Steelspring

William Nash is Steelspring and Better Living is an eight-track album spilling over with emotion and character that comes from the tip of his toes. Nash offers those that enjoy bands like REM, Chris Issak, and Jeff Buckley, a joyous musical ride on the backcountry road of life.

I asked Nash for the musician’s credits and he told me that he played all the instruments and added the drum programming and orchestration. I was beside myself because I thought otherwise. It is getting harder to distinguish between real instruments and programs these days, unless of course you are a professional musician with a trained ear to hear the difference immediately.

Although Steelspring’s music is primarily rock and folk, aspects of country, blues, and Americana come seeping through the nooks and crannies. You will also hear some finely crafted guitar work featuring some incredibly good slide playing. Al Stewart came to mind more than once as this CD played but then as I enjoyed “Crickets,” Nash’s soft vocal style and sense of melody reminded me of Eddie Rabbitt.

When “All Through The Night” started on the first spin of this album I was not too sure about Nash’s voice, I knew it was different, not your typical vocal style that you could ease right into quickly. As I took in all this music, I found that the musicianship was top notch. Collectively the entire scope of this work hit me on the third listen. I found myself captured by Nash’s voice, the melodic sensibility of it all, and again, the striking musical content.

It is interesting how you start off with a CD then learn to love it once you give it a fair shot, however a certain element and quality must be present before you do give it that opportunity. All of that was there and more on this stand up group of songs. Better Living through good music- what a great idea!

© MuzikReviews.com - Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

Steelspring came out of nowhere for me. It showed up in the sometimes ridiculous mail delivery shoving at me a plethora of soon to be trash albums. Nestled sweetly amongst so much garbage was an album cover pasted with old photos laid out on a wooden board. Wholly uninviting in an age of high tech digital imagery. As I peeled off the packaging I glanced at the title and a feeling of boredom washed over me. I thought, “I can’t handle another beastly attempt at so called modern folk… It’s all the same.” Tentatively lifting the cover, I found a nondescript CD and on the inside cover, a set of lyrics to the title track. It wasn’t that I was in such a bad mood that any bit of art seemed vile, but that every bit of “art” I received truly was vile… that day. Exceptions here do apply.

While not folksy like their cover art and title might suggest, Steelspring melds together some of the elements of folk, country, pop, and even a twitch of rock (see bass lines in “We Can Rule the World”). On a brief excursion through the album, I was reminded of Matinee Records fantastic repertoire of twee-esque pop. “All Through the Night,” “Honeymoon,” “Crickets,” “Better Living,” and “Just Friends” all echo the sugary sweetness of Math and Physics Club and the catchy Lucksmiths. While the kings (and queens) of twee pop remain Belle and Sebastian, there are now a host of sly bands playing off of the sunshiny success of their predecessor… to great effect.

W. Nash is the man behind the moniker and seems to have his eye/ear both on the music of pop-Americana as well as a “to-be-tuned” ear on world music. Tracks like the oriental “We Can Rule the World” and the South American samba “Hunger and Thirst” fall a little short because Nash seems half-hearted in his attempt at a world sound. If he chooses to pursue that direction, then more power to him, but in the meantime, Americana-pop seems to be his niche.

Better Living is yet another sunny day album (seems to be a running theme with me). It is not stellar and contains an Achilles heel like most starter albums. However, W. Nash has one up on the rest of the mix. He’s ambitious and actually sounds good on record. Both are imperative in this business. - Jake Nuckolls

Singer-songwriter W. Nash performs romantic ballads under the moniker Steelspring on Better Living. The lustful “Hunger And Thirst” is over the top, but otherwise, Steelspring’s smooth vocals make for entertaining easy listening. The childlike “Crickets” is a fun detour, and Steelspring gives “Just Friends,” written by Sam Lewis and John Klenner, a touching rendition. - Terrence Flamm - Illinois Entertainer