After the roses
author: Tim Fike
Great sound enjoyed very much. I very much enjoy Nolands voice. Can't wait for the next Muskellunge CD
Read more...
Sparse Simple and Seductive Country
author: Jeremy Searle
Americana UK review
Nolan McKelvey & 33 “After the Roses”
1. (Independent 2005) Review by Jeremy Searle -AmericanaUK
Sparse, simple and seductive country. The thought of a solo album by a band’s bass player is often not one to gladden the heart. So it’s a somewhat unexpected pleasure to find Nolan McKelvey’s “After the Roses”. Late of Boston’s folk/country Benders, it’s his second album and a fine effort, in a generally, but not exclusively, languid and aching vein. The opening notes of lead-off track “Starry Eyed and Blue” recall Justin Rutledge with uncanny verisimilitude. There’s the same sparseness, the same slow, measured vocals, with just a hint of despair. And the opening line “The wind in the limbs sings hymns to you” reveal McKelvey to be a lyricist of similar skill. Using a sailing trip as metaphor for life, it’s a beautiful, slow building, hymnal song. There are more tracks in the same style, and to the same standard, scattered across the album (“After the Wine”, “Embers and Ashes”) but McKelvey doesn’t limit himself to just one thing. “Aim is True” is laced with dobro in true country style, while he does rather good country-pop too with “Fallin” and particularly “Sundress” (written by erstwhile bandmate Bow Thayer), whose chorus is as irresistible as anything you’re likely to hear any time soon. His music is simple and unadorned, with nods to classic Fifties country and bluegrass (The Benders forte), well produced (by McKelvey) and excellently played by various Boston scene luminaries and friends. www.nolanmckelvey.com
Read more...
Excellent lyrics with some rock n' twang. Great production too!
author: Charlie
This is the former co-front man of the three headed beast bostoners know as the benders. Also fronted Flagstaff, Az based Onus B. Johnson. If you liked those, you'll love this cd. He loses a little bit of the bluegrass and picks up a bit more of a twangy rock sound, but the real highlights are several of the slower tracks where the lyrics come to the front. "after the wine" is one of the most beautiful love songs I've heard in a long while. There are several extraordinary twangy pop songs like "fallin" and "sundress" as well. I highly recommend this disc for people that like Jayhawks, Whiskeytown, and Chris Hillman style twang rock...
Read more...
top shelf
author: dave d
this CD has songs that capture the listener right away from beginning to end. great songwriting. you won't want to take it out of your CD player.
Read more...