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Nicole Atkins
A few months ago, I laid out a bunch of updates/things you had to know about Nicole Atkins and her long-awaited sophomore album. Instead of going into a big long story, I simply numbered and rattled off a slew of updates, which is what I’m going to do here because there’s just too many happenings. So, without further ado…
1. It’s no longer Nicole Atkins and the Sea; it’s Nicole Atkins and the Black Sea. This one is fairly obvious because like I said before…
2. …there’s a completely new lineup. In the other update, I wasn’t 100 percent sure about who had joined the band. That appears to have been cleared up by the MySpace page. The newbies are Bradley York (guitar), Anthony Chick (bass) and Chris Donofrio (drums), all courtesy of the band Sikamor Rooney. There’s also someone named Eytan, but I’m not sure what he does (probably keys?) or from where he came. My only guess is that he’s replacing the one and only Dan “Cashmere” Chen.
3. If you’re curious to hear how the new band sounds recorded, check out the haunting cover of Michael Jackson’s “Ben.”
4. If you’re curious to hear how the new band is shaping the epic track “The Tower,” which Atkins debuted at Austin City Limits Festival with her old band one year ago, head over to her MySpace. A recent live version is currently the very top track.
5. I’ve looked up and down to see where I heard this, and I finally found it on a June 29 posting on Facebook.
“excited to finish the new demo of “i wait for you” shit is sounding heeeeaaavy.”
That’s pretty neat, considering this track has become a live staple since early 2008 and there’s been little mention of it in regards to the new record. This seems to affirm it will be on the new record. Check out Dave Cromwell’s Aug. 6 video of the song with the Black Sea:
It’s difficult to tell from this video, but the track appears to be lacking the grand orchestration Cashmere provided in the earlier versions.
6. Also, if you’re interested in more video from that show, check out these professional-looking clips on Vimeo, including “The Tower” and “Hotel Plaster.” One is a new track I haven’t heard before, “Heavy Boots.”
7. Ms. Atkins is no longer with Columbia Records. I heard this a little while back, and here’s the official announcement from her blog (where you can find a lot of this info):
“as most of you have probably read columbia and i have parted ways. don’t fret, nothing terrible happened. i really enjoyed releasing neptune city with them and all of the help with touring and promo that they gave me. i learned a lot and am definitely grateful for the doors that they opened for me with my career. they gave me a great jumpoff and tis only the beginning. in the end, we just were not a good fit anymore. regardless, the record is ready to be recorded. we are talking to a few good labels that i really like and respect and will have some news to report to you guys shortly on that front so hang tight bunnies.”
From what I can gather, Columbia just wasn’t getting the job done. Apparently, turnover at the label was/is pretty rampant, making it difficult to get going on something (i.e. making an album). The Raveonettes also left the label for similar reasons a couple years ago.
So there you have it. Updates aplenty. In the meantime, the band is touring this fall. Here are the dates:
September
19 – New York, N.Y. @ Webster Hall
October
18 – Boston, Mass. @ House of Blues
20 – Iowa City, Iowa @ Englert Theater
21 – Madison, Wisc. @ The Barrymore Theater
22 – Urbana, Ill. @ The Canopy Club
24 – Chicago, Ill. @ Subterranean
26 - Cleveland, Ohio @ Beachland Tavern
27 – Pittsburgh, Pa. @ Club Cafe
29 – Huntington, W. Va. @ Keith Albee Theatre
30 – Louisville, Ky. @ Louisville Palace
31 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Ryman Auditorium
November
2 – Charlotte, N.C. @ Snug Harbor
(...with the old Sea) Photo taken by J.J. McCarthy
First off, I must give my good Internet buddy, Dave Cromwell, credit for bringing this to my attention. Nicole Atkins and the Sea played a bunch of new songs at the Stone Pony in Jersey on the 22nd, giving us further insight into the unofficially titled Mondo Amore, due January 2010 on Columbia Records. A couple people in the audience captured a good portion of the show, Dave being one of them. But in the interest of getting better audio, I have decided to embed another user’s videos. Don’t be upset with me, Dave! In fact, you should check out his YouTube channel because he lives in the New York area and goes to a ton of great shows, video camera always in hand.
But, on to the tunes. These were uploaded by PRProsNJ, so give them credit. One of the first things you’ll notice if you’re a big Nicole Atkins fan is the lack of sheen. Yes, the sound is layered, but not grand like Neptune City. A couple of things to take into consideration on that. One, she has a new cast of characters backing her. Two, maybe they haven’t figured in the finer details of the orchestration at this point. Then again, maybe that big sound just doesn’t fit into this new record. Or maybe yet, the sound on the video doesn’t come through very well. Who knows? Also take note… Nicole isn’t using her signature black Hagstrom guitar, instead opting for the white Jazzmaster.
Here’s a preview of some of the songs bound to make it on Album #2. In her own words, we’ve “got another year or two of these.”
“The Tower”
Nicole first unveiled this song at Austin City Limits Festival last October, and it’s stayed with her ever since. Epic in scope, “The Tower,” if recorded and produced properly, is the kind of track that’s sure to be a memorable album closer.
