Nick Bertling “Process and Contact”
Nick Bertling is joined by a stellar supporting cast: Lindsay Murray (Gretchen’s Wheel), Max Mueller (Love Nut), Andy Bopp (Myracle Brah), Dolph Chaney, Ahren Bucheister, Fernando Perdomo, Jim Trainor, and Kevin & Scott Robertson (The Vapour Trails). This is a fantastic concept album about dealing with a musician’s anxiety. “A New Day” is a soaring melodic hopeful opener, recalling Todd Rundgren and Jon Brion, loaded with amazing guitar work. But Nick’s self-awareness sticks out on “Not Very Good,” as he wonders as a struggling musician, “When does this become fun?”
The album starts with personal stories like “Lillie” and “The Heckler,” which could be a lost They Might Be Giants tune. The anxiety and depression seem to increase as we move forward with “Falling Apart” and “Intrusive Thoughts.” But the tone starts to change, and the music gets heavier and better with “There Was A Thing.” Along the way, the melodies get bolder and the riffs have confidence in “When She Comes To Town” and “The Things We Lost.” It ends quietly, with “If Ever” and the moral of our story. Repeat listens reward the listener, and it’s highly recommended.
Ian M. Bailey “We Live In Strange Times”
The melodies, harmonies, and arrangements that Ian Bailey creates are widely recognized for their exceptional quality. His album from last year, ‘You Paint The Picture’ was on my radar, but I didn’t get the chance to review it. I’m glad that this release follows a similar path, so stock up on his earlier music for more of this. The tunes “The Last Chime” and “It’s Summer Rain” both have a soothing positive vibe and a pleasant melody, and their jangling Byrdisan tones are similar. The title track (“We Live In Strange Times”) and “Mother Nature (giving out signs)” both feature a sitar, and the song’s earnest commitment to the environment is similar to the music of the late-60s era Moody Blues.
Even though “She Waltzes With the Devil” appears to be more mired in a psychedelic approach, Ian shifts the tone and employs some steel pedal guitar accents to alt-country ballads such as “Dance Around the Room,” “Country Girl,” and “The Sweet Smell of Roses” about halfway through the album. The song “Pray for Me,” which features a catchy hook in the chorus, is sure to be well-received by fans of the band Dropkick. Anyone who enjoys jangle rock will find this to be a very good album overall.
