
Compare lead-off track "Come and Wait" with Something Obscure's opener, "Ballad of Big Shoulders" to hear the evolution at its most pronounced. This time out, the sound is more epic, the performance much bolder. The "rock" is moved to the forefront while the "folk" is simply there to show its support. For further evidence, check out the upbeat romp of my personal favorite, "Die Darlin'," or the dark, moody intensity of violin-drenched rocker "Blackwater Town." That said, the haunting gentleness of the debut EP hasn't been abandoned entirely. "Oh, Mama (I'm Going to the Other Side)" is sparse and reflective, as is the title track, which closes the collection of songs with a melancholy, classic folk vibe. There's one constant, though, whether the material is plugged in and rocking or softly acoustic: Derek and the band sound like they've been doing this together for a decade, not a year. There's an air of confidence and passion throughout these six songs that's impossible to overlook. If Something Obscure introduced Derek as an artist worth looking into, Riders of the Tide cements him as one worth championing.
Riders of the Tide is available to download on the Derek Nelson & the Musicians Bandcamp site, and you can name your own price. To check out the band live, mark your calendar for November 24 at Molly Malone's in Forest Park, December 4 at Congress Theater (as part of the Chicago Blues & Bluegrass Festival) and December 10 at Subterranean.
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