밴드 Nicole Atkins & the Sea 출신의 싱어 송라이터 니콜 앳킨스는 스스로의 작품을 “팝 느와르”라고 칭하며 통찰력 있는 가사와 함께 독특한 가사와 함께 독특한 작품 세계를 선보이고 있다. 2007년 12월 [Neptune City]는 롤링스톤 및 올뮤직가이드의 호평과 함께 빌보드 Top Heatseekers 차트에 6위까지 오르기도 한 바 있다.
회고적이면서도 유동적인 목소리에 매일매일 다른 옷을 입히는 다양한 사운드는 여러 가지 실험과 변주에 언제나 목마른 인디의 취향과 연관이 깊다. 앨범을 대표하는 곡 ‘Cool Enough’처럼 싱어 송라이터의 전형성을 유지하면서도, 앨범의 문을 경쾌하게 여는 첫 곡 ‘Maybe Tonight’, 웅장하게 시작하는 ‘Together We’re Both Alone’, 뮤지컬을 방불케 하는 화사한 이미지의 ‘Brooklyn’s On Fire!’를 비롯, 팝 누아르라는 정반대의 낯선 세계를 구축하듯 앨범은 굴곡이 큰 편이다. 곡 하나가 개체로서 또렷한 독립성을 갖지만 산만하지 않고 유연하게 흐른다는 것도 앨범의 강점이다. 이는 프란츠 퍼디난드, 카디건스, 오케이 고, 세인트 에티엔, 뉴 오더 등 다양한 음악을 경험한 베테랑 프로듀서 토어 요한슨의 역량과도 무관하지 않다. 그리하여 개별과 통합이 근사하게 균형을 이룬 앨범이 완성됐고, 조금 늦게 찾아왔다. 이제 재생을 시작하면, 변화무쌍하면서도 무게있는 새로운 싱어 송라이터를 만나게 된다 .... ....
I am raising a flag I am just too tired now to fight It’s white and it’s waving Can’t we save this for another night I used to be afraid, but now I crave the quiet Together we are both alone, but I don’t mind I’ll dream of something to try and make us all right
Baby, put your arms down They’re machines that can’t be fixed no more Causing the alarm sounds I’ll be right here waiting at your door We’ll sit up on the bed for a while Together we are both alone, but we don’t mind We’ll dream of something to try and make us all right
But the dawn is trouble When I close my eyes, you never go away I’ve tried everything, still you won’t change Is it better if you go…
But the ending doesn’t matter One hundred days, and then the suffering stops Running faster through this Hope to save your heart before it drops And you can never say I didn’t try Together we are both alone, but I don’t mind I dreamt of everything, I tried to make us all right
It’s all right, it’s all right, it’s all right, it’s all right It’s all right, it’s all right, it’s all right, it’s all right It’s all right, it’s all right, it’s all right, it’s all right It’s all right, it’s all right, it’s all right, it’s all right
Don't tell me My love's not the one that I want That he's not the one that I need I'd rather find out for myself
You're the one Who shakes at the touch of my hand but can't decide where he should stand If I was smart I'd never call you, call you ever again
Oh, in my ears my blood is just roaring when he's the only one I've ever wanted I suppose that's just the way it is
Just to think this could be The last time I hold you, hold you ever again
Oh, I don't think I'll ever sleep till morning Coz he's the only one I've ever wanted Oh, and in my ears my blood is just roaring Coz he's the only one I've ever wanted I suppose that's just the way it is
> Ive been trying to know you You seem a ruthless one What is your history? What is your history?
What do you want me to show you? What past is buried at sea? Would you confide in me? What is your history? Im at your will once again
Love surreal, love surreal Its the only way that were allowed to feel Love surreal, love surreal If you think that we can work it out Lets take it from here Take it from here Take it from here Take it from here
Ive been trying to reach you But youre a ruthless one Look what youve done Look what youve done
If some balance existed And I could see through the sound Id give you everything Id give you everything Im at your will once again
Love surreal, love surreal Its the only way that were allowed to feel Love surreal, love surreal If you think that we can work it out Lets take it from here Take it from here Take it from here Take it from here
Friday nights on the seventh floor (FOURTH OF, JULY, BROOKLYN'S, ON FIRE) Paper backs on the corner store (FOURTH OF, JULY, BROOKLYN'S, ON FIRE) Looking over the ledge, the sidewalk traffic starts to spread Summer's begun across the bay And no bit of silence remains
Oh, Brooklyn's on fire, and fills July hearts with desire Sleep will not come, until the morn Cause tonight your memory is born La dee da, la dee da
And the band's not begun just yet (FOURTH OF, JULY, BROOKLYN'S, ON FIRE) Fifty names you're bound to forget (FOURTH OF, JULY, BROOKLYN'S, ON FIRE) Black and blue on the lakes Wear badges from happier days Late in the night, in '84 Walked in through the old out door
Oh, Brooklyn's on fire, and fills July hearts with desire Sleep will not come, until the morn Cause tonight your memory is born La dee da, dee da, dee da
(FOURTH OF, JULY, BROOKLYN'S, ON FIRE) (FOURTH OF, JULY, BROOKLYN'S, ON FIRE)
I'm caught in the way, of tears from much happier days When we were young and unafraid, of stupid mistakes that we made
Oh, Brooklyn's on fire, and fills July hearts with desire Sleep will not come, until the morn Cause tonight your memory is born Ladeeda, la dee da, dee da, dee da, dee da
I always pick all the wrong things to say I left last night in utter disarray If I held your hand And swore that I'll never do this again And gave my best try
Don't pull over just kill the headlights
You turn around and say don't go away But I know you and you are bound to stray It's a foul of men They swear that they'll never hurt you again Then give their best shots
Don't pull over just kill the headlights
'Cause if you feel strange hit the road 'Cause people who are afraid don't make good bedfellows So please understand, My heart you won't have it again So just don't try
Don't pull over, just kill the headlights
You seem surprised That I'm leaving One bit of some good love And I am gone
Darling, why you look so sad Has this place got you anxious Trust me, it's not you I've been wondering for days How to make them go away There's just one thing to do
Let's go go go before a normal reaction Gets us in trouble all over now And I won't won't won't ever let them hurt you Never again, love, all over now Oh, it's just a dream
This night's enough to make me weep And the company you keep They don't seem to have a plan Darling it is almost morning This is our last warning Let's get out while we can
Let's go go go before a normal reaction Gets us in trouble all over now Darling stay close to me And I won't won't won't ever let them hurt you Never again, love, all over now Oh, it's just a dream
Party's over now Party's over now
So let's go go go before a normal reaction Gets us in trouble all over now Darling stay close to me (party's over) And I won't won't won't ever let them hurt you Never again, love, all over now Oh, it's just a dream