Ben Nichols

The Last Pale Light In The West EP

Aside from a few accordions and the absence of a drumbeat, Lucero frontman Ben Nichols does not stray far from his usual Americana twang on his debut solo EP, The Last Pale Light In The West. What separates the work from any given Lucero album are the lyrics. Inspired by Cormac McCarthy’s classic American novel Blood Meridian, Nichols recounts the characters’ challenges as they travel the West and succumb to the warlike nature of man. Simply known as “The Kid,” the main character’s troubled tale is told with a quick tempo and stripped-down guitar melodies in the song of the same name. “Davy Brown” includes a lighthearted pedal steel in a song about an outlaw’s efforts to keep from swinging from the gallows. As a preacher fallen from grace, “Tobin” laments enemies and war, accompanied by a fervent accordion arrangement. One potential downfall is that listeners unaware of Nichols’ muse risk misunderstanding the songs’ messages. However, his storytelling charm effectively elaborates on backstories and emotions that would inspire his audience to locate their old library cards and Dewey Decimal that shit up.

ROCKS LIKE:
Chuck Ragan & Austin Lucas’ Bristle Ridge
Lucero’s Nobody’s Darlings
The Forecast’s In The Shadow Of Two Gunmen

Liberty & Lament http://www.luceromusic.com