• ALBUM REVIEW: Nathan Graham’s Debut Confronts Uncertainty With Courage

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    Maeri Ferguson Posted On October 19, 2023
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    Right out of the gate on his debut record, Saint of Second Chances, Nathan Graham lets listeners know who he is. A powerhouse singer with a deep drive to connect, the Chicago-born-and-raised Graham tenderly wraps his fears and anxieties in velvety arrangements infused with a wide range of influences from rock and folk to soul and blues. Graham seasoned his rich rasp over years of being a backup singer before getting the courage to strike out on his own with this collection of songs that feels instantly timeless.

    Nathan Graham (photo by Cory Dewald)

    Despite Graham’s self-assured vocal prowess, Saint of Second Chances isn’t all smooth swagger. Uncertainty is at the heart of his songwriting, about the state of the world, the future, his loved ones, himself. Always with a glimmer of hope, he conveys the all-consuming feelings of doubt that plague him, and the unavoidable pain of growing into yourself. Still, Graham seems to land on his feet each time, a little dusted up maybe, but with a bit more confidence to carry him forward.

    The gospel-inflected “Worrying My Life,” with its cool-toned background harmonies and just a whisper of an organ, makes peace with the present, acknowledging that time spent worrying is wasted. The acoustic ballad “Good Honest Man” lays his confessions bare, with Graham basking in the humility of his mistakes, knowing he’ll do better. A reminder to stay humble throttles through rollicking opener “Pride,” all fiery guitar played at lightning speed. And Graham perseveres toward possibility on the sweet, low-key “I’ll Get it Right,” a call to keep at it even when it’s hard. The latter features one of Graham’s particularly ripping guitar solos.

     

     

    Even when Graham is taking a tough look at himself in the mirror, he never wallows in the darkness, instead finding enough levity in the moments he’s near the bottom to float back upward. Saint of Second Chances announces Graham as a songwriter and performer fully realized and ready to deliver salve-like anthems for trying times.

     

     

    Nathan Graham’s Saint of Second Chances is out Oct. 20 on Pravda Records.




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