Bear Rineheart is a seemingly endless wellspring of new songs. 2023 saw a release from both his major music projects - Needtobreathe and Wilder Woods - and while 2024 was a bit quieter for output, he's already back at in early 2025 with another Wilder Woods album. A more alternative and R&B-flavored endeavor compared to the southern rock stylings of NEEDTOBREATHE, his latest Wilder Woods album continues in the same vein as the self-titled album and Fever / Sky, but with some sonic variations to keep things fresh and fun. On his social media right now, it shows a slew of different playlists Curioso's singles are getting adds for - American Soul, Folk & Americana, New In Rock, Folk Rock, and Alternative - and it's a good indication of how many genres and eras of music we dip into over the album's 35-minute runtime.

Structurally, Curioso is a well-designed album with a healthy assortment of upbeat songs ("Swimming In The Ocean," "Devil In My Eyes"), slower tempo ("Offering," "Wild Fire"), and in between ("Love Last," "Time On My Hand"). It's front-loaded with songs released as singles, but also keeps things going strong with two of the best tracks on the album, "Love Last," and "Where Do We Go From Here" right in the middle. There are no duds here, and it's a pretty even listen quality-wise all the way through. That said, we don't see some of the heights we saw in his current magnum opus, Fever / Sky, (especially the phenomenal track "Maestro (Tears Don't Lie)"), which felt more emotionally and lyrically compelling overall. But the focus here seems to be more on the musical aspect and vocal delivery (if you listen closely, you'll hear some of the most high-pitched harmonies we've heard out of Bear on "Time On Our Hands" and "Love Last"). There's an attention to detail and fun factor that makes it an enjoyable listen every time. The energy of Curioso also feels like it would translate well to a live setting.

There are many more notable elements to the album that are worth highlighting. "Love Last" is possibly the best song for an emotional pull - it's a straightforward acoustic-driven number over a steady drum beat that is all about putting effort into making a romantic love last. "Where Do We Go From Here," the album highlight, has a fascinating musical journey. It starts with a weird vocal effect and tribal drum beat which both drop out for an atmospheric chorus of vocals and horns, and then dives into the second verse with a rock and roll guitar and picks back up with the tribal beat. "Time On Our Hands" has a phenomenal baseline and irresistible melody that is sure to pop up in your head randomly throughout the day. In fact, the baselines throughout the album are a real treat. "Offering" is a beautiful song with a soulful duet between Bear and alternative singer/songwriter Anna Graves. And the fuzzy "Descendants" is a certified jam.

Curioso is a short and sweet album that is easily replayable and pulls from a myriad of musical styles while still sounding modern and relevant. Bear Rineheart has a distinctive and commanding voice, which makes it somewhat surprising how little comparisons to NEEDTOBREATHE are warranted (perhaps with a couple of exceptions like "Devil In My Eyes" and "Wild Fire"). Fans of Wilder Woods will not be disappointed, and it's a great casual starting point for newcomers.

- Review date: 2/6/25, written by Christopher Smith of Jesusfreakhideout.com