“Hotel Plaster”
I think a lot of people were hoping this song would be taken to the next level when Nicole played it at an acoustic set late last year. It has that oh-look-my-tear-soaked-guts-are-everywhere atmosphere her longing voice delivers with such ease and professionalism. Bound to be a classic.
“Cry Cry Cry”
This one has “single” written all over it. Despite the title, it’s straightforward, upbeat, carefree and perfect for, if nothing more, an upcoming iPod commercial. She first played this one acoustically a couple months ago.
“Civil War”
Unveiled the same time as “Cry Cry Cry,” it’s more of a chilled-out downer. Perfect for falling asleep with the bedroom window open in the dead of summer. It grows on you; give it time.
“This is the Love”
Is it “This is the Love” or “This is for Love”? It’s tough to tell. Dave seems to think it’s the former based on his recording, and after listening to it a couple times, I tend to agree with him. PRProsNJ seems to think it’s the latter. Whatever. All I know is this: It’s a rock ‘n’ roll song, something the singer/songwriter obviously wants more of on this album.
“You Come to Me”
Another rock number littered with classic-rock keyboards. It’s fast, edgy and even a little sassy. Definitely new territory here.
“Make You Mine”
This is like party rock music. You’ve got the lead guitar paving the way for an explosion of keyboards and yes, a trumpet! In the words of Justin Townes Earle, “Get your dancin’ shoes ready.”
“Oh Canada”
Wow. Just wow. This song is really special. Not only does it have single potential with those “ooh oohs,” it’s also one of Atkins’ most beautifully constructed heartbreak tunes.
So there’s eight songs that will probably be on the new album, which makes you wonder what the status is on some of these other “new” tracks:
“Call Me the Witch”
Debuted the same time as “Hotel Plaster,” but has mysteriously disappeared from YouTube. I thought this one was pretty good, not completely unlike “Civil War,” breezy and longing. My prediction: It will make the album.
“Caught in the Way”
Nicole played this song backstage at Bonnaroo 2008 exclusively for Spin magazine. After you get past initial shock that it’s unlike anything off Neptune City, that chorus gets stuck in your head. Unfortunately, that was probably the first and last time the masses heard it. (She had played it earlier in Jersey). Click here for a listen. My prediction: No way will it make the album.
“I Wait for You”
Even to this day, this song is a bit of a mystery to me. It’s a live staple but isn’t on any of Nicole’s recorded efforts (the demo, the EP or the album). In my opinion, it’s one of her best songs, period. It seems to have surfaced October 2007 (right around the time the debut dropped) at Austin City Limits Festival. This is ex-member Cashmere at his best — great, ever-present piano and string-keyboards throughout. It’s so dramatic, it could come off cheesy if the wrong band performed it. My prediction: As great and deserving as this song is, I have a bad feeling it won’t make it on the album.
…and all the rest
There are three other songs I can think of that were once in the running for the new album: “Teen Creep,” “Darkness Falls So Quiet” and “Lick From the Bones.” With this latest set at the Stone Pony taken into consideration, I can see all three of them making the album, especially “Teen Creep.”
But at this point, it’s all speculation. When you have seven or so months in the runup to an album, anything can happen. More to come…
Photo taken by J.J. McCarthy
One of my most anticipated releases of 2009 unfortunately just became one of my most anticipated releases of 2010. Jersey singer/songwriter Nicole Atkins guested on 105.7 The Hawk, a local radio station, this past Sunday night. Tagging along were a couple of her new bandmates, which brings me to a slew of things you gotta know regarding the new record. In October 2007, Atkins’ long-awaited debut, Neptune City, had a big impression on me because it seemed so big, yet unbelievably accessible. More like a film soundtrack and less bloated than a Pink Floyd/Radiohead endeavor–not that those influences weren’t there. But it seemed more influenced by the ’60s and late ’70s than anything. Even though the critics rarely mention Elvis Costello, I think some of his early work’s fingerprints were present.
But now, I’m just going off on a tangent. The new album…this information is sourced from all over, so I will link where I can. Without further deviation, here are a few things you need to know about the upcoming Nicole Atkins record.
1. Atkins was originally hoping the record would be released this summer (according to Atkins herself)…
2. …but it is now set for a January 2010 release. I heard this second bit while she was being interviewed on 105.7 The Hawk.
3. Speaking of The Hawk, she had a couple new band members with her. If you go to Atkins’ MySpace, it appears the whole line up has been replaced, including the one and only Cashmere (Dan Chen).
4. The new members, as best I can tell, are as follows: Brad York and Anthony Chick (from Sikamor Rooney), Lloyd Pescatore Esq. and Christopher and Anthony Rugulia (according to Atkins’ MySpace). I’m not sure if the people she has listed overlap with the guys from Sikamor Rooney. The official lineup has yet to be 100 percent confirmed.
5. The band is still called Nicole Atkins and the Sea (according to her interview on The Hawk)
6. The new record will be called Mondo Amore. No official announcement has been made, but on her personal blog late March, she’d said she thought of this name.
7. This bit is not confirmed, but I believe she said she had 15 tracks for the new album (again, while on The Hawk). It sounds like a lot, so I’ll bet I either heard wrong, or the track list probably dwindles between now and the January release.
More updates on this soon…
