Shane Nicholson
It's a Movie
(Virt)
First Appeared in The Music Box, January 2005, Volume 12, #1
Written by John Metzger
No matter what he does, Shane Nicholson just can’t seem to shake the many
comparisons to Neil Finn. Not only do the singers’ voices fall roughly within
the same range, but when one gets right down to it, everything from their
mannerisms to their songwriting styles is also quite similar. Indeed, much of
It’s a Movie, Nicholson’s solo debut, walks a line straight through the
heart of Finn’s gentle, melancholy-drenched folk-pop, while his lyrics mine
those favorite singer/songwriter themes of solitary reflection, loneliness, and
relationships gone astray. As a result, the album is packed with earnest
introspection, though on the title track, Nicholson steps, at least partially,
outside himself to land a sarcasm-laden punch to the chin of music industry.
Cast aside after failing to make a dent in the market with his former band
Pretty Violet Stain, Nicholson just may have the last laugh. Although on
occasion his lyrics are awkward, and several tracks are too brooding and ambient
for their own good, the bulk of It’s a Movie is wistful, dreamy, and
melodic, offering far more promise than most careers tend to require.
It's a Movie is available from Barnes & Noble.
To order, Click Here!
Ratings
1 Star: Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!
Copyright © 2005 The Music Box