Search - Brooks Williams :: Nectar

A real departure for Brooks

04/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'm surprised at some of the reactions to this album. There's so much to like about it. It has a bit more of a pop sound than his early stuff, but I love it. "Forget About Him" and "Half the Grace" would be top tens on the charts if the music industry sold music instead of images or clothing.I didn't really need to hear another version of "Mother Earth," but other than that there isn't a wasted moment on the album. Also, the production on this album just blows away any of his previous albums. Phil "The Funk Monster" Madeira and his B-3 organ are a perfect match for Brooks' style."

A long-time fan, and I love it

Xaprb | Charlottesville, VA USA | 12/20/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I saw Brooks in concert not too long ago, for about the 5th time, and he mentioned that he's gotten hate-mail from people about this album. It's definitely a departure, but I love it. I've kept it in my car for weeks at a time, and I mean listening to it twice a day.Brooks is paying tribute to his extremely rich set of influences on this album. He admires the music from when pop used to be a GOOD word, instead of evoking images of mostly naked teenagers dancing with large snakes.Sonically, this album is fat and sassy. In contrast to the spare production of his other albums, which were largely Brooks's work, he's gotten a great producer to work with him on this one. The album is impeccably consistent from start to end, and I think Brooks was really happy with the process. He said "I was so tired of working so hard on recording the albums, I just wanted to hand over the reins and see what happened while I enjoyed playing music instead of nitpicking details." That's a semi-quote. In any case, the new producer really brought a lot to it -- I daresay he enjoyed having the free rein as much as Brooks enjoyed letting it go. The songs are pretty densely arranged as a result, with (gasp!) electric guitar and a very different set of hooks (guess who? Yes, Mr. Producer helped arrange and sits in on the electric guitar).Brooks's voice is also recorded quite differently from past albums, which gives it a breathier sound, a bit closer to you but a bit standoffish as well. It works well, much better than my description, which is sort of like dancing about architecture, if you know what I mean. This is a tough review to write!The songwriting is stock Williams, really solid lyrics and music. It's only different in that a) it's not the same songs and b) it's produced differently. If you know what I mean, you know that this is a strong compliment.All in all, one of my favorite albums. Do yourself, get a copy, a pair of Sennheisers, and spend an evening with it. Write back if you're not convinced."

Different - But decent

Xaprb | 04/05/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"With regard to the above review, I can appreciate the shock value of this new album. It doesn't include the acoustic work or character of his other albums. After my first listen, I was ready to trash it, too, I must admit. But I gave it a week. And after that week I couldn't take it out of the CD Player. The rhythms are groovy and very catchy, and I find Brooks' voice to be rather entrancing on a number of tracks. If you're expecting another standard Brooks album, you WILL be dissapointed, but give it some time and it will grow on you. I also thought it interesting that Border's Books near my home has NECTAR in prominent display so you can sample the sounds. It's time that Brooks finally got some exposure, and even if it takes this unconventially non-Brooks album to open others up to his previous works, so be it."