[en480c4]

I've been listening to a lot of Nina Nastasia lately, and I've come to the conclusion that she's overlooked and underrated... It's hard to think many artists who've been so consistantly excellent over a career as she has been. On Leaving should've been near the top of many a "Best of 2006" list, and I can't think of a release of hers that wouldn't be at the top of that years list, either. I know she's been discussed here and there in other threads, but I thought it was time to talk about her and her alone.

Dogs, The Blackened Air, Run To Ruin, On Leaving and her latest, a collaboration with Jim White (of The Dirty Thee), You Follow Me are all pretty amazing. The combination of songwriting, lyrics, instrumentation, production and recording by Steve Albini are all spot-on. For all the lamenting that's done about the poor recordings and masterings out there, her albums are a joy to listen to, with great dynamics, separation and an overall excellent sound.

I read in a review somewhere that her songs are neither too sparce or too cluttered, and I think that's a perfect description. Each song is crafted in a way to highlight her voice, and the rest is just built around that. I don't know if it's the slightly dark nature of her records that keeps people away, or the "gothic folk" label I've seen applied to her, but people are really missing out when they pass over her work.

So, if you've got an itch for some incredible female vocals, well crafted and well recorded songs, and don't mind a nice, dark atmosphere, she's worth checking out.

Touch and Go Records Site - Info on first 3 releases
FatCat Records Site - Info on the latest 2
Nina Nastasia MySpace Site

 

[guttorm]

yeah i'm liking her a lot as of late. the drumming in you follow me is awesome

 

[Davey]

Been playing a lot of Nina myself, on and off repeat all last week, as it often has been in the recent past, "Judy's in the Sandbox" from that great Nina Nastasia debut Dogs, one of my favorite songs ever ......

The debut was just on the tiny Socialist Records label and went out of print almost as soon as it was released, back in 2000. So became kind of a mystery ater she became more well known with the release of the excellent "The Blackened Air". But Touch and Go reissued it a couple years ago, and I grabbed a used copy, and it is a bit less eclectic, and not as folky as the second, nor as quietly introspective as the third, but still very loveable, maybe even my favorite now. In some ways I think it's her best. A bit more jazzy at times. The acoustics are really nice in all of them, and lots of room for the natural dynamics. Like you say, she's a big favorite of Steve Albini, so he does a great job recording, especially the cello and acoustic basses. Love the musical saw too. Nice touch. And Albini works with Steve Rooke to master them at Abbey Road, just like the very nice Electrelane records he does that I also love. Here's what Albini said about it ...

The album would also mark the beginning of a lasting peer-relationship with noted recording engineer Steve Albini, who said of the record in an interview for Mojo magazine: "There are cruel ironies in making albums for a living. In the process of making a record, you hear it so many times that the charms of even the best of them can wear off through over-exposure. On rare occasions, records I've worked on have withstood this scrutiny and ended up being personal favourites. Of these, a good handful are beautiful and sublime, and I listen to them for pleasure. Nina Nastasia's 'Dogs' is a record so simultaneously unassuming and grandiose that I can't really describe it, except in terms that would make it (and me) sound silly. Of the couple thousand records I've been involved with, this is one of my favourites, and one that I'm proud to be associated with."

 

[R_burke]

Just got her Blackened Air and liking it a lot.

I hadn't heard of her until recently so I have to agree she has been overlooked and underrated, but I think that is going to change soon. Lots of good words and publicity about her latest release You Follow Me.

 

[goosemeister]

i'm bumping for nina's genius.

 

[Knockturne]

Very overlooked.

 

[Sarchi]

Who?

 

[pbone]

i love her voice. i seen her with jim white at sxsw in austin last march. she played a bunch songs off of you follow me which were great. i was hoping for some songs off On leaving because i was listening to that for months before. when you follow me came out i recognized the songs she played from it and remembered how awesome the show was.

 

[amphead]

Always looking for new female vocalists. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[en480c4]

It's funny this got bumped because I was just listening to On Leaving a few nights ago and was thinking just how good she really is. She's definitely not to be missed.

 

[FalconP]

She has really good voice. Thanks for letting us know.

Indie artists as a rule don't get much exposure. If any one finds a good act, just post and tell us.