Nicole Atkins - Neptune City

I've already told you how magnificent New Jersey's Nicole Atkins is to see in a live setting. I've already told you how her CD "Neptune City" ranked number four on my year end best of. However, it occurs to me that I have never actually done an official full review of this CD on the blog, and although I have many other CD's to tell you about, I do want to take one last opportunity to sing her praises before I move on.

Simply put, this magnificent CD is by far the one I've listened to the most over the last couple of weeks. What makes it so good? Well, first of all, let's start with the album's production. It is incredibly glossy and pristine, and, to be honest, that isn't always my cup of tea. But when coupled with her outstanding voice, instead of sounding over-produced, it comes across as having a real classic wall-of-sound feel. Her music is solid orchestral pop that harks back to the female vocalists of yore. There's a definite trace of Patsy Cline meets Stevie Nicks, with a little more whiskey scratch in the voice. First and foremost though, it is the strength of the songs that wins me over. The album opens strong with Maybe Tonight, a happy number that harks back to old 50's jukebox country classics. The orchestration on Together We're Both Alone has a slight James Bond feel, before she ventures into a Neko Case territory with a chorus that is so powerful it will surely knock the wind out of you before you even know what's going on. The Way It Is is the first single, and it slithers along like an intoxicated lounge lizard, truly displaying the strength of Nicole's vocal prowess. What is most impressive is the fact that, after a few listens, every single song on this release is money in the bank. There is a lot of instrumentation taking place, but the power of her voice is easily on par with everything else, that it still remains front and center to this album's overall charm. War Town and Kill The Headlights demonstrate this fact illustriously, inducing the greatest of chills. The album ends with Party's Over, a song that is hookier than an album closer really has a right to be. At just under 40 minutes, this release definitely leaves you wanting more, which is why it's been in constant rotation on my ipod ever since I was first introduced to it.

It should be noted that the album is a little bit different than the stripped down indie pop twee that some of us usually listen to. That being the case, it may take a few listens to sink in. But believe me, when it does, it's burned in your head for good and I cannot say enough good things about Neptune City.

Nicole Atkins and the Sea is coming to Toronto for the first time as a headliner on Sunday February 17th at Lee's Palace. At $10.50, there truly is no excuse for not checking this one out.

Photo and illustration by Lucia Holm
Download:
Party's Over mp3
Myspace:
Nicole Atkins
Videos:
Pissing In A River (Live In Copenhagen) youtube
Neptune City youtube
The Way It Is youtube