Nathan Evans Fox – Heirloom
Bordering on a folk tendency once the domain of early Bruce Springsteen, Nathan Evans Fox can see in the distance through his rearview mirror – he decided he wasn’t going to let that premise fade away. Instead, he takes up his North Carolina upbringing, the struggles he witnessed & maps out the hardships & dreams he came away with, with working-class dignity
Nothing is rollicking or rocking in the early issue of this showcase since Fox focuses on more serious themes. The first are well-written ballads & while he isn’t singing songs in a preachy folky style, he lays out the lyrics like diary entries. There are 12 somewhat bittersweet narratives threaded in the fabric of Heirloom (Drops May 29/Free Dirt/43:24), with “Sevindust” being quite strong.
Produced by Zachary Hamilton (drums/electric & bass guitars/organ/bgv), the vocal styles are as distinct as early Springsteen, Marc Cohn, Peter Himmelman & Tim Jans. A bit more upbeat is “Landlords, Bill Lee, Etc.” This tune is composed with a hat tip to the trio of John Prine, Randy Newman & Roger Miller. It has a kind of sarcastic humor that’s actually charming.
Fox (vocals/pedal steel/acoustic guitar/banjo/strings/keys/percussion) is lyrically acute – not your basic run-of-the-mill country-oriented slices of life. Not Hallmark card poetry. Many songs are darker with their arrangements, but none are superficial or “Ode to Billie Joe” tragic. Some tunes are spare; the subject matter has weight. It’s not a dance record – it’s more of a journal of short stories, reports & dispatches about family, faith, labor, factory closures, layoffs, & life. It’s not a new story; it happened before in the 1800’s, during the Depression, during World War II & even when things were prosperous, there were still places like Appalachia.
Each song has its merits, but some are stronger than others. Fox has a good vocal tone, & the tunes he sings are far from ordinary. “Meanness” comes through with the folky muscle of Eric Andersen, but not Phil Ochs. Fox slides nicely into gospel-hues with “Hillbilly Hymn (Okra & Cigarettes) that has a nice touch of foot-stomping reminiscent of The Fairfield Four” (“Po’ Lazarus”).
The LP is laid out smartly with the slower numbers at the start, a few energetic tunes halfway through & then the dip into gospel pathways & “Thinking About Quitting No. 5” & continues the warm, rural, earthy & penetrating musicality. Despite the hillbilly atmosphere, Nathan never goes too primitive or pop-oriented. The songs are sung with authority, spirit & Americana taste.
Highlights – “Lots of Beginnings,” “Little Bit of Shine,” “Sevindust,” “Landlords, Bill Lee, Etc.,” “Heirloom,” “Meanness,” “Thinking About Quitting No. 5” & “I Know the End.”
Musicians – Jackson Grimm (electric guitar/banjo/bgv), Carson Childers (bass), Will Kissane (drums) & Mom (piano) with Emily Hines (bgv/acoustic guitar), Rachel Laven, Abby Hamilton & Clare Reynolds (bgv).
An 8pp stitched lyric insert is included. Cover image by Diego Molina. CD @ Bandcamp & https://www.nathanevansfox.com/ & https://freedirt.net/products/nathan-evans-fox-heirloom
Enjoy our previous coverage here: REVIEW: Nathan Evans Fox “Wasted Love”