Tim Nichols Band

Tim Nichols Band
TIM NICHOLS
©2010 Independently released
MTM259501
Review by Lucky Boyd
Co-Founder, MyTexasMusic.com

Albums unfold in many ways. Let me take a wild guess at how this one might have come into existence. Let’s pretend for a moment that we were there. We know it didn’t, but it certainly could have gone something like this…

[Imagine that noise that happens before a dream sequence begins] “Hey, let’s put out an excellent country music album. Okay, we’ll need some great songs. I’ll write most of them myself, with some help from some great writers like Jason Allen and Paul Staggs. Hey, I can even ask Texas Music Awards recipient Jason Allen to perform on the album and sing one of the songs with me. I’ll get a group of fantastic pickers and I’ll see if I can get Randy Miller to produce this thing with me. That should do it. Oh, I’m Tim Nichols and we’re the Tim Nichols Band.”

I’m not sure if the thought process was quite that simple, but the desired results were achieved. Tim Nichols took his time with this project as he and Miller made sure every note was in place on every song before releasing. The opening cut is a duet with its co-writer, Jason Allen, and they have a hit in the making. The disc is not a themed release in the typical sense, but every song seems to speak to a particular part of life, from losing love and being sad about it to losing love and not being so sad about it; from going out and having a good time to removing yourself from the situation; from tribute songs about Tim’s beloved parents to a simple look at life in general. An array of topics are covered, but where you might tie them together is in the music itself. Nichols stays within genre throughout without becoming mundane. Each track is expertly arranged and perfectly performed while divesting instrumentation in a manner that keeps the listener engaged for the entire 36 minutes spread over eleven tracks. Not only is Nichols a force to be noticed as a songwriter, but his voice is going to be heralded by radio, both in Texas and in the national mainstream. A favorite cut, while it might not get as much radio as the others, is “Goodbye Song,” a co-write with Staggs which features a Nichols’ narrative outro that will be appreciated by every guy who hears it. While truly a country album, Nichols adds an attitude and edge to each song that gives it that ‘something extra’ that you look for in a notable release. Perhaps one of the most favorable attributes of this disc is that Nichols has one of those voices upon which a stellar career can be built. The disc has the added quaint distinction of featuring a lone cello on “Losin You.” Added to the diverse instrumentation of the album, it’s a welcome addition. This is one of those albums that you can keep in your player for days. You can set your mp3 player to ‘repeat’ and you won’t get tired of hearing Nichols sing to you. Before I begin these writings, I listen once to the entire disc. I found myself starting the third performance quite easily. Award worthy at every turn, this disc should be at the top of your list of ‘things I’m going to buy before I pay my rent.’
- My Texas Music