Music and the City

"LIFE AFTER THE RAIN"

Many years ago when television and pop music were new there was "Ozzie and Harriet" and there was Rick Nelson. In a time before Elvis and definitely before the MTV revolution, America was simple. Almost at peace. Through the years pop culture had changed and continues to do so. A decade ago, in 1990, the music world was introduced to the sons of Rick Nelson, the grandsons of Ozzie and Harriet. Twins Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, their band and their debut album, "After the Rain". Over the next couple years the world listened as songs such as "Love and Affection", "After the Rain" and "Only Time Will Tell" climbed the charts and the album reached multi-platinum status. The conflict was that although many pop fans accepted the band many hard rock fans did not. Eager to please the rockers, Nelson went on to record the hard edged "Imaginator" album. However their record company, Geffen, decided not to release it and it wasn't until 1995, five years since "After the Rain", that their second album, "Because They Can", was released.
But the album went unnoticed. Those who have heard it know just how much of an inspiring work of art this record is. Thoughtful, intelligent lyrics along with well crafted acoustic based music. Songs like "All Shook Up", "Right Before Your Eyes", "Cross My Broken Heart" and "Love Me Today" should've made an impact. They could've but few were listening.
Over the next two years, "Imaginator" (1996) and "The Silence is Broken" (1997) were released on the Japanese label Victor. While both albums had their moments and certainly rocked, neither had the heart of "After the Rain" or "Because They Can". Only a handful of songs ("What About Me", "She Gets Down", "We're All Alright", "Kiss Me When I Cry", etc.) held up, but were not exactly definitive.
But fortunately the story doesn't end there. In 1999, the brothers, who have used various members in their backing band since '95, simultaneously released the country album "Brother Harmony" and the pop/rock "Life". Both albums clearly show the Nelsons going back to the style of their first two records and expanding on that. "Brother Harmony" includes the beautiful, heartfelt ballads, "With This Kiss", "Just Once More", "Forever Isn't Long Enough For Me" and the re-released "What About Me". The entire album is enjoyable, as is "Life", which features some of the best pop/rock songs we've heard in a long time.
Of course the opening track, "A Girl Like That" is a classic in the making. Their cover of their fathers "Life" has a great, very interesting arrangement. "She Sheila" has a cool keyboard intro and an equally cool chorus. And the final two tracks, "The Hunger" and "Is That How It Is" are what pop/rock is all about. Very melodic and very touching.
However I have mixed emotions about Matthew and Gunnar's current live show. You see, even though they have six albums of their own material they've decided to instead focus on performing their father's music with only a handful of their own songs, which turns the show into little more than a nostalgia act. (There's a lot of that going around these days.)
Their latest record is titled "Like Father Like Sons", a live album featuring the Rick Nelson tribute portion of the show along with only one of their own songs, "Just Once More", from the "Brother Harmony" album.

So there you have it, my friends.
Below is the complete NELSON discography. Click on an album cover for more information.

Click Here for the Official NELSON Website

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