Lost/Forgotten Album #241

[Jon]

The current theme continues with this week's pick, "Tonight And The Rest Of My Life", from Nina Gordon. It is also an anniversary weekend which works out perfectly since this album came out in 2000. I was a bit surprised that this came out 15 years ago since that means I've had it for that long. Time is passing WAY too quickly. 

Nina Gordon was a member of Veruca Salt and left after "Eight Arms To Hold You", supposedly due to squabbles with Louise Post and/or Nina's wish to pursue a solo career. Veruca Salt continued with Louise and an album was released in 2000. Nina released her first solo album the same year.

Guess time heals all woulds since the original  version of Veruca Salt is back together. In 2014 they released two new songs for Record Store Day and a new album is supposed to be released this year.

As for this album, it's a nice mix of mellow songs and rockers. "Tonight And The Rest Of My Life" was released as a single and reached #7 on Billboard's Adult Top 40 chart, while "Now I Can Die" reached #29 on the same chart. Videos for both songs were also released.

Personally, I like this album much better than the Veruca Salt release the same year. The VS album was a bit of a mess, while this is a very strong effort. Regardless, I still like both singers since they have lovely voices. 

Now for the review from allmusic.com:

"Nina Gordon departed Veruca Salt, the band she co-led with former best friend Louise Post, in a swirl of anger, allegations, cheats, and general nastiness. Post retaliated by retaining the band's name and releasing the vitriolic, bile-ridden Resolver. Gordon acted like the furor never happened. Actually, the break was even more extreme than that. With an exception or two, she acted like Veruca Salt never happened, hiring Bob Rock -- who helmed the group's last Gordon-Post effort, Eight Arms to Hold You -- as the producer for Tonight and the Rest of My Life, an album that refashions Nina Gordon as an adult alternative pop/rock singer/songwriter, just a little like a fusion of Aimee Mann and Juliana Hatfield. As it turns out, the makeover works very well. Since Gordon always had the melodic instincts and girlish voice, she was better suited for such an overhaul, but what is a surprise is that the subdued yet glossy production, big hooks, and mature attitude add up to a charming little album. That's not to say that it's perfect, there are awkward lyrical turns of phrase (such as the whole of "Horses in the City"), but that's not unusual for Gordon. But it does work, and it's a real grower, sounding better with each spin; and there are enough hooks and production flourishes to have it return to the turntable. Some might say that producer Rock or sideman (and Aimee Mann collaborator) Jon Brion have a large part to do with the record's success because they helped make it sound seamless and professional. That's unfair to Gordon. She not only demonstrates a true flair for well-crafted mature pop -- from Beatlesque choruses to country-rock tinges -- throughout the record, but she proves that she's a pretty compelling performer in her own right. Not just that, it's a stronger and more consistent platter than either of Veruca Salt's appealing but uneven records, to boot. In all, it's a far better record than any objective Veruca Salt fan could have hoped for."

Tonight And The Rest Of My Life

1. Now I Can Die
2. 2003
3. Tonight And The Rest Of My Life
4. Badway
5. Horses In The City
6. Hold On To Me
7. New Year's Eve
8. Fade To Black
9. Number One Camera
10. Got Me Down
11. Too Slow To Ride
12. Hate Your Way
13. The End Of The World

Availability: New or used will run you around $5.

[Scott]

[Meow]

[Scott]

Happy Easter!

 

I definitely recall the previous Nina Gordon discussion from some years back.  I like this much better than Kittie, I mean light years better!  Very catchy opening track, expect for the Now I can Die theme – she seems to prepared to die, just sayin’.  But musically it’s a pretty catchy mid tempo melodic get your attention track!

 

The next two slow down the listening experience considerably.  These aren’t bad though, good not great, but definitely not bad.  Badway kicks it up again.  Like her voice, but I’m starting to think she is best suited for those mid tempo to slower tracks.  Kind of get the feeling that I was listening to a team of songwriters versus a true Nina Gordon written effort…  so,  is this all her or is this an attempt at an adult-contemporary commercial release?

 

I really like the title track…  Very slick!

 

I must admit that as poppy as this is, her voice is simply stunning.  As much as I want to like some of these tracks, her voice is perfect and that’s the catch!  Musically this isn’t a new revelation on any level.  And there are tracks where her voice may not be the best fit (e.g. New Year’s Eve) but even in those moments she manages to find pieces of the song and make her voice rise above it.

 

Not sure I would buy this but she’s freaky talented!  And I didn't even mind that this treaded over the 10-12 songs max …

[Jon]

Except for track 13, these were all written by Nina Gordon. The last track is a cover. 

[Scott]

well there goes that theory!

[RJhog (Admin)]

I've heard of Veruca Salt.  You may have even featured an album by them at some point.  Let's see:

• Right off the bat the first track makes me think of The Bangles.
• She has a lovely voice.  Very unobtrusive.  
• Especially on the title track.
• She can rock out as well.
• Number One Camera, I think, is my favorite song here.

Well, quite simply, this is pretty cool pop/rock.  I really can't find anything wrong with this album.  This is probably the best one you've posted in this series you are doing.  Great job.