In my opinion, Nelson was one of those bands who never really got a fair shake. Their sound was too commercial to be taken seriously by many rock fans, and yet they had too much of a rock edge to be considered pop. It seemed to me that they never had time to find their niche, because their debut album, 1990's After The Rain, came out just as the public's taste in music was shifting. The big-haired hard rock of the Eighties was in swift decline, and a band called Nirvana was ushering in the Seattle "grunge rock" movement that would dominate most of the Nineties.
While they did manage to score one well-known hit with their infectiously catchy song (I Can't Live Without Your) Love And Affection, their success proved to be short-lived. The fact that their sound was hard to label, along with the recent shift in style that was being embraced by the fans proved to be too difficult an obstacle to overcome. The other singles they released from After The Rain tanked, as did their second album, 1995's Because They Can. Not surprisingly, the lack of public interest caused them to be dropped from their label.
In the years since, they have continued to release their music independently, but were unable to secure major-label backing. Until 2011, that is! Their third major-label release, Lightning Strikes Twice, was issued through the Frontiers label on February 15, 2011. Lightning Strikes Twice is a blast to listen to; it is filled with the kind of great catchy songs you remember from Nelson. There are 12 new tracks here to enjoy, including: Call Me, Day By Day, Ready Willing And Able, and I'm In It For the Money...all of which are favorites of mine!
Matt and Gunnar have a lot to be proud of in this album; it is quite an accomplishment that positions them perfectly for a big comeback! The brothers play all the instruments themselves, as well as sharing vocal duties. Both are great singers that can belt out a lead vocal or add the perfect harmony to the lead. The songs are solidly constructed, with great lyrics that stick to universal subjects, making them easy to relate to. All of this adds up to a fine album that is fun to listen to and never gets boring!
In summation, I will say that if you like commercial rock that is easy on the ears and very entertaining, then this is the album for you! It's a record that you can put on and escape into. It is one that you don't have to think too hard about; you can just put it on, crank it up, and forget your worries for a while. It's just pure fun all the way! Go and pick it up; I promise you won't be sorry!
No comments:
Post a Comment