Nina Nastasia – DOGS
Nina Nastasia is
special. She is one of the most intriguing, genuinely exciting songwriters of
past decade. I would say ‘these days’, but she hasn’t recorded an album in five
years and God knows when this hiatus will end.
Also, Nina Nastasia
is not the sort of artist where you
could say ‘she should be a lot more popular than she is’. I would not be too
sure. Many will recognise “Ugly Face” from Carriers,
some will recognise “Bird Of Cuzco” from a John Peel tribute record, but she is
simply not cut out for anything remotely resembling fame. She’s been endorsed
by Steve Albini, for Christ’s sake.
She doesn’t make that
kind of music. She makes the kind of music that her talent would allow.
Striking, original, clever melodies that may not always overwhelm, but when
they do work – you get things like “Judy’s In The Sandbox”, “Underground”, “A Dog’s Life”, “Stormy Weather”, “All Your Life”. These are some of the best
songs I’ve ever heard.
P.S. Dogs originally came out in 2000, but the record was rereleased in 2004. And it's too bloody good, so fuck the dates.
P.S. Dogs originally came out in 2000, but the record was rereleased in 2004. And it's too bloody good, so fuck the dates.
