[FM] FAME Review: The Nields' "If You Lived Here You'd Be Home Now" written by David Schultz

[David N. Pyles]

The Nields
If You Lived Here You'd Be Home Now

Zoe/Rounder Records (Zoe 01143-1007-2)

Rounder Records
One Camp Street
Cambridge, MA 02140

<http://www.rounder.com/>http://www.rounder.com
info@rounder.com

<http://www.nields.com/>http://www.nields.com

A review written for the Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange By David Schultz
(schultz@alum.mit.edu)

Being a humungous Beatles fan, I don't use the term 'Beatlesque' lightly when
describing modern music, but if there is an album that has appeared in the
last
five years for which that term applies it is the Nields' latest.  The Nields
have always been influenced strongly by the Beatles, unabashedly covering
"Lovely Rita" on the EMI/Guardian reissue of their CD "Gotta Get Over Greta."
On their latest album, they explode from their folk-rock roots to a
fully-produced studio creation.  This album is the Nields' "Sgt. Pepper":
experimenting with new sounds and pushing themselves to a higher level of
musical creativity that can only be fully replicated in the studio.

"Jeremy Newborn Street" is a wonderful homage to "Penny Lane" with
instrumental
bridge and sunny vocals.  Likewise, the horns on "May Day Cafe" also hearkens
back to songs from the "Magical Mystery Tour." "Forever," David Nields' first
lead-vocal since the haunting "Boys Will Be Boys" on 1994's breakthrough album
"Bob on the Ceiling,"" provides that same eerie feeling as "Tomorrow Never
Knows." The Nields sisters Katryna and Nerissa blend their voices with a
string
arrangement on "Maybe It's Love."  Tears well in my eyes during the orchestral
"One Hundred Names."  

Nevertheless, despite all this musical growth, the Nields still know from
whence they came. "This Town is Wrong" and "Jack the Giant Killer" are
fun-loving acoustic-rock tracks that remain faithful to the spirit of "Bob on
the Ceiling."  "Keys to the Kingdom" is a modern gospel song that I promise
will have atheists up and dancing.  Even included is a wonderful harmony-laden
Hank Williams cover ("I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry").  

Many honorary Nields help the big sound of "If You Lived Here," including
Susan
Werner on piano ("One Hundred Names"), Dar Williams (vocals), the Kennedys
(vocals and guitar), Ben Demerath, Moxy Fruvous, Jump Little Children, and
Gideon Freudmann.  And the honorary Nields are aptly rewarded with the
reaffirming anthemic tribute and album-closer "I Still Believe in My Friends"
(think "Hey Jude").  If there is a chance that you're willing to listen to any
new music this year, this is the album you should not pass up!

Edited by David N. Pyles (dnpyles@acousticmusic.com)

Copyright 2000, Peterborough Folk Music Society and David Schultz. This review
may be reprinted with prior written permission and attribution. 


================
David N. Pyles
Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange
P. O. Box 459
Brattleboro, VT 05302-0459
(802) 257-0336 Mon-Thur 9:30am-4:30pm
http://www.acousticmusic.com/frames
http://www.acousticmusic.com/frames/fame.htm
=====================
All my relations beneath the sun
I can see myself mirrored in everyone
Still I can forget to see myself in y closest ones
As if the reflection of my nearest mirror
is too much to bear so I can't even hear or
see the truth      as if I needed proof

(So I'm gonna) Sing out a small word for such a big thing
Sing out a small word for such a big thing

from A Small Word by Brian Cutean