|
A Singer Explores
Mysteries Of Relationships Local singer and songwriter Nancy Atlas has recently released
her first compact 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 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. |