Search - Nick Lachey :: What's Left of Me

An Artistic Awakening

James E. Bagley | Sanatoga, PA USA | 05/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Sometimes, the best artistic efforts come out of unhappy circumstances. Just as Gary Allan's latest country album Tough All Over - recorded after his wife committed suicide - took him to new heights, Nick Lachey post-Jessica reveals an artistic depth never hinted at in his previous work with 98 Degrees and the solo album Soul-O.



Lachey's obvious heartache permeates through this fine collection, with his voice sounding stronger and seemingly more elastic. The title track gets things off to a dramatic start, settling down a bit on the equally plaintive "I Can't Hate You Anymore." With "On Your Own," he lets his former chick know that he'll always be there for her, but at the same time, reveals that he still carries a lot of anger on "I Do It For You" where he wants her to bleed, beg, and crawl.



Those looking for Sunshine, Lollipops, and boyband Rainbows should probably stay away from this album, but anyone looking for a finely crafted, cathartic look at a failed relationship and its aftermath will find this to be a rewarding listening experience."

NICK'S "TRUE HOLLYWOOD STORY", TOLD IN ENGAGING SONGS.

RBSProds | Deep in the heart of Texas | 05/09/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Four Stars! Nick Lachey has a engaging, powerful voice and he uses it effectively to impressively sing what amounts to his "E! True Hollywood Story" of the relationship with Jessica Simpson. An Autobiographical musical story if there ever was one, shaded with pop and country musical colors, it is based on events played out in public and on every TV screen in the world. Nick Lachey takes his recent marital problems and turns them into broken-hearted, but hopeful music. Having lived his marriage in a fishbowl, he turns to the same fishbowl to examine the breakup with music.



The Pieces De Resistance are the poignancy of "Beautiful"; the anguish of "Everywhere But Here", sung in a very dynamic way; the acceptance of "Ghosts"; the self-explanatory "I Don't Hate You Anymore"; and the hard-rocking "I Do It For You". It's not a plea to get back together, but rather an explanation of his injured feelings and how hard it is to move on, even though Hollywood has great looking women all over the place. Doesn't matter, she was the one and he had big plans for their relationship.



The words of "Everywhere But Here" say it all: "It's a mys-ter-y, how you can be, ev-ery-where but here". Indeed, Nick.

The bridge of "Outside Looking In" is so hopeful: "But I feel my world coming back to life, my eyes are finally open again."



In those terms, this is a successful CD and now he needs to move on, with his life and with his musical subject matter. The world is full of wonderful women and he'll find another one. The overwhelming musical evidence here is that Mr Lachey is very talented and should have a wonderful singing career again. The final proof is "Resolution": one POWERFULLY RENDERED feat of singing that will open the ears of new Lachey fans. Good luck to both Nick and Jessica. Four Engrossing Stars!!



(Notes: *This review of based on a 12 track ITunes Music Store download.)"

Nick's triumphant return as a new man!

Chris Hill | Hartford, CT USA | 05/11/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I always was somewhat of a fan of 98 degrees and after Newlyweds I became a huge Nick Lachey fan. I always thought he had a great voice and being a singer myself i enjoyed singing along to his songs. After the complete failure of his first solo record, lamely named SoulO, with maybe 4 decent songs on it at best, i really felt bad for the situation he was in. He was not really respected by anyone in entertainment, becoming a target for punchlines on late night talk shows and award shows, and being known as "Jessica Simpsons husband."

Well I had been rooting for him to make a comeback and I am happy to say the days of no one respecting him as an artist are over! This album is EXCELLENT!! It is unfortunate what has happened to him in his personal life but he turned an extreme negative into a positive with this record. With great uptempo ballads like the single 'What's Left of Me,' 'I Can't Hate You Anymore,' and 'Run to Me,' he pours out his heart and soul and it shows. He shows a mix of emotions, anger, forgiveness, and of course some sadness like on the great ballad 'Shades of Blue,'and then raps the record up with a song of sadness yet hope on the beautiful tearjerker 'Resolution.' So often you hear the female side of a breakup and how she was hurt, but Nick Lachey reminds us that us guys get burned too, and it hurts. He is not afraid to wear his heart on his sleeve and show his emotions, and I have a feeling he will be thanking himself for it when his album sales come in. GREAT JOB NICK!!!"