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True Nature, fronted by Lou Barlow (not to be confused with the man of the same name in Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, et al) and featuring other talented musicians such as Aaron Comess, Gerry Leonard, and Tony Levin have come together to release this, the group’s second CD. At five tracks, this EP packs more punch than many full-length albums released these days with “The Color of Day Light” easily being the disc’s standout track. Barlow weaves strong melodies with smart lyricism, allowing a song like “My Freedom Lies Behind the Sun” to resonate passionately in today’s era of political change and societal shifting without falling over on its own message. “Woman” and “Truth I Have To Steel (Simple Heart)” also mark Barlow as a gifted lyricist and musician. With tunes this solid, it’s not hard to imagine True Nature being able to conquer an entire album’s worth of songs and sounds. Here’s looking forward to that moment.
By Jason Thompson
Bullz-Eye Magazine.com
Rating: 4 stars (Out of 5)
Direct Link & date of publication coming soon. - Bullz-Eye Magazine // www.Bullz-Eye.com
March 7, 2009:
Jersey Beat.com
The Quinlan Chronicles
TRUE NATURE - "Feels Like Centuries" (TrueNatureBand.com)
The five-song EP is a rich tapestry of skills, as Lou Barlow (not the one from Dinosaur Jr./Sebadoh) works with legendary bassist Tony Levin and guitarist Gerry Leonard. The resumes between these two include stints with John Lennon, David Bowie, Rufus Wainwright and Peter Gabriel. Rounding out the line-up is esteemed producer Aaron Comess. Each song is a spaciously textured, intricate work with the gentle “Woman” existing in perfect juxtaposition to the more intense “My Freedom Lies behind the Sun”. As intricate as the playing is, there is an equal level of depth to the lyrics. Aging well, Barlow writes with a mature perspective about a complex and frustrating world. “Truth I Have to Steel”, the aforementioned ”Freedom” and the closing “Too Close to See Who We Are” are all examinations of where people fit within society and how our own thoughts can become impediments in our lives. Each track unfurls a new level of complex beauty with each song an emotionally driven passionate ode to how we all collectively suffer in a society that has lost its sense of security. Yet Barlow does not labor upon the negative. He investigates loneliness and sorrow, but he also explores how a return to the basic elements of nature can heal us as a people. The shaman gracing the cover of the disc acts as a perfect metaphor for the musical soul-searching and healing done by True Nature.
By Rich Quinlan
Direct Link:
http://www.jerseybeat.com/quinlan-chronicles.html - Jersey Beat.com -The Quinlan Chronicles // JerseyBeat.com
March 9, 2009
True Nature – Feels Like Centuries
2009, True Nature
True Nature is the latest musical project from New York City's own Lou Barlow. Barlow is also a prior recipient of New York University’s Composer Of The Year Award, and a bright and rising star in the Indie Rock movemnt. In April of 2009, True Nature will release their second EP, Feels Like Centuries into a market starving for something new. Barlow delivers with help from the likes of Tony Levin (John Lennon, Peter Gabriel); Aaron Comess (The Spin Doctors) and Gerry Leonard (David Bowie, Rufus Wainwright).
The five-track EP opens with Truth I Have To Steel (Simple Heart) a moderately upbeat song by someone who sees Alice’s Looking Glass for what it really is; a soul frustrated by the blindness of those around them. It also draws on the classical ideal as simplicity as a means of understanding. Barlow is succinct and artful in delivering a declaration of intent to protect the world from itself. Up next is The Color Of Daylight, a joyous, angst-filled romp about coming to terms with oneself. My Freedom Lies Beyond The Sun is a brooding, angry song about having your blinders stripped away and seeing the world as it is: a dangerous place. Barlow finds freedom in something he can’t see, whether you want to call this spirituality or faith, and in what, is left up the listener to decide. This is an incredibly powerful song.
Woman is an artful and poetic take on the concept that “behind every good man is a good woman”. The title is adapted from the John Lennon classic and recognizes the balance and strength that feminine influence can bring to the male mind. Beyond the subject matter, Barlow has created a lush and deeply organic musical composition that breathes with its own vigor and vitality. Feels Like Centuries closes with Too Close To See Who We Are, a sociological treatise on our narcissistic and short-sighted culture that sounds like a paean to love lost. Again, Barlow paints in broad, lush musical strokes a sonic picture that is lovely and distinct.
Lou Barlow has talent for writing songs that could fit easily into popular styles but with an edge that sets them apart. The songs presented on Feels Like Centuries are gorgeous constructions against which Barlow’s set his esoteric and thoughtful lyrics. In other words, he’s outdone himself here. True Nature has a hit on its hands. This one’s a no-brainer; don’t miss it!
Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)
- Wildy's World Blog
Jan. 14, 2009:
“The Color of Daylight” is the first track that I heard by True Nature. The vocals present are a hybrid of individuals like Bryan Adams, Stephen Curtis Chapman, and Chris Isaak. The laid-back approach taken by the instruments allow these vocals to be as smooth and as gentle as a Jack Johnson song, kicking in only to give the track a little grit. The blend of country, alternative rock, and pop make True Nature’s effort on “Feels Like Centuries” something that is completely new, something that has not been heard before. Even if they are coming out of a musical left field, the talent present in the work of each member of the band is enough that I could easily see any of the tracks from “Feels Like Centuries” make it onto a major radio station’s rotation list.
The one act that I do see some common ground with True Nature in would have to be U2: the eclecticism present on “Feels Like Centuries” is cut from the same cloth as “Zoo”-era U2. “Truth I Have To Steel” builds up a pretty rocking set of instrumentation before Lou’s vocals kick in. While still a major part of “Truth”, the instrumentation fades back into the background, creating a back and forth between the vocal and instrumental sides of True Nature that makes for the best possible type of music. True Nature may have tracks that would easily make it onto radio rotation, but there is a little more of a heady element present during the runtime of “Feels Like Centuries”.
There is a more enlightened, more spiritual element that listeners will pick up on that is present seemingly on all tracks during the album, ensuring that there is something powerful, something staying that fans can thus pick up. Where most music does not have any meaning or overarching message, what True Nature does here is give hope and joy to listener s that have undoubtedly been burned out by the angry and vengeful music for the last twenty years. If you want solid music that will leave you happy and ready to face the world, make a trip to a good independent record shop and purchase “Feels Like Centuries”, whenever it may be available.
Top Tracks: My Freedom Lies Behind The Sun, Truth I Have To Steel
Rating: 8.4/10
Direct Link To The Above Review:
http://neufutur.com/?p=6697
- NeuFutur Magazine // www.NeuFutur.com
Feb. 12, 2009:
First image you notice right away is the gritty-looking female with Native American attire on. This person appears as having very long, gangly hair and almost bark-like or even scaly skin. On the back cover of this album, you witness this same woman facing a city with her back to us and her dairy-aire naked for the world to see. The theme depicts an ‘Un-programmed Human’ looking into a city (world) that is not a part of her. The art work can be credited to visionary rock artist, Glen Wexler who created this complex scene.
True Nature is the name and the latest EP is titled Feels Like Centuries. The group is made up of solely one New York-based singer/songwriter/guitarist, Lou Barlow, accompanied by some very special guests. Featured artists are: bassist, Tony Levin who has worked with John Lennon and Peter Gabriel, drummer and producer, Aaron Comess who is the founding member of The Spin Doctors and Guitarist, Gerry Leonard who has had the pleasure of playing with David Bowie and Rufus Wainwright. Also backing vocals by Chris Barron, James Maddock and Brandon Wilde are present on the five-track EP.
The music itself is sung with such compelling commitment by Barlow. You really feel Barlow’s emotions/feelings through what he conveys on this record. Barlow seems to be an artist true to himself, true to his beliefs and true to his music in which is all wrapped up nicely in Feels Like Centuries. Just TRUE and REAL nature-of-being is Lou Barlow and True Nature.
Words are said to speak a thousand words and Barlow sure works hard as hell to pack in all he can in five tracks. Opening song, “Truth I Have To Steel”, is about everyone not facing the music and stepping up to the plate to see the truth. “Woman” touches on the importance of the female in this world. This ballad pretty much states that the healing power or inner strength if you will of women is what keeps us men in line. Take it or leave it—up for debate, but definitely worth a second thought.
This singer/songwriter also rocks out on this album with a very diversified, modern-rock sound. Inventive and gripping music is what Barlow and True Nature have here in front of you. For more on True Nature and Feels Like Centuries, SKOPE out www.truenatureband.com.
By Jimmy Rae
Rating: 3.5/5
Direct Link To The Above Review:
http://skopemag.com/2009/02/12/true-nature-feels-like-centuries
- Skope // www.Skopemag.com
Feb. 13, 2009:
Lou Barlow. It's a name that is almost synonymous with indie rock music, both with his Sebadoh band as well as Folk Implosion. Well, now forget all that because the Lou Barlow of True Nature is not the same person. I just wanted to make sure that you had that straight, I made the mistake.
True Nature is the project of THIS Lou Barlow and Feels Like Centuries is the second EP from the NYC-based singer/songwriter. The band manages to sound like mainstream rock with a tinge of Americana in their music. The EP is well produced and the songs are well written. "The Color of Daylight" has a wonderful build and has some subtle instrumentations that makes it stand out from the 5 songs. The cover of this EP evokes a tribal theme. You might be able to draw that comparison on "My Freedom Lies Behind The Sun". Lou has a strong voice and he's not afraid to use it when necessary, but he is totally capable of holding it back as well. Feels Like Centuries is a strong EP, one you should definitely look into.
