Many, but not all, of the songs are about the birth of her first child, which leaves me a little cold. I cannot relate to chunks of these lyrics on so many levels, but even I can admit it is cute to hear a mom coo and gush over her newborn. This is helpful to know because some of these songs are so clean they squeak. A great love song does not have to be the sonic equivalent of a softcore porn vignette — not that you would ever know that from listening to the chart-topping, overheated dry-humps passing for declarations of undying love these days — but love is a burning ring of fire and there should still be some heat in one form or another. Some of these words would induce cringes in the context of lovers, but are perfectly suitable for describing feelings of maternal love.
Pierre Marchand, most famous for his work with Sarah McLachlan, produced the set. The pairing works. Nash and McLachlan have enough similarities that he can reach into his bag of sonic tricks and find some that work. They are different enough that Blue on Blue never sounds like cut-rate Fumbling Towards Ecstacy leftovers.
Blue on Blue is, for the most part, a cute, happy pop record. It is not angry or angst-ridden and only occasionally plays with a discernible edge. It is light in mood, but still has weight. It has weight, but never weighs you down with oppressive gloom. There are tender ballads mixed in with the catchy pop songs. Blue on Blue sounds like the last days of spring and the first days of summer: warm, breezy, sunny, and calm.
This cannot bode well for me. A writer friend once dubbed me a "bastion of cynicism." My mother still tells people my favorite cartoon characters were Oscar the Grouch and Yosemite Sam. She still calls me Eeyore on occasion. I should not like this record, but I do. I shudder to think how many years of therapy are in store for me. I find a record that makes me feel better without having to first make me feel worse and more than half of it is about motherhood!
Either Leigh Nash is that good or my wires are getting crossed and there are more voices in my head than I thought. Bet on both and take a chance on the record.
Article comments
1 - Joan Hunt
I shall rib you endlessly for this one, dude. And I'm revoking your "cool" card permanently for liking Sixpence None The Richer.
2 - DJRadiohead
So many ways to respond, Joan.
First, shut up! I had a hard time trying to decide if I should tell you I am so incredibly cool that I am beyond reproach in the coolness department or if I should tel you I am so hopelessly uncool that it makes me cool. Then I just decided to go with both because I'm so cool that I don't care about how cool I am. Yeah, totally.
I said a casual fan, as in, I own one CD.
And rib away... for there is much for which I can rib you and will be prepared to taunt you. Besides, you don't want to have to buy your way onto BCRadio every week, do you?
3 - Phillip Winn
Sixpence was cool, don't worry about it. I might have to check out this disc, though I'm with you -- obsessed with breakup songs. This despite having been happily with the woman who is now my wife for more than sixteen years.
4 - DJRadiohead
Exactly, Phillip! TWTWIM and I have been together 8, married 6 and I still love the brutal breakup songs. Go figure.
Sixpence was pretty good. If you liked their later stuff, this album will probably be enjoyable. I have taken to it more than I thought I would.
5 - Julie Pinsonneault
I totally relate to your penchant for depressing music. At least you're not into the dry-hump ditties and that bumps you up a cool notch or two.
6 - Anna Creech
I liked Sixpence before they crossed over into mainstream. I tried to like Nash's album, but as I wrote in my August review, it didn't grab me.
7 - DJRadiohead
Thanks, Julie! I will take all the cool points I can get. Every conceivable response to the "dry-hump ditties" line went well beyond the bonds of good taste, so just know that I had some really good ones but decided not to embarrass either of us with them.
Anna, I think part of why I like the album as much as I did is because I expected nothing from it and it got a chance to grow on me. After a few listens, it got under my skin a bit and I do really like it. My review would have been much like yours had I written this after the first listen. I am surprised it hooked me, but it has.
8 - Joan Hunt
I've already purchased my position on BCRadio, Josh. I shouldn't have to keep tithing to remain there, I'd think.
I'm really not raggin' on you about this artist. Just havin' a bit of fun. I have plenty of weird faves of my own and, perhaps, this could be a subject we discuss in depth in the near future.
9 - Connie Phillips
Congrats! This article was picked as an Editor's Pick.
10 - john
she is my wife's favorite.
need to be next to you is our theme song.