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Heartbreak is never any fun, but it sure seems to be good fuel for the creative process. Nicki Bluhm first found an audience for her rich, smoky voice while making music with her husband Tim Bluhm, who produced her early albums and co-founded their band, the Gramblers. But in November 2015, the Bluhms revealed they were getting a divorce, and their creative partnership ended along with their marriage. Splitting up was clearly not a pleasant experience for Nicki, and she lays out all her hurt and disappointment on her 2018 album, To Rise You Gotta Fall. This is a breakup album if there ever were such a thing, but Bluhm doesn't sound like the experience has weakened her. There are bittersweet moments in "Staring at the Sun" and "Last to Know" where Bluhm reveals her emotional wounds, but more often she sounds clear-eyed in her postmortem of her relationship ("Something Really Mean") or defiant as she moves past the wreckage ("Can't Fool the Fool" and "Things I've Done"). Musically, To Rise You Gotta Fall is steeped in vintage R&B and soul with a dash of country for seasoning, and the bluesy angles of the music are a perfect match for Bluhm's ruminations on a love that used to be. The album was cut in Memphis at the legendary Sam Phillips Recording Studio, and producer Matt Ross-Spang has put together a band that can evoke the sounds of R&B past without sounding dated or falsely nostalgic. And To Rise You Gotta Fall features some of Bluhm's finest vocal work, filled with passion and nuance at the same time, and for all the powerful emotions in play here, she doesn't overplay, and the focus and restraint only make this music more intense. Hopefully Nicki Bluhm won't have to get dumped again for her to make an album this good, but at least she found a way to put her broken heart to good use, and To Rise You Gotta Fall ranks with her best music to date.
© Mark Deming /TiVo
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Ken Coomer, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Smith, AssociatedPerformer - Simon Gugala, Author - Will Sexton, AssociatedPerformer - Nicki Bluhm, Author, MainArtist - Jonathan Pines, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Ross-Spang, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Al Gamble, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Shoup, AssociatedPerformer - Little Knickers (ASCAP), MusicPublisher - Incognito Street Music (BMI), MusicPublisher
2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group. 2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group.
Ryan Adams, Author - Ken Coomer, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Smith, AssociatedPerformer - Susan Marshall, AssociatedPerformer - Rick Steff, AssociatedPerformer - Reba Russell, AssociatedPerformer - Will Sexton, AssociatedPerformer - Nicki Bluhm, Author, MainArtist - Jonathan Pines, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Ross-Spang, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Al Gamble, AssociatedPerformer - Little Knickers (ASCAP), MusicPublisher - BMG Bumblebee obo Barland Music (BMI), MusicPublisher
2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group. 2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group.
Ken Coomer, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Smith, AssociatedPerformer - Susan Marshall, AssociatedPerformer - Rick Steff, AssociatedPerformer - Reba Russell, AssociatedPerformer - Will Sexton, AssociatedPerformer - Nicki Bluhm, Author, MainArtist - Jonathan Pines, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Ross-Spang, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Al Gamble, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Graham, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Shoup, AssociatedPerformer - Neal Shaffer, AssociatedPerformer - Little Knickers (ASCAP), MusicPublisher - Ellen Wroten, AssociatedPerformer - Heather Trussell, AssociatedPerformer - Tamatha Holt, AssociatedPerformer
2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group. 2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group.
Ken Coomer, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Smith, AssociatedPerformer - Rick Steff, AssociatedPerformer - Will Sexton, AssociatedPerformer - Nicki Bluhm, Author, MainArtist - Jonathan Pines, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Ross-Spang, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Al Gamble, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Shoup, AssociatedPerformer - Little Knickers (ASCAP), MusicPublisher - Alexi Glickman, Author - Rabbit Narrow (SESAC), MusicPublisher
2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group. 2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group.
Ryan Adams, Author - Ken Coomer, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Smith, AssociatedPerformer - Rick Steff, Author, AssociatedPerformer - Will Sexton, AssociatedPerformer - Nicki Bluhm, Author, MainArtist - Jonathan Pines, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Ross-Spang, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Al Gamble, AssociatedPerformer - Minden Music (BMI), MusicPublisher - Sam Shoup, AssociatedPerformer - Little Knickers (ASCAP), MusicPublisher - BMG Bumblebee obo Barland Music (BMI), MusicPublisher
2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group. 2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group.
