ADAM LEVY Household
Release date: June 4, 2025
Even if the name Adam Levy doesn’t immediately ring a bell, chances are you’ve heard his guitar playing before. Whether alongside Norah Jones, Tracy Chapman, or more recently Lizz Wright, Levy has long been the kind of musician whose touch enhances everything he’s part of. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find a solo discography as rich and varied as his work as a sideman, spanning everything from stripped-down solo guitar to organ trios to singer-songwriter ventures.
His 2023 release Spry, a trio outing with Larry Grenadier and Joey Baron, already showed Levy at a creative high point. But with Household, out June 4, Levy opens yet another chapter—one that further expands his sonic vocabulary while staying unmistakably true to his voice.
A Collaborative Vision with Cinematic Detail
This time, Levy teams up with producer and fellow guitarist Chris Bruce (Meshell Ndegeocello, Seal, Lizz Wright), and together they’ve crafted a record that resists easy classification. Alongside Josh Johnson (saxophone, electronics), Alan Hampton (bass), and Griffin Goldsmith (drums), Levy recorded the album at Tibet Hill Studios in Tehachapi, California, with engineer Lynne Earls capturing every detail.
Household delivers eleven tracks that unfold like scenes in an arthouse film—at times hazy, at times sharply focused, always intentional. From the opening track Main Title, it’s clear this is not just another guitar album. A looping percussion figure, drenched guitars, and a mysterious main theme set the tone before Johnson’s dry, unadorned sax solo slices through the mix with cinematic contrast. Levy follows with a blues-tinged solo that’s relaxed, confident, and utterly his own.
Genre Fluidity and Surprises
First single Lula Mae, in 7/4 time, continues the momentum with hypnotic repetition, electronic textures, and a rhythm section that grooves effortlessly despite the odd meter. Hampton’s bass lines are particularly noteworthy here—melodic, grounded, and responsive to Levy’s phrasing.
Gaslight, the album’s only vocal track, features a guest appearance by Kevin Kapri. A minimal, genre-fluid arrangement lets Kapri’s voice shine, with Levy and the band providing subtle, song-serving accompaniment. It’s a great reminder of Levy’s skill in collaboration and restraint.
Layered Textures, Deep Moods
With Plants, we enter waltz territory, led by acoustic guitar and brushed drums. The harmonic progression is intriguing, and the addition of synths and layered guitar textures keeps it grounded in the overall album aesthetic. The track could easily fall into “pretty” territory, but its structure and production make it something deeper.
Honeyman flips the mood once more—a grittier, riff-driven piece that injects a welcome jolt of energy, while Maria Travia brings us back into introspective terrain. With its looping percussion, delicate keyboards, and lyrical guitar lines, it feels like a wordless ballad—complete with an emotional arc and unspoken poetry.
Instrumentals That Sing
The second single, Charm School, continues this instrumental-vocal ambiguity. It’s another highlight, built around an infectious melody and a gradually intensifying arrangement that culminates in an unexpected orchestral flourish.
Do You Love Me is as gentle as its title suggests. Levy’s guitar sings here—pure, unfussy, and emotionally direct.
Listen to the single Lula Mea and the single Charm School.
Closing Reflections
Magdalena is built around a repeating acoustic guitar riff that sets the foundation for one of the album’s more melodically direct moments. A gentle percussion loop gives the track its pulse, while a warm, lyrical saxophone part enters as a subtle but effective surprise. It’s a track that showcases Levy’s ability to write memorable, vocal-like lines without ever needing words.
By the time we reach Last Roll, the album reasserts its rhythmic strength. The track opens with a commanding double bass line that the entire song is built around. It sets a deep, grounded groove that drives the piece forward, while layers of synth, guitar textures, and saxophone fills add color without overwhelming the core pulse. It’s a strong, purposeful moment that leads the album toward a confident close.
The final track, Two, is a sparse and breathtaking duet between acoustic guitar and alto saxophone. Rubato and raw, it feels like an intimate conversation—the kind you don’t want to end. And that’s the only real complaint about Homeland—it leaves you wanting more.
Final Thoughts
This isn’t just a jazz guitar record. Household is what happens when a master guitarist resists the temptation to show off and instead builds a world, track by track, where nuance, tone, and collaboration carry the story. It’s a record for careful listeners—and one that rewards repeat visits.
Highly recommended.
Follow Adam Levy for more concerts. | Listen to more of his music.
This design by @brianmanley, from a photo by @rosswmayfield.
