It’s very hard to find anything to criticize in fun, smooth, easy-listening rock, but even despite that, River Rise, David Crosby and Michael McDonald’s newest single, is a fantastic song that will wrap your ears and soul in warm wool and beautiful harmony.

There’s something inherently comfortable with this type of smooth rock. I was first really introduced to it by Steve Porcaro, which featured Michael McDonald, then Mike Oldfield, and finally David Crosby. It’s sound is so similar between all three, almost like late-Pink Floyd but even softer. Some of these songs could have easily been on The Division Bell, however, including this song, to a certain extent. River Rise has a bit more of a groove to it, with a clever and fun bass line guiding the rhythm through. The acoustic guitars really give it that particular warmth that I mentioned before, but nothing could be complete without the soulful performance given by the two featured singers. Michael McDonald especially has such a unique voice, one that got me hooked the moment I heard him on Steve Porcaro’s only album. He serves more as harmony than melody, but that sounds just right for this song. David does a wonderful leading the song, and their combined voice makes for a beautiful orchestra of rock veterans.

River Rise isn’t the song that’s going to change the course of music forever, but that’s never what it intended to be. Its comfort is its strongest suit here, it’s a song you’ll return to when life just seems a bit too chaotic. It’s a song that’ll always be there when you need that same familiar feeling so much of this music exudes. While you’re at it, check out the rest of the two artists’ music; they’re truly legends.

Author: Nicholas Gaudet

Music producer and writer from Dieppe, Canada.