DREW NELSON

Dusty Road to Beulah Land

2009-02-22

On his third release, Drew Nelson seems to be developing into Michigan's version of John Mellencamp, commenting on the state of life in our corner of the country with a storyteller's insight and a troubadour's melodic passion -- with alternating flashes of anger and grace. Check "Highway 2," "Stranger" and "Farmer's Lament" for the best examples of these references. He's on the side of the working man, urging them to persevere despite the odds and looking to the beauty of what's natural (land, sky, water) and what's true (hope and love) -- for inspiration: "I want a baptism in a trout stream and my religion to be you." Local musicians Rachael Davis, Natalia Zukerman and Claudia Schmidt provide some well-appointed harmonies, particularly Zukerman's additions to "True and Fine." [NOTE: There's a one-minute pause after the last listed number, followed by "I'm a Little Catfish," a song written as a cartoon soundtrack.] F-Contemporary 02/09 Michael J.

Quick Links:

More reviews tagged #Folk

  • reviewed 09/2006

    THE DUHKS
    Migration

  • reviewed 02/2004

    The Clumsy Lovers
    After the Flood

  • reviewed 08/2006

    The Sadies
    In Concert Volume One

  • reviewed 05/2011

    GORD DOWNIE AND THE COUNTRY MIRACLES
    The Grand Bounce

  • reviewed 01/2012

    DREW LANDRY
    Sharecropper's Whine

  • reviewed 10/2013

    THRIFTSTORE MASTERPIECE
    Lonesome Town

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.