Marcus King – El Dorado (CD)

Marcus King's solo debut under Dan Auerbach's production guidance announced the young Greenville, South Carolina guitarist as a generational talent ready for his close-up. El Dorado strips away the Marcus King Band's jam band tendencies to reveal a soulful singer and songwriter channeling classic Stax and Muscle Shoals through contemporary production. The CD captures every nuance of King's whiskey-soaked vocals and fluid guitar work.

Auerbach's Easy Eye Sound studio and production approach proved the perfect match for King's natural gifts—the Black Keys frontman knew exactly how to frame a young Southern guitarist in vintage soul settings without sounding like mere pastiche. Songs like The Well, Wildflowers & Wine, and Beautiful Stranger became instant classics, earning Grammy nominations and establishing King as more than just another blues-rock shredder.

Relix has documented King's rise from teenage prodigy to arena headliner, recognizing his ability to honor the past while creating something distinctly his own. El Dorado remains the clearest statement of that vision.

CD. Concord Records. Produced by Dan Auerbach at Easy Eye Sound. Grammy-nominated solo debut. Southern soul meets contemporary production.