Toledo’s Nathan Roberts has left behind his solo career and teamed up with Daniel and Joel Trzcinski to form Nathan Roberts & the New Birds. The band’s self-titled debut album is loaded with pop-Americana gems. Upon listening to the album for the first time, I immediately made the connection to Ryan Adams with a pinch of Top 40.
That’s not to say that every song is upbeat or fast paced, in fact some of the best ones may be the more subdued tracks. “Walk On” and “Until the End” are just two examples of slower, more Americana songs. These two songs in particular are filled to the brim with soul and heartfelt lyrics that are able to shine in thanks to the mellow tones.
Don’t get me wrong, though, the poppier songs on the album are just as good as the others and really pull off a fun sound that Jim James would be proud of. “In Stereo”, “No Trouble”, and “Mind Reader” really come off well, hitting an almost 70’s southern rock sound.
All in all, this is a fantastic debut album, one that has me anxious to hear more down the road. My one gripe would be that a few of the songs sound a little similar, so much so that I had to check to see if the album had started over. This doesn’t take away much from the overall experience, however. If you’re a fan of singer / songwriters with an Americana flare, then I can’t imagine you not enjoying this album.
Release Date: November 5th, 2013
Rating: 4/5
Runtime: ≈33 minutes
Track List:
1. In Stereo
2. No Trouble
3. Dead on Arrival
4. Step into the Light
5. Walk On
6. Heaven Knows
7. Mind Reader
8. Please Don’t
9. Two Dreamers in One Dream
10. Until the End
Nathan Roberts & the New Birds are:
Nathan Roberts – Vocals / Guitar
Daniel Trzcinski – Keys / Guitar
Joel Trzcinski – Drums
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Written By: Mark Northern
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