Nick 13 – Self-Titled

After Tiger Army’s fourth album, Music From Regions Beyond, any committed fan could tell that front man Nick 13 was itching to write a solo album.  Stripped down tracks like “The Orchard” and “Where The Moss Slowly Grows” were radical and thoroughly enjoyable departures from the band’s usual brand of American psychobilly – their long rooted country-crooner Morrisey-styled influences stronger than ever.  But not wanting to dilute the energy of the band for his own agenda, Nick 13 embarked on a three-year quest to more fully explore and understand his musical craft.

The product of his toils manifests itself as a ten-track, self-titled offering drawing from classic country to twangy Americana.  Ten songs isn’t much to show for a three-year span (mathematically a little over three per year), but if Nick 13’s intent was to write a soul searching, self-defining work, then the ends justify the sluggish means.

It’s no secret that Nick 13 is one of psychobilly’s most vocally talented front men, but until now, those outside this genre niche would have yet to experience his careful croons.  Naturally, Nick doesn’t stray far from the sound that put him on the map, merely reframing and rebranding his talents under the thoughtful cloud of his Americana roots.  He’s a natural fit, with a voice that should not be missed.

One song that’s rooted itself in the back of my mind for weeks now is the forlorn thumper “All Alone.”  Under the thick, signature trot of a meticulously plucked upright bass, Nick’s soft and sorrowful demeanor floats lightly like a murky mist steaming from a damp woodland marsh.  Crooning but a few octaves above a whisper, the words “I’m all alone in this world” role from his tongue with the weighty romanticism of tales of love’s unforgiving touch (the most vivid combining lyrics and the twangy whistle blowing guitar of a distant train). Unique to his solo project he weaves in a fiddle, vividly embellishing and building the track up from its earth beginnings.

For that matter, a sense of loss dominates the disc.  Each note and lyric stands weighted, as if crushed by the world’s suffocating weight.  On “Carry My Body Down” Nick croons curiously about his final resting place, the most emotionally hitting in the lines “Will they carry me from the hangman’s noose after the sentence comes down/will anyone be there to mourn a villain’s passing to the ground.”   A similar sense of loss resonates on the vagrant’s lifestyle retrospective “Gambler’s Life.”  Nick’s subtle awareness completely achieves the dusty, weathered, and aged sense of irreversible regret.  At times like these, he sounds almost more at home than with his band.

Speaking of which, on two occasions Nick revisits past Tiger Army classics in “The Orchard” and “Cupid’s Victim.”  While the first sticks close to its source material, the latter departs from the source material’s slow the punked-up tempo to match the rest of the solo effort.  The result plays like a brand new song altogether.  In fact, I imagine writing a brand new song rather than reworking a classic would have been more effort, so those disappointed in the inclusion of covers should take a wait-and-see approach before jumping to conclusions.

A handful of the most upbeat tunes fall more in line with traditional country and Americana, marking where Nick chances loosing some of his traditional audience.  For example, the pedal steel guitar on tracks like “Nashville Winter” and “Nighttime Sky” above all else root the album in the realm of authentic country, with amplified slides forcing comparisons to a rather stale “new country” market.  But this is my own little picky preference speaking – rest assured this isn’t the norm and you needn’t worry about any Brad Paisley comparisons.

When all is said and done, Nick 13’s official solo debut serves a powerful statement to his deep-rooted talent.  My only hang-up is that Tiger Army fans will already be aware of Nick’s more subtle side, so the disc doesn’t offer many surpruses.  Put otherwise, a sense of predictability parallels the album’s continuity.  That being said, all ten tracks are richly satisfying – Nick’s warm croon quivering with all the innate passion necessary for a life long solo career that could very well outlive his humble origins.  Make no mistake about it, Nick 13 is here to stay.