This is not a new announcement or anything as this campaign I believe was 1st launched about 2 or 3 weeks ago. I saw it and meant to contribute, but never got around to it until yesterday.
Yeah another crowd-funding campaign (this blog almost seems like it's becoming just for forwarding along just those, lol).
And her campaign appears to be nearly fully funded at 88%, and 43 days left. I honestly am not surprised by that as she has a pretty good following and has been around for a number of years. Her last record Mondo Amore from 2011 I felt was her best and I recall putting it pretty high on my year end list. But the way she talks about this new record Slow Phaser, I wouldn't be surprised if this new record is even better.
Funny video there that I'm failing to find an embed code for.
Also odd of the name of her self-formed label is "Oh'Mercy!" ..I say that because when searching on google for it, you get a A Record Label called "Oh Mercy" which may not have meant anything to Nicole when she chose a name for it, but I'm just saying, many may find that other label's site when looking for her label.
I am assuming this album will not be released until 2014, even if it is being Self-Released, given the campaign itself almost goes to the end of 2013 alone. If by some chance it comes out in December, even as a Download to the pledgers, well that would be cool and I'll post more about that when it happens.
We’ve been fans of the best thing to come out of New Jersey since
Springsteen and Paulie Walnuts, acclaimed singer songwriter Nicole
Atkins, for quite some time! We’ve followed her in a none stalky way
ever since her ‘Blood Diamonds’ EP introuduced us to a
vocal and song writing talent that left us in awe. A voice that can send
shivers down your spine, illuminate the bleakest of days and generally
make the world seem a better place (yes even Birkenhead on giro day!) Since then she ‘s performed on ‘Letterman,’ ‘Conan,’ ‘Later With Jools Holland,’
released two critically acclaimed albums, collaborated with David
Byrne, toured with The Black Keys, hung out with Springsteen fell out
with her record company, and generally experienced the often bumpy but
nevertheless exciting ride that only venturing out on the rock n roll
highway can offer. Some people are, as they say , born to do it ! She reunites with Tore Johansson who produced her beautiful début album ‘Neptune City’ for her third long player entitled ‘Slow Phaser’
which includes a number of tracks co-written with the legendary Jim
Sclavunos (Grinderman, Bad Seeds, and The Cramps). She’s also given us
an exclusive stream of one such track, the first from the forthcoming
album, the dark sensual ‘Red Ropes.’ She’s just touched down in the UK to start a tour opening for the EELS and y’know what? The world really does seem
a better place – it’s great to have her back and sounding on such great
form. Check the song out below and catch her on tour (dates below.)
This is a pretty long/delayed and belated review (1 of a handful that are due of course. But all I can do is give as much effort as I can. In due time hopefully, all this stuff will be caught-up and accomplished. Afterall, I am my own boss, hehe :p).
So, Nicole Atkins released this/her 2nd proper full length album Mondo Amore a little bit out of nowhere to me, in February. And I really hadn't thought about her since hearing and enjoying much of 2008's Neptune City I always thought of her as like Linda Ronstadt doing orchestral pop.
Well on Mondo Amore, I think she's more than that. Mondo Amore really is an eclectic, consistent, energetic, dreamy-at times rock record. And I guess she was thinking or aiming at making something sounding like a classic, Classic-Rock record. Led Zeppelin, Cream (maybe Heart or Springsteen?)..some others I recall she referenced in an interview I saw just after the show in St.Paul at the Turf Club.
edit: well she mentions The Doors, along with Nick Cave, Echo and the Bunnymen, Ennio Morricone, and George Harrison here. But there's another video interview I saw where she mentioned more of wanting to make a "classic rock sounding" record. That I'm not finding right now (the only artists I'd think of "classic rock" among those being The Doors and George Harrison anyway).
I guess I can say this album has many songs or sections I just love. Many of the guitar riffs, and even solos totally grab me. And her vocals even, are as good, if not better than on Neptune City. There's probably 2 or 3 times I was reminded of, of all singers, Janelle Monáe. The dreamy chanting and what not. Although I'll admit, I went back and checked out Party's Over and the Bleeding Diamonds EP recently, and the Monáe similarities seemed to come up there as well.
So I'm unclear what that means. Was Janelle listening to Neptune City when she wrote the Archandroid? lol, Or is it pure style of singing and coincidence?
Anyway, no matter how similar or not, this album is a big step up, and my interest in her has never been higher. I guess in terms of songs to namedrop: Cry Cry Cry, The Tower, My Baby Don't Lie, Vultures, War is Hell.
Memorable melodies and sections. Even just how she used piano in it, with the segues and transitions.
And for good reason, it's my 3rd favorite record at this point, in 2011. 4-stars, and an album I plan to go back to a lot this year. Hopefully to look forward to her playing live here again.
And now to talk a little about seeing Nicole Atkins and "The Black Sea" (maybe they should have gone to the great Turkish restaurant down the road from the Turf Club on Snelling in St.Paul? maybe they did even, lol :p).
Her band had consistent energy, playing I'd say close to 90 minutes, and I don't believe the whole Mondo Amore album, but more than half. Her band went back and forth between MA and Neptune City. Including probably my 2 favorite tunes, being the title track of Neptune City and The Tower from the new record.
And one clear thing is, The Black Sea is an awfully talented band, including Irina Yalkowsky, her rather melodic and precise guitarist. I actually got images of Theresa Wyman from Warpaint at times seeing Irina. Really good, virtuosic, wonderful tone and ability to change modes with ease. Well, not to mention, like Theresa, Irina is awfully pretty and brunette. Part of me couldn't stop focusing on her. Maybe I have a thing for the chick who can shred but is still sensitive? 2 things I'm attracted to in musicianship and beauty, combined. I think it would almost be impossible for me (or others for that matter) not to be :p
Irina I guess has played with a number of bands, namely The Brian Jonestown Massacre, and only recently has joined Nicole's band. And she plays many if not all of the solos on Mondo Amore I recall. It's cool and a bit unexpected, yet really refreshing to hear another female guitarist stand out in such a musician-oriented way, that I'll confess, I almost assumed was a guy. So, I'm glad she is part of Nicole's band, and look forward to seeing them again and whatever Nicole and her band do in the future on record.
I also recall asking her if she had some of her own music, and Irina told me she did, but I'm not clear if it's available, like on bandcamp or facebook even. But it's something to seek out. She may have told me she has written it, but not recorded it, I forget (belated entry-itis :[).
