In anticipation of the third Assembly Line Concert coming up in March, I want reintroduce readers to David Nefesh. I first saw Nefesh live, online from AJ's Music Cafe in Ferndale, Michigan, during last year's Assembly Line Concert. An instant fan, this review is the favorite of those I wrote last year, and certainly the album is a favorite. I hope it inspires you to explore Nefesh's music and to join us online, in the stream, March 19-April 2, 2011 for the Assembly Line Concert where you are sure to discover brilliant music and friends.
The Point of it All
Listening to David Nefesh perform in a live acoustic setting, one is instantly engaged by his lyrical, poetic nature. But that turns out to be only a warm up for the rocker underneath. With his latest release, The Point of it All, the Michigan songwriter has crafted a terrific rock album which also captures the soul of his acoustic guitar and verse.
The title track, "The Point of It All," begins with memorable guitar licks and then immediately offers lyrics defining the spirituality that fills this album. "Like when I see a child pick a flower in his bliss / Two old lovers on a park bench sneak another kiss / Hands that reach out to the dying hearts all drenched in pain / May it rain, oh heaven may it rain." Across the 14 tracks we find that, with great insightfulness, Nefesh continually sings about the things which drive his spirit - happiness, love and peace.
The second tune, "Let it Out," is a rockabilly styled poetry jam with intelligent lines and surprising rhymes with Nefesh sometimes grabbing the listener's attention by speaking, more than singing, the lyric .
Demonstrating that he can change up both the tempo and the mood and not lose the energy, the album continues with "Red Wine". This solid ballad speaks of dulling the grief of the heart, forgetting pain, leaving loneliness behind. The familiar theme is beautifully expressed here with weeping guitar phrasing and haunting lyrics. Another moving composition is the lullaby "My Little Dreamer," which is conveyed with vocal tenderness, accentuated by acoustic guitar and Larry Everhart's harmonica.
Two tracks on The Point of it All feature classical stringed instruments. Hannah Hudson on violin and Jake Rutkowski on cello lend their talents to the lilting tune "Yonder Together." The second, "The Way You Love Me," is a nice blend of Sarana Verlin's violin, and Nefesh's acoustic guitar. Cheryl St. Rebel also provides beautiful background vocals on "The Way You Love Me," complimenting Nefesh on this and other tunes, including the title track.
Displaying the chops of a hard rocker, Nefesh delivers the electric and edgy "Stick to Me," which could be an anthem of any decade of rock and roll. Drawing on the great wealth of musical talent from the Detroit music scene, the rock tunes keep coming, including "Heretic Son," "Your Chair," and the power ballad "Tell Me." Jef Reynolds appears on bass on four tracks, and Ron Pangborn and Dave Marcaccio share the drums credits. The poetry also resonates with these songs, such as on "Tell Me," which asks, "Tell me why the budding violet shrivels without rain / Tell me why can't beauty coexist without the pain?" and other questions of life and love.
"Juana's Blessing," highlighted by another brilliant electric guitar riff, is an enthralling story song about a message written on a napkin by a mysterious and beautiful woman. "Juana's Blessing" and "When My Faith is Grey," two very different types of tunes, both reflect the depth of Nefesh's faith and on each his vocals are equally emotive. The lyrics of the simple, acoustic "When My Faith is Grey" express our doubts and wonderings with impeccable phrasing, meter and lyrical flow. Two more tracks make the most of Nefesh's talent for putting words together and setting them to his melodic guitar style - "Brave" and the final cut, "Come Morning." As "Come Morning" closes, the listener is ready heed the message to get up, get out, feel love, and seize the day.
What about that other message, the one written in the note by the mysterious Juana? That message of encouragement is, "keep singing with your childlike spirit / God loves it and She wants some more." David Nefesh's spirit clearly shows throughout The Point of It All. We hope David Nefesh keeps singing. We love it too, and we want some more!
Cheryl Phipps, 5/21/2010
For more information visit http://www.davidnefesh.com/
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