 Nathan Welden
Sometimes music is all things to all people - catchy, insightful, toe-tapping, and artistic. Think Stevie Wonder. Trying to accomplish this difficult task makes pop music a huge hit as often as it creates artistic disasters. Refreshingly, as a musician who openly states his detachment regarding fame and fortune, Nathan Welden focuses on his art first. He sticks to his guns and at the same time makes a great-sounding record filled with catchy melodies, insightful lyrics, and toe-tapping rhythms. Live Your Song has a strong romantic undercurrent. Depending on your tastes this could be a virtue or a vice. I'm reminded of Bruce Springsteen's "Human Touch" from the early 1990s. Many of Springsteen's fans at the time felt that the album didn't "rock" hard enough, like "Born to Run" or "Born in the USA." But, in retrospect, the album was about romance and romance doesn't exactly "rock." It flows. Live Your Song flows and it's also a romantic record. Plus, Welden walks a line with his subject matter, sharing a perspective that men (not just women) will relate to - discovering that love can still let you wander. The opening track, "Kite in the Wind," feels vulnerable and optimistic at the same time - a feel-good song that makes you want to get in the car and drive to the beach with your sweetheart. It's a great start and sets the mood for an album that plays like a comfy house concert. "Courtney's Song" chronicles the moment-to-moment autobiographical realizations and reflections of a groom on his wedding day. "Dad I Never Had" pays homage to the bittersweet strains and victories within a single-parent family - a particularly moving and original song. There is a clear sonic consistency in Live Your Song - a quiet strength. Songs like "Tumbleweed Tales" and the title track, "Live Your Song," feel like a cross between Jimmy Buffet's "Come Monday" and James Taylor's "Fire and Rain." They make us feel a longing, even for the moment that we're in. However, some of these tracks could inspire even more emotion. I would have liked to hear vocal harmonies in more of these songs; it seems natural to have male and female harmonies with Welden's amorous subject matter. Also, at times I wished that the emotional gravity of these songs were supported more completely by the production style. The songs only really began to soar after I listened to the album a handful of times. This album stirs with deeper merits. Welden's performance (on tape and in person) always hits the mark. His voice is clear, his songs are well crafted, and his delivery is precise. He rarely gets too misty-eyed (as singer-songwriters have exhibited a capacity to do) and he successfully avoids bogging down his songs with narrow, "only-I-know-what-I'm-talking-about" stuff. Live Your Song conveys real life and real feelings. Nathan Welden artfully reminds us that romance is well deserving of its prominent place as one of music's primary themes, to be sung about and reflected upon. |
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