Search - Nora O'Connor :: Til the Dawn

A really great record.

Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 09/07/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of my favorite Americana/indie country albums of the year, kicking off with a quartet of memorable, compelling songs, each one a little gem. The doleful, indie-ish "Revolver" is perhaps the catchiest song on here, with a lovely, simple acoustic riff that stands up there with the best stuff Gillian Welch has ever done. Midway through, the music shifts into more pensive, singer-songwriterish territory, and Neil Young's influence (and perhaps Joni Mitchell's?) seeps into the album's end. Chicagoan O'Connor is one of those folks who has played with a bazillion other artists, including Neko Case, Jeff Tweedy, The New Pornographers and a regular gig with Andrew Bird's Bow Of Fire. Now she's finally come out with an album of her own and it's really, really good. Finally an artist on the Bloodshot label who isn't striking a pose when they put on some twang! I can't wait to hear more."

Another jewel in the Bloodshot crown

Vito Minerva | Italy | 12/20/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I suspect Nora O'Connor must be Chicago's unofficial "backing vocalist", as her collaboration with the people listed in the editorial review above seems to suggest. When harmony vocals are needed, she's the obvious choice for the job. Thankfully, she finally steps up centre stage with her debut album and comes into her own.

She's a talented singer, with a pleasant, gentle voice. Even when she sings downbeat songs, the sweetness of her voice brightens them up.

The first song, "My backyard", which is also one of the two tracks penned by her, the other being "Tonight", is breezy and jovial, thanks to a nice harmonica accompaniment and words like "I've got plenty of [friends]" and "I've got everything I need in my backyard".

She has indeed plenty of friends and they come up in droves to help with their musical expertise; among them, Kelly Hogan, who complements each song with discreet backing vocals, Andrew Bird (his contribution is particularly evident in "Bottoms" and "Tonight", where his violin fills the gaps between the melancholic lyrics) and Matt Weber, whose banjo and lap steel give the "roots" feeling you expect from a Bloodshot record.

However, don't expect a roots-rock/country-rock album in the usual vein of the label. Rather, these are mostly pop songs "countrified" by the inclusion of violin, lap steel, banjo and acoustic guitars. That's why this album should please a larger audience than the hard-core Bloodshot fans.

Personal favourites, apart from the above-mentioned "My backyard" and "Bottoms", are "Revolver", "OK with me" and "Nightingale". "Revolver", as the previous reviewer said, has a simple, yet catchy motif, "OK with me" is a fast-paced country number and "Nightingale" seems to come out of a traditional folk collection à la Songcatcher.

However, all songs are good and, at 32 minutes, you can play the whole album from start to finish without skipping a track. Still, "Love letters", while honourable, seems a bit out of place, a "noirish" love ballad more suited for Ms. Case's voice and attitude (think of "Look For Me (I'll Be Around)" and "Runnin' Out of Fools" from Blacklisted).

To sum up, it's a lovely album, well worth buying if you are a fan of Americana/country/roots/folk.

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