When I first knew I was going to be writing about Nelsen's first full-length album, "The Wind," I was a little nervous. I'd heard Nelsen at a couple house shows, but it wasn't the type of music I typically listen to and I was there to socialize, so I didn't pay them a ton of attention.
I was afraid I would have to toss out, "Sounded great, man" a time or two and politely nod after listening to the album – recorded by frontman Nick Nelsen, keys player Landon Mills, guitar player Connor Shaw and drummer Mike Rhian.
Then I actually listened to the album.
By the fourth song, I realized I wasn't going to have to lie. I actually liked this album.
From there, it moves to "Father," Nick Nelsen's favorite song. "Father" has a little bit of everything, led by a keyboard riff by Mills, trailed by a drum track that will keep you hooked — especially live — and capped by a perfectly fitting guitar solo.
The second half of the album continues to deliver on what Nelsen prides itself on — originality.
It goes from "Over The Hills," (with lyrics like "The top of this peak I'll find myself / I'll stay there for weeks with no one else / but with the rocks I'll be alone / I'll take a walk and never come home") a song with powerful vocals that builds to a big second chorus, to "Reaper," ("Love is blind to all mankind and deaf to words I wrote / I won't take this anymore") a peppier tune written and sung by Mills.
Nelsen pulls from a number of influences in "The Wind," and it's obvious in the result.
Hints of Jazz (Shaw), Djent (Rhian) hip-hop (Mills) and Americana (Nelsen) shine through in almost every song to get a sound that is truly unique.