Tedeschi Trucks Band : Future Soul : Is This Their BEST Album Yet?

Tedeschi Trucks Band – Future Soul (2026)

Hi, Phil Aston here from Now Spinning Magazine, and today I want to talk about one of those albums that doesn’t just play in the background—it changes how you feel. The new release from Tedeschi Trucks Band, Future Soul, has been doing exactly that for me. I’ve been living with this album for a while now, playing it repeatedly, and I can honestly say it’s already found its place among my favourite releases of the year.

I’ll be upfront with you—I’m a huge fan of this band. I’ve followed them from the beginning, collected the albums, and like many of you, I’ve experienced that almost spiritual connection you get when you watch them perform live. Because that’s what this band is about. They’re not just a group of musicians—they’re a collective, a family, a unit that creates music in the moment. In a world where there’s so much discussion around artificial intelligence and manufactured creativity, Tedeschi Trucks Band remain something beautifully rare: completely human, completely organic, and utterly authentic.

That authenticity runs right through Future Soul. From the opening moments of “Crazy Crying,” you’re drawn into a groove that feels both familiar and fresh at the same time. There’s a warmth to the sound—a richness that comes from real musicians playing together, listening to each other, and responding in real time. Susan Tedeschi’s voice is, as always, the emotional centre of everything. She doesn’t just sing the lyrics—she inhabits them. There’s a sense that every word means something, and that connection pulls you in immediately.

As the album unfolds, what strikes me most is how it manages to feel uplifting without ever becoming superficial. Tracks like “I Got You” carry that sun-soaked, road-trip energy, the kind of song you can imagine playing as you drive through the Cornish lanes in summer. But equally, it works just as well on a grey winter’s day, lifting your mood and shifting your mindset. There’s a moment in that track where the vocal harmonies open up and you can hear echoes of The Doobie Brothers, and it’s impossible not to smile. It’s not imitation—it’s lineage. You can hear where this music comes from, and how it’s been lovingly carried forward.

That sense of heritage is something Tedeschi Trucks Band handle beautifully. You hear traces of The Allman Brothers Band in the interplay between instruments, in the way the songs breathe and expand, but at no point do they feel like a retro act. This is very much their own voice. Derek Trucks’ guitar playing is a perfect example of that. He’s a player who could easily dominate every track, but instead he chooses his moments carefully. His playing is lyrical, measured, and always in service of the song. When he does step forward, it elevates everything around it.

One of the real joys of this album is the relationship between Susan and Derek. There’s a musical telepathy between them that’s difficult to describe unless you’ve heard it. On a track like “Who Am I,” the guitar almost becomes a second voice, gently responding to Susan’s vocal lines, wrapping itself around the melody rather than competing with it. It creates this sense of space and intimacy that draws you deeper into the music.

But what really surprised me about Future Soul is its willingness to push into new territory. The title track, which opens side two of the vinyl, comes in with a weight and energy that I didn’t see coming. There’s a hard rock edge here—something that feels closer to late ’60s and early ’70s British blues rock, even hints of Mountain and Leslie West in the riffing. Susan delivers one of her most powerful vocals on the album, full of attitude and confidence, and Derek responds with a solo that is as close to heavy as I’ve heard him go. It’s electrifying, and it leaves you wanting more, which is exactly what great music should do.

What also stands out is how much this album feels like a true band effort. Mike Mattison’s contributions are essential, both in terms of songwriting and his distinctive voice, which brings a different texture to the record. Gabe Dixon’s writing and keyboard work add further depth, and across the album you can hear how each member contributes to the overall sound. This isn’t about spotlighting individuals—it’s about collective expression, and that’s something that becomes increasingly rare the more polished and production-heavy modern music becomes.

There are moments here that lean into gospel, soul, blues, Americana—all the elements you’d expect—but they’re blended in a way that feels effortless. “Devil Be Gone” is a standout for me, with its blues shuffle structure and that wonderful call-and-response dynamic between vocal and guitar. It builds to a point where you just know a guitar solo is coming, and when it arrives, it delivers in a way that feels both powerful and completely natural. It’s not about showing off—it’s about storytelling through sound.

By the time you reach the closing track, “Ride On,” the album settles into something more reflective. It feels like the end of a journey, both musically and emotionally. The imagery in the lyrics is beautiful, almost cinematic, and Derek’s slide guitar floats above it all, creating this sense of calm and resolution. It’s one of those endings that doesn’t just conclude an album—it lingers with you.

And that, ultimately, is what Future Soul does so well. It lingers. It stays with you long after the music stops. For me, this is what music is supposed to do. It should take you somewhere else, pull you out of the noise of everyday life, and reconnect you with something deeper. I’ve often said that music is the healer and the doctor, and this album is a perfect example of that. It’s one I’ll be returning to again and again, depending on how I feel and what I need in that moment.

Tedeschi Trucks Band continue to evolve, to grow, and to refine their sound without ever losing sight of who they are. And with Future Soul, I genuinely believe they’ve created one of the strongest albums not just of their career, but of this year.

ORDER A COPY OF TEDESCHI TRUCKS FUTURE SOULS ON VINYL

ORDER A COPY OF TEDESCHI TRUCKS FUTURE SOULS ON CD

Phil Aston | Now Spinning Magazine