Shane Nicholson – Its A Movie
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Posted On March 1, 2004
This solo debut by Shane Nicholson was first released outside of the United States in late 2002; now Seattle-based Virt Records is giving Americans a chance to check out the talented Australian.
Because of his home country and his sweetly subtle tenor, Nicholson gets his share of comparisons to Crowded Houses Neil Finn. But American ears are just as likely to hear traces of Rodney Crowell or even Thad Cockrell in Its A Movie. Cockrell has said his intention is to put the hurt back in country, and perhaps Nicholson is attempting to put the hurt back in pop; he does a fine a job of it here.
Co-produced by Nash Chambers (Kaseys brother), Its A Movie focuses on midtempo and sophisticated acoustic-based songs carried by pleasing melodies and low-key but passionate vocals. Nicholson is an intelligent and reflective songwriter capable of delivering a clever turn of phrase or a memorable image while avoiding self-indulgence.
Kasey Chambers lends her considerable vocal talents to the softly charming Designed To Fade. Other standouts include Lets Get Started, Day In The Sun and the title track, in which Nicholson takes on the music industry to sarcastic but humorous effect.
