New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ Neil Nathan Official Website) - It's been a fabulous year for Neil Nathan: he's garnered comparisons to Cat Stevens, Jeff Tweedy, and Matthew Sweet for his debut LP, The Distance Calls. Toss inRosario Dawson guest starring in his "California Run" video and it's a sure bet that Nathan is one guy not complaining about being a year older. That's why he's celebrating with a big birthday show at the Rockwood
Music Hall on January 14th.
Nathan has also been sharing his love of music videos by making a wide array of them this year. The "California Run" featuring Rosario Dawson and "When The Rain Falls" parallel videos; his Grindhouse/B Movie Inspired Album Trailer, the "So Much More" Get Out and Vote Video, a Dia De Los Muertos inspired Halloween video for his cover of Beehtoven's Fur Elise, and most recently, a Christmas Charity video featuring a Santa Claus straight out of a David Lynch flick. His cover of ELO's "Do Ya," which was also featured on the Californicationsoundtrack, has been viewed 25,000 times on YouTube. Next up is the "Highways" video featuring an animated version of himself driving a flying '67 Corvette convertible; "Highways," along with "California Run," "When The Rain Falls," "So Much More," and "Do Ya" can be found on Nathan's latest full-length, The Distance Calls which was released in August.
The Distance Calls was produced by The Go's Bobby Harlow and combines the talents of Dean Fertita (The Dead Weather, QOTSA),Kenny Tudrick and Joey Mazzola (Detroit Cobras), John Krautner (The Go), and Ross Westerbur (Deadstring Brothers). The album effortlessly merges jangly pop rock with Nathan's mellower singer/songwriter side. With a dash of NYC glitter and some good old Detroit fuzz and stomp, it showcases a musician clearly influenced by the '70s (without being cliche).
Praise for Neil Nathan
On The Distance Calls
"LA Country Rock for the new millennium." - Jersey Beat
The country-inflected single, "California Run," breezes by like a convertible cruising down the PCH, sounding like a long-lost Old 97's track that was recently unearthed."-Magnet's MP3 at 3PM
"From his Josh Ritter-like chug on "California Run" to the guitar-heavy sludge of "Better Be Goin'" he, more often than not, recalls the aforementioned songwriter's ambitious tendencies. But, if you add Nathan's obvious love for 70's classic rock and his myriad of other influences, you end up with an album as surprisingly strong as The Distance Calls; a windingly fun and eventful road trip into the valleys of retro rock"-Bryan Sanchez, Delusions of Adequacy
"Similar to The Eagles or Jackson Browne, it's meat and potatoes rock and roll that satisfies all the way through. The blues styled "Get On" has a bit of Dylan in it's DNA with a rolling organ and guitar solo break that is so cool it'll keep ice cream from melting. There are few musicians out there that can pull off this combo of energy and soulful songwriting (Both Matthew Sweet and Jeff Tweedy qualify)." Powerpopaholic
"The Distance Calls is an album that could very well be thrown into a mix along the lines of any given Fairweather release, and would be able to hold its ground with no struggle whatsoever. The guy has a talent and an acoustic swagger that is undeniably real. "California Run" is such a perfect single it's awe inspiring."-Ron Trembath, FensePost
"Drop the needle anyplace on the record and find yourself soaking in a well crafted song. Perfectly balanced rock and soul."-The Ripple Effect
"The best part? Nathan combines a singer-songwriter sound- that which you'd never brag about enjoying to your pals- with a touch of '70s-influenced rock 'n' roll that relieves any worries about losing your, um, man card."-David Uberti, The Metro Times
"...The Distance Calls opens up with an interpretation of ELO's "Do Ya" setting firm ground for a nice outing that surfaces somewhere between classic rock and Matthew Sweet. Always refreshing to see people recalling the greats and not just mystifying with bells & whistles." -Parasites and Sycophants
"Neil Nathan's voice and acoustic rock sound draws strong similarities to Matthew Sweet, especially on the album's lead off single "California Run." The chorus is so catchy that it's sure to catch the attention of radio."-JP'sMusic Blog
"Rosario Dawson. Electric Light Orchestra. Matthew Sweet. If you can get the first into your video, and you have the audacity to craft a stripped-down acoustic version of the second, and if your sound is guaranteed to earn comparisons to the third, then you're guaranteed to get my attention and interests."
-Billy, Bottom of the Glass
"One of this year's truly great rock records. The tunes are so sugary, they would give Matthew Sweet a toothache."- Snob's Music
"Earnest, melancholy singer/songwriter has a talent that cuts to and through the heart."
-Philadelphia Daily News
"Nathan's vocals could easily be mistaken for Cat Stevens at times - most notably on the aching ballad, "Don't Walk Away". But Nathan does more on this record than pull at the heartstrings with his sincere balladry - he can make you want to get up and dance, like on the bluesy rockers "Get On" and "Never Enough"."-Bill's Music Forum
On the "You're Mine Valentine's Day" Video
"With a warm, soulful voice and an acoustic-guitar part that tugs the heartstrings as it plucks at the steel ones, Neil Nathan's lullaby-with-a-twang, "You're Mine," seems as good a soundtrack for Valentine's Day as any."
-Magnet Magazine's Film at 11
On the "Do Ya" Video
"Nathan's voice, a combination of rock and soul, is full of longing on this revamped romanticized piece."
-Magnet Magazine
On Songsmiths
"Wow, this is really good. Like a mellow Steve Marriott."
-John Ingham, Music Journalist, MOJO, NME, Creem, Rolling Stone
On Motor City Recordings
"I loved it. Like Chris Isaak, full of longing."
-Jennifer Kelly, Music Journalist, Popmatters, Dusted, Neumu
"Gone (Fly Away) is catchy as hell. These songs are great."
-Gary Blackwell, Music Journalist , Spin Magazine, Delusions of Adequecy, MotorCityRocks.com
On "Glide"
"Melding the heartache of alt.country to the soul of acoustic Americana, Nathan's "Glide" EP is a stirring, thoughtful collection of mini-revelations that grow in beauty with every listen."
-Nevin Martell, Music Journalist, Filter Magazine and Author of Beck:The Art of Mutation, and Searching for Calvin and Hobbes
