Local singer and songwriter Nancy Atlas has recently released her first compact
disc, "27", a collection of mostly introspective songs about failed or difficult relationships.
The significance of the title,according to Ms. Atlas, is not, as one might guess, related to the route number most people associate with the major east-west thoroughfare on Long Island, Montauk Highway. The number 27 "has always been a lucky number for me," Ms. Atlas said in a recent interview, adding that her recent 27th birthday made the title seem more appropriate.

The back cover of the CD features a reproduction of a painting by Ms. Atlas, sho is also a gifted artist. Although "Nancy Atlas" gets the marquee billing on the disc(its her own CD) Ms. Atlas currently plays with a band -The Nancy Atlas Project- made up of Johnny Blood, lead guitar, Brett King- Bass and matt Dauch,drums, all of whom played on most of the CD and are credited on for their work.

Although most of the songs are contemplative, like "Cold Comfort", ("made me reminisce about forgotten lovers/I wondered what they were doing/ I wondered who they were screwing") songs like "American Girl" (about Ms. Atlas's experiences traveling through Europe) and "The Talkhouse Song" are lighter, more upbeat songs.

Ms.Atlas plays the fragile folk singer in one song and easily moves to the swaggering rock and roller in the other. Her songs display the same versatility, best highlighted by the contrast between "Deeper," one of the stronger voices on the CD, and "Body." Ms. Atlas's voice is attune to her music, moving from a gentle and melodic to raspy, similiar in style to Melissa Etheridge, Sheryl Crow, or Janis Joplin.

"Deeper," a song with a slow, haunting melody, begins,"Every love I've known its come to an end/So Ill sit right here and try to pretend/That you'll take me by suprise/When you tell me that you think its over baby." The only instumentation , an acoustic guitar and a viola played by Rachel Scarlett Birkin, accents Ms. Atlas's quiet, beautiful voice. On the chorus the singers voice is harmonized with itself, creating the effect of two singers, and a sound similiar to Indigo Girls. "Mystery Magic Caravan," another reflective piece-"Am I right where I belong /Or am I far from where I should stand/Are these people I meet ment just for me like a Mystery Magic Caravan."- features a penny whistle played by Carl Obrig and a mandolin played by guitarist Johnny Blood, both of which to the texture of the song.

"Believe in Me," is a song in which the instrumentation doesnt seem to fit the dark lyrical portrayal of a person hurt by a failed relationship. "Lovers make me feel betrayed /So Im gonna give up love and just get laid." Featured on this track is some synthesizer work by the multi talented Atlas, who played both the viola and piano in grade school. "You Take Me Away," another slow, mostly acoustic song, once again showcases Ms. Atlas's best instrument, her voice: "I had Kojak casanovas/Armani wannabees/I had City boy and City boys did nothing for me/ Ohh but You / You take me away/You take me away somehow." "Makeshift Mary." mixes acoustic guitars and strings nicely in a dark song about a girl who cant seem to break away: "She says my dream is taking and breaking the very best part
of me/I cant do, I cant go through it baby all by myself/I want to close this chapter now pull a new book of the shelf."

Also on the CD are the aforementioned "Cold Comfort," a slower song reminiscient of the Sheryl Crow song "Home"; "Galaxy Eyes," a silly but entertaining song with lines like " crazy cosmic Johnny, hes got/Galaxy Eyes, hes' got, Galaxy Eyes/ and all the stars are jealous, from the way that they shine/Galaxy Eyes hes' got /Galaxy Eyes eyes eyes." "Bourbon Street" has a country western twang to it and lyrics to match. (Love aint such a damn mystery/cause all your prophets and your preachers well they let you down/They left you standing alone down on Bourbon Street.") The last track on the disc, "The Talkhouse Song," clearly a crowd favorite even when the venue is not the famed Stephen Talkhouse, is a rocking tune, one of the few that gives the band a chance to really show their stuff.

Currently, Ms. Atlas is playing gigs with her band, hoping to work on new material over the next year or so. At some point she'd also like to make another record of live material with the band. Ms. Atlas has spent some time studying music law and overall gained a "distaste" for the music industry, she is hoping to gain an independent following for her music by selling copies of the CD (she had one thousand produced) through Long Island Sound as well as via her website; www.27east.com/nancyatlas.