I don’t know that I’ve listened to a Nothing More album in full. I usually just rely on my sister to play me all the good ones, but this time around I decided to give their latest full-length release, Spirits, a try.
Straight away I can tell you that this was a good album. It was a powerful listen from front to back, although with just one spin through, no song really stood out to me. Of course, I really like the lead single, ‘Tired of Winning.” That song felt like a classic Nothing More song and would fit well into any set they play. To be fair, their song “Face It” really did manage to stand out to me, too. The instrumentals of that song were really cool and really aggressive. Even though they get played on heavy rock stations, I find that they have a nice mix of melodic and hard songs throughout their career. The same could be said for this album. I know lead singer Jonny Hawkins states this is the bands heaviest record, but I still think they balance it out nicely.
I suppose lyrically it could have been a heavier record. Also according to Hawkins, a lot of the album has to deal with some deep personal issues. In that way, they remind me of Don Broco a bit. When I think of Broco’s Amazing Things, they touched on a lot of issues that impacted them but were ultimately bigger than themselves. Nothing More’s Spirits also tackles big themes, but they manage to take those themes inward and come out a lot more personal. It seems most artists write this way, which I can appreciate. There is something about Don Broco’s music where I like more that they aren’t talking about the loves of their lives all the time. I do think Nothing More does a good job of not making it all about that either. That’s what makes these two bands so enjoyable.
Overall, I thought it was a good record that I’d like to give a few more chances. I’m surprised it hasn’t entered my sister’s rotation yet. This new album also makes me appreciate that I got to see them live earlier in the year. I’m sure there is still plenty of touring to come, with more opportunities for me to see them, as well. If you’ve liked anything this band has made in the past, this is certainly something not worth skipping!