Search - Nathan Wiley :: High Low

Weapons by the Door

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 11/11/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This young Canadian artist is running well beneath the radar in the United States. His first CD "Bottom Dollar" earned acclaim north of the border. This set garnered East Coast Music Award nominations for male artist of the year & songwriter of the year. The native of Prince Edward Island has a good voice, great musicianship & a varied set. The title tune churns electric guitar riffs as Wiley proclaims, "I don't believe that I'm gonna sell my soul, but I don't believe that I am strong; I'm gonna sit right back, make a new plan & then watch it all go wrong." "Bride on Fire" follows with guitars and percussion percolating & popping as Nathan menaces, "Take a letter, make no mistake, I want to watch you shiver & break." On "Best that I Can Do" Wiley grows a bit more positive with a sweet melody played acoustically, "The best that I can do is keep my head up in the air & hope that you can too." "Braggers" is an interesting track with Nathan's pounding piano sounding like a Neil Hefti soundtrack for a suspense movie, "Pistols & daggers & the murdering braggers all leave their weapons by the door." One of the better tracks is "I Am Seen" that keeps Wiley's perpetual sneer juxtaposed with some airy organ touches, "Big fat woman, how the hell you know my name, why you try to change me when you know I'll stay the same." "Fire Away" is another excellent track with Nathan's voice showing a softer side even as he battles enemies within & without. Some tracks like "Old Familiar Things" & "Moving On" fail to ignite for me. But there is enough here to applaud a developing artist with obvious talent. Enjoy!"