True Nature has potential to become radio rock staples. If you don't mind mainstream rock without the mainstream then check them out now!
Dennis Scanland
4.0/5
Direct Link To The Above Review:
http://www.musicemissions.com/artists/albums/index.php?album_id=9900
- Music Emissions // www.MusicEmissions.com
Discography
'FEELS LIKE CENTURIES'
-2009
TRUE NATURE
-2006
Photos
Bio
MODERN, ROCKIN' & SPIRITUAL
TRUE NATURE is: LOU BARLOW
'FEELS LIKE CENTURIES,' 2009
FEATURES ROCK LEGENDS:
TONY LEVIN - AARON COMESS - GERRY LEONARD
Driven by the Singular, Modern Rockin’ and Spiritual vision of New York based singer/songwriter Lou Barlow, True Nature has injected a sorely needed thoughtful passion and real rock energy into the Indie Rock scene since their 2006 inception & debut at South By Southwest.
Back from Austin, gigging at NYC hotspots like The Living Room and Rockwood Music Hall, Philadelphia's World Café Live and Delaware's Dewey Beach Music Festival, Barlow was hard at work behind the scenes orchestrating what has now become the 2nd True Nature EP, Feels LIke Centuries.
An historic gathering of music legends banded together for the first time around True Nature's latest unrecorded songs: Bassist Tony Levin (John Lennon, Peter Gabriel), Drummer/Producer Aaron Comess (founding member of The Spin Doctors), and Guitarist Gerry Leonard (David Bowie, Rufus Wainwright), left deep foot prints while contributing to True Nature's emerging presence.
Barlow, a onetime recipient of NYU’s prestigious Composer of The Year Award has held steadfast, "...a vision for all that True Nature can achieve. Recording with such rarified musicians really woke things up. My music was being realized very quickly, and just like I'd always wanted it to sound."
Between the 1st & 2nd sessions held four months apart at the recently deceased, historic Flymax Studios in Woodstock, NY—Levin had been on the road with Peter Gabriel, & Leonard toured with Rufus Wainright; in the interim—Barlow was, "...uncontrollably & uniquely inspired to write new songs. We were creating a modern sound with an emphasis on timeless rock."
Barlow was next in position to entice Visionary Rock Artist Glen Wexler, known for his photo realistic 'Improbable realities,' to create exclusive album art adapted from the title, Feels Like Centuries.
“Glen has the gift of envisioning cinematic-like scenes. The Shamanistic, 'Un-Programmed Human’ that Glen created for us, powerfully embodies the unique call to consciousness amidst our troubled modernity that True Nature songs cry out for."
Barlow believes that one of Wexler's panels is, "The most uniquely provocative, wisdom image statement surrounding 9/11 that I've seen since that time. And I lived here in New York un-healthily close to the site where America was powerfully shaken from our excessive slumber."
Each of the five songs on the EP conveys powerful emotions around compelling narrative augmenting Barlow's vocals that range from strong, male rock leads to vulnerable, haunting & intimate moods.
The percussive and anthemic - “Truth I Have To Steel” contains the EP's title phrase "Feels Like Centuries." Uplifting in its tone, "Truth I Have To Steel" is a personal yet socio-political piece about the frustrations of feeling like everything and everyone around you can not or simply will not face the truth. "Feels like I'm the one. The only one who wants to know here," captures the songs essence.
The crisp and edgy - “The Color of Daylight” is a strong, personal reflection of the reality that the singer can’t hide from himself. The choruses culminate into a “panic” feeling as if daylight has intruded into his long-time hiding place. Like many of Barlow’s songs it’s somewhat of an epic journey, but in this case, the bridge delves into the realm of quantum physics.
The powerful, hypnotic rocker - “My Freedom Lies Behind The Sun” is a song that Barlow says is the angriest tune he’s ever written, about staring down the enemy in a world that is no longer safe; the real freedom lies in hard won spiritual perspective.
The graceful, heartfelt acoustic ballad - “Woman,” the title adapted from the classic John Lennon 'Double Fantasy' song that Levin once played on; “Woman” is about the ultimate healing powers of the feminine that touches on an inner strength to stay positive behind typical male reasoning.
The world beat, ethereal pop - “Too Close To See Who We Are” at first appears like a breakup song—but it’s actually a striking reflection of human behavior and emotion; the idea of being so caught up in our own heads & dramas' that we don't "see" or "feel" in touch with our own true nature.
The serendipitously fortunate, creatively powerful all-star sessions that have now become True Nature’s second EP, Feels Like Centuries boasts a sound that’s all at once familiar yet offers maturity, depth and development--a classic vibe yet is also modern, cutting edge and future seeking.
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