Song Review:
Brain Cloudy Blues
Overall Impression:
Leaning into a soulful, bluesy feel, Nolan Bruce Allen puts a swinging spin on Bob Will's original Western Swing tune, "Brain Cloudy Blues"! Departing from the more traditional Country tones popularized by Merle Haggard, Nolan Bruce Allen's version of the song carries itself with the sweet and smoky inflections of smooth Jazz - though brilliantly honors the original with a captivating introductory solo from the fiddle!
Strongest Point(s):
The overall mix and sound staging in NBA's version of "Brain Cloudy Blues" is pristine - giving the whole tune a sense of crisp spaciousness and allowing each tone to really shine! Stellar solo work from the steel and standard guitars culminate in a striking duet at the 2:36 mark before yielding space to the keys and fiddle in turn, exploring a rich Blues vocabulary with seemingly effortless ease. Every piece of instrumentation weaves together to support NBA's casually warm and stylistically enticing vocals with composure and charm!
Target Audience Appeal:
Carrying the torch like he was born to do so, Nolan Bruce Allen's Western Swing stylings sustain the legacy of the genre with genuine musicianship and a clear passion for the craft! Fans of Jazz and Country will find more than enough to love in the performer's catalogue, with tunes like "Brain Cloudy Blues" serving equally as homage and honest artistic endeavor! - Jon W.
Artist target suggestions:
Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, Ray Price, Willie Nelson, Spade Cooley & the Western Swing Dance Gang, The Maddox Brothers & Rose, T. Texas Tyler, Jimmie Ballard, Johnny Tyler's Riders Of The Rio Grande, Bucky Bates, Tune Wranglers, Tex Atchison, Slim Harbert and His Boys, Tex Williams & His Western Caravan
About The Reviewer:
Jon Wright is a trained multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and music educator with nearly twenty years of experience in the field. Working with musicians and their individual sounds is his passion and profession, and he strives to interact with and understand every aspect of the production process - from theory and songwriting to recording and mastering. He continues to teach students of all ages and is currently collaborating with artists across a wide range of genres.
Vocals: Strength
Lyrics: Strength
Instrumental Performance/Execution: Strength
Melody/Rhythm: Strength
Arrangement/Flow: Strength
Recording Quality/Overall Mix: Strength.