Thundercat Enlists Yacht Rock Gods Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald for Groovy “Show You the Way”

After the release of his 2015 breakthrough, The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam, Thundercat kept himself very busy the following year, with appearances on Kendrick Lamar’s untitled unmastered., features on previously unreleased Flying Lotus tracks, and the release of sprightly single “Bus in These Streets” at the end of summer. The effervescence of that song has spilled over into the new year, manifesting itself on his latest effort, “Show You the Way,” from forthcoming album Drunk. The track is an expression of love and light that finds him trading verses with a pair of unexpected, yet completely logical co-conspirators: yacht rock maestros Kenny Loggins and Michael McDonald.

The meeting of Loggins and McDonald is tried and true, yet it’s still comforting to hear their voices in tandem, sounding as rich and unmistakably smooth as ever. Thundercat’s undulating soul bassline was made for them to glide on. Although in this production, his bass plays a secondary role to the array of bright keys, psychedelic synth flourishes, and Loggins’ spaced-out, processed vocals, which guide the song on its trip through the cosmos. But there’s no doubt that Thundercat is the captain of the vessel, literally calling the inflight entertainers to the stage (“Tell ’em how you feel, Kenny…Ladies and gentlemen, Michael McDonald”). He establishes the joyful tone throughout, cycling back to his under-celebrated falsetto on every chorus. “Show You The Way” is a strong return from the bass virtuoso, showing that he can bridge the gap between two disparate eras with ease, while strengthening the case for Thundercat the singer—who more than holds his own against two vocal powerhouses.

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