Nectar

Description

Nectar is the eleventh studio album by the American singer, songwriter, and guitarist Brooks Williams, released on Signature Sounds Recordings in 2003. The album was produced by Phil Madeira. According to All Music Guide “Nectar is a concise effort… , filtering his many influences into a delightful folk-pop effort that de-emphasizes his technical prowess and continues his streak of winning albums.”

Deeply soulful and softy melodic rhythms lilt and roll, emanating equal parts glory and resignation. For all the hauteur endemic in William’s dusky sweet voice and accomplished musicianship, not to mention his altruistic songwriting, Nectar remains a simple, earthy testament to the everyday that doesn’t blur reality. It seems that for Williams, existence, and how you treat it, is grand enough. [No Depression Magazine]

On Nectar, Brooks Williams continues to push the boundaries of his contemporary folk, incorporating elements of rock and electric blues into much of the album. He also refrains from any virtuoso performances, delivering very little of his usual flashy fretwork. While this might disappoint some, the simplified approach magnifies his improvements as a songwriter. «Birth of the True» opens the album with an effective stab at melodic pop/rock, while «Great Big Sea» is a fun tribute to Chuck Berry complete with rolling drums, lyrical double entendres, and his signature stuttered guitar chords. The melancholy «May You Never» is an optimistic slice of acoustic blues that is given a country tinge by a lovely, understated slide guitar solo. «Singing in the Dark» counters its funky acoustic guitar riff with a stark tale of heartbreak, while «She Loves Me (When I Try)» is a lovelorn ballad that comes closest to his mellow early work. At just under 40 minutes, Nectar is a concise effort that emphasizes Williams’ growth as a songwriter, filtering his many influences into a delightful folk-pop effort that de-emphasizes his technical prowess and continues his streak of winning albums. [Bradley Torreano, AMG]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/nectar/1202340783)

CD tracklist:

01. Birth Of The True – 3:24
02. Forget About Him – 4:49
03. Singing In The Dark – 3:54
04. Half The Grace – 4:32
05. May You Never – 3:45
06. Yellow Hummingbird – 2:42
07. Unexpected Rose – 3:44
08. Great Big Sea – 3:29
09. Mother Earth – 2:24
10. She Loves You (When I Try) – 2:54