Greetings,
About a year ago, I did a review of a fantastic album called Bleeding Heart Graffiti by singer/songwriter, former Veruca Salt member, Nina Gordon. Yes, I was very positive about it, and I also gave a mention to that album's predecessor, Tonight and the Rest of My Life. I knew eventually I would get around to talking about that one. Well, today is the day. Now I gave some back story on Nina Gordon and her career in the first review, so if your interested in that aspect, you can go back and read that one. But now I just want to dive straight into this great music. Oops! I called it 'great' before I started. Well, spoiler alert!
I suppose I may as well get out of the way the song from this album which many people have heard and that is the title track. This album was released back in 2000, and the song "Tonight and the Rest of My Life" got a decent amount of airplay, both on radio and for the gorgeous video. It was also played in commercials for the movies Chocolat and The Notebook. As I mentioned in the previous Nina Gordon post, attach anything to Ryan Gosling and it magically becomes something you want. Anyway, admittedly, this was the song that got me, and I'm sure others, to buy the entire album. I thought if the rest of the songs were as good as that one, I was in for a treat. As per usual, I was right. And forgive my arrogance.
In all seriousness, that first single was actually a very good introduction to what we would get with the rest of the music. From the start, we can hear the clever way that Nina would be using lyrics. On the opening track, "Now I Can Die", she takes that thing people say about being able to die happy and attaches it to having a relationship so great that, yep, now she can die. The witty lyrics don't stop there, but go on in tunes like "New Year's Eve" and "Number One Camera", which are almost like story songs of sorts, and some of the best songs I've ever seen. Yes, seen. That's how potently visual the lyrics are.
Like many albums, this one is comprised mostly of love songs, and love from every angle, so to speak. We have a couple of break up songs, one in which she is to blame ("Fade to Black") and one in which he is to blame ("Got Me Down"), but both expressing the wanting to get passed the whole situation. There is "Too Slow to Ride", which I would say is my second favorite song here (we'll get to number one later), and it seems to be about a relationship that was doomed from the start, due to those pesky insecurities. Then, we have "Hate Your Way", which is a song about being attracted to someone who you really do not want to be attracted to because they're just not good. Yeah, for some reason this one makes me think of Dr. House and my one-time infatuation with him, despite his being a total curmudgeon. And then, we have just a straight up, sweet and tender love song in "Hold On To Me", easily the most romantic of all in this collection, I believe.
Now even I can admit that there were a couple of spots on the album that I, personally, might consider weak. There is a song called "Badway", which I just never clicked with as much as the others. To me, it just felt like it didn't fit with them so well. And the second track is called "2003". I don't actually think this is a bad song, but, when you take the title and its subject matter, it kind of dates itself. Still, good, though, just a bit limited. And finally, the closing track is a cover of "The End of the World", which Nina sings beautifully. My only complaint here is simply this. Why would someone who clearly has so much wonderful material that she wrote herself bother to give space to a cover song? Also, I've never been a fan of that song anyway, which might be affecting me. Well, according to my info, this track was put on in place of one called "Black and Blonde". I've heard it; I like it. But Nina decided to not release it on the album, thought it was too mean or something, and put the cover in its place. Well, it is her project, after all, so okay.
So, as promised, let me get to my absolute favorite song here, "Horses in the City". This one is amazing. The music is great, and the lyrics really hit me deep in my heart. I interpret it as being about trying to find where you belong when you really have no idea where that it is. Sure, that theme may have been used several times before, but she does what every great writer does and expresses it in a unique and interesting way. Hence, the horses in the city thing.
Alright, I guess it goes without saying that I am telling you all to go out and buy the album Tonight and the Rest of My Life. If you give it a chance, you will probably kick yourself for not getting it sooner. Honestly, this is just something else to prove what I always say about what's popular having nothing to do with what's good. And Nina Gordon is yet another artist who does not get anywhere near the respect or acclaim that she deserves. This is why I do my part to bring attention to people like her. I pray that it works.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
