The Harder Stuff
Self-Released, 2022
9/10
The Nashville resident Nick Nace made his way back to his birthplace of Canada during the pandemic, where he spent much time penning this new album of acoustic based songs that takes help from Jon Latham (guitar), Todd Bolden (bass), Erin Nelson (drums), Megan palmer (fiddle), John Henry Trinko (keyboard and accordion), Owen Beverly (organ) and John Calvin Abney (accordion and bell).
Nace starts the listen with much beauty, as the warm organ and soothing vocals of “Figure 8’s” is a hard luck story that mixes folk and Americana with strategic backing vocals, and “There’s No Music In Music City” continues the strong songwriting with a thicker approach that’s a bit crunchy in a poetic, dreamy fashion.
Halfway through, “The Piece That Fits” brings subtle accordion to the intimate landscape, while “Someday Is Too Far Away” is bit more firm initially before Nace settles into an introspective tone that benefits from Nelson’s drums and Trinko’s keys.
Further still, the upbeat melodies of “The Skin Of Our Teeth” emit a very memorable version of roots rock, and “Last Call” exits the listen with a haze of atmosphere and a bit of a cosmic country that you can’t help but be smitten with.
Nace is a hell of a storyteller, he’s got a set of pipes that greet you like an old friend, and his alt-folk, rugged country and flowing rootsy ways are at a creative high on this excellent listen.
Travels well with: Silver Lake 66- Ragged Heart; Michael Shaw- He Rode On