The Fat Angel Sings

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These brilliant throwback soul jams from Crowley’s Leon Bridges are pretty undeniable. We don’t know much about Bridges at this point, and it’s hard to believe that this kid channeling a young Sam Cooke comes from our own backyard, or anywhere, but we can’t escape the promise of greatness we keep hearing in his timeless songs. Recorded in Fort Worth and produced by Austin Jenkins + Josh Block of the band White Denim; download either of these songs “Coming Home” + “Better Man”  this young soul revivalist from Texas is this year’s miracle man. A former aspiring choreographer who took up music because he thought it was a more viable career (what a dreamer!), Bridges was stuck playing open mic nights until he he ran into White Denim members Josh Block and Austin Jenkins, hanging out in a Fort Worth club. Impressed with his snappy style, the fuzz-rockers invited Bridges to jam — and discovered his dazzling ability to conjure the spirit of the young Sam Cooke. Soon enough, they were making an album together. One stellar Nashville show ignited a fire among music-biz insiders; now Bridges is signed to Columbia Records, is planning a tour, and winning more hearts — even with the few rough mixes he’s put up on his Soundcloud — every day. It’s always nice when a new voice makes classic sounds relevant again.