Navigating changing lineups over three years, American rockers The Reckless release their third single, ‘Only One’.
Emerging from the chaotic years of COVID, The Reckless has defied the odds, building an unexpectedly prolific discography during their three years together as an American rock band with a rotating lineup. Now, they unveil their third single.
Conceived around 2020 as the brainchild of Fritz Fayman, a singer-songwriter, and guitarist, the group has since amassed three singles, a full-length album, and an EP under their belt. These releases span the years 2021 to 2023, showcasing their evolution.
Their latest single, ‘Only One’ places the listener in the intense atmosphere of a sweaty bar gig. The lustful rap lyrics of its verses are inspired by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and sung to a woman of one’s dreams, segmented by an open, less-busy chorus and backed by nimble guitar licks, busy bass work, and athletic drum fills.
As the song nears its conclusion, the band takes a page from James Brown’s playbook. They peel back the layers of guitars and vocals, revealing a subdued drum and bass groove that provides a fitting finale to this infectious tune.
During their intricacies of their recent history as a band, The Reckless nabbed their new drummer Riku Myllykoski from a School Of Rock, (a genuine musical education facility inspired by the Jack Black film of the same name), who joined Fayman after their current bassist Michael Kennedy. One suspects that their now-departed rhythm guitarist Daniel Espinoza also appeared on ‘Only One’, (as with some of their older releases), before he had to leave for New York in a change of careers.
The remaining core trio of The Reckless should enjoy playing their new single at their upcoming shows in the US, due to its high-impact energy and genuine funk flavours. The group claim that the slap-bass fills at the beginning of ‘Only One’s verses are some of their favourite parts of the song, while a new creative stage has dawned for the band in general, through the combining of their songwriting talents as a trio.
If you enjoy listening to ‘Only One’, you’ll most definitely get a kick out of checking out their past singles on their Spotify, diving deeper into this year’s EP, Get In A Fight, or exploring their self-titled 2021 album.
Review By Corin Shearston
