give it to the man’ (or woman) lyrics, You Ain’t Above Me’s unique organ solo is killer.
Million Voices Whisper is an album you can listen to and not skip one song — it feels like home and a party, perfectly packaged for an easy car ride, a sunny Sunday BBQ, or dancing in the kitchen, the latter of which my husband and I clumsily did to This Life As We Know It before I was ditched for a dance with the cat…guess it’s time to listen to You Ain’t Above Me again.