Dusty Nickels AreThe Next Big Thing
author: Annyn Roehn
Let me get the one less than wonderful comment out of the way first. When you put on this album and settle in to listen, you might think that the first two songs have a very similar rhythm... but listen with both ears and you'll find that the playing of the Dusty Nickels is vibrant with harmonics, melody and most of all, lyrics. Hey folks, you don't get a good song writer very often, but Zev Hardman has a gift, well, actually he has three. He can write, he sing, and, man, what a voice. My father used to give me a concoction of lemon juice, honey and whisky to help me get over a cold, I can't help but think of that whenever I hear Hardman's sensuous baritone putting out clear, clean lyrics; sweet, sharp, clean, burning into my soul. And the third talent that makes the Dusty Nickels so awesome? Hardman and his cohorts, August Selby and Austin Goldin know their instruments and play to make every note meaningful.
Dusty Nickels also has variety to it's art. It's true that all the songs are about relationships, but it spans so many different levels and types. If you've dated more than one or two people you'll be loving these songs that talk of getting into relationships, and out and sometimes just redefining them. Middle of the Night talks of the angst of loving two people, Amoung the Ones is a peek into the intimacy of a couple. The visual descriptions, the alternation of speaking in third person, the emotion that is relayed by lyric and melody compels the listener to sit up and say, play that one again, please!
This is an album that needs to get into the hands of musicians such as Tom Petty and Dwight Yoakum. Music stations that promote independent artists need to play this. The songs stay with you and you want to listen again and again. I hope to hear and see much more of this fantastic trio soon.
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