Dan Penn, Author - Ken Coomer, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Smith, AssociatedPerformer - Rick Steff, AssociatedPerformer - Will Sexton, AssociatedPerformer - Screen Gems-EMI Music Inc. (BMI), MusicPublisher - Nicki Bluhm, MainArtist - Jonathan Pines, AssociatedPerformer - Dan Penn Music (BMI), MusicPublisher - Matt Ross-Spang, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Al Gamble, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Shoup, AssociatedPerformer - Leroy Daniel, Author
2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group. 2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group.
Ken Coomer, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Smith, AssociatedPerformer - Susan Marshall, AssociatedPerformer - Rick Steff, AssociatedPerformer - Reba Russell, AssociatedPerformer - Will Sexton, AssociatedPerformer - Nicki Bluhm, Author, MainArtist - Jonathan Pines, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Ross-Spang, Author, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Al Gamble, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Graham, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Shoup, AssociatedPerformer - Neal Shaffer, AssociatedPerformer - Little Knickers (ASCAP), MusicPublisher - Ellen Wroten, AssociatedPerformer - Heather Trussell, AssociatedPerformer - Tamatha Holt, AssociatedPerformer - Terrible People (BMI), MusicPublisher
2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group. 2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group.
Ken Coomer, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Smith, AssociatedPerformer - Scot Sax, Author - Susan Marshall, AssociatedPerformer - Rick Steff, AssociatedPerformer - Will Sexton, AssociatedPerformer - Jim Spake, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Poltz, Author - Nicki Bluhm, Author, MainArtist - Jonathan Pines, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Ross-Spang, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Al Gamble, AssociatedPerformer - Wesley Graham, AssociatedPerformer - Little Knickers (ASCAP), MusicPublisher - BMG Platinum Songs obo Polio Boy Music/Third Story Music Inc. (BMI), MusicPublisher - Scotsaxsongs (ASCAP) administered by Me Gusta Music, MusicPublisher
2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group. 2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group.
Ken Coomer, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Smith, AssociatedPerformer - Susan Marshall, AssociatedPerformer - Rick Steff, AssociatedPerformer - Reba Russell, AssociatedPerformer - Will Sexton, AssociatedPerformer - Nicki Bluhm, Author, MainArtist - Jonathan Pines, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Ross-Spang, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Al Gamble, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Shoup, AssociatedPerformer - Little Knickers (ASCAP), MusicPublisher
2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group. 2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group.
Ken Coomer, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Smith, AssociatedPerformer - Susan Marshall, AssociatedPerformer - Rick Steff, AssociatedPerformer - Reba Russell, AssociatedPerformer - Will Sexton, AssociatedPerformer - Steve Poltz, Author - Nicki Bluhm, Author, MainArtist - Jonathan Pines, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Ross-Spang, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Al Gamble, AssociatedPerformer - Little Knickers (ASCAP), MusicPublisher - BMG Platinum Songs obo Polio Boy Music/Third Story Music Inc. (BMI), MusicPublisher
2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group. 2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group.
Ken Coomer, AssociatedPerformer - Dave Smith, AssociatedPerformer - Simon Gugala, Author - Rick Steff, AssociatedPerformer - Will Sexton, AssociatedPerformer - Nicki Bluhm, Author, MainArtist - Jonathan Pines, AssociatedPerformer - Matt Ross-Spang, Producer, AssociatedPerformer - Al Gamble, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Shoup, AssociatedPerformer - Little Knickers (ASCAP), MusicPublisher - Incognito Street Music (BMI) obo itself and Simon Gugala Music (BMI), MusicPublisher
2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group. 2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group.
Album review
Heartbreak is never any fun, but it sure seems to be good fuel for the creative process. Nicki Bluhm first found an audience for her rich, smoky voice while making music with her husband Tim Bluhm, who produced her early albums and co-founded their band, the Gramblers. But in November 2015, the Bluhms revealed they were getting a divorce, and their creative partnership ended along with their marriage. Splitting up was clearly not a pleasant experience for Nicki, and she lays out all her hurt and disappointment on her 2018 album, To Rise You Gotta Fall. This is a breakup album if there ever were such a thing, but Bluhm doesn't sound like the experience has weakened her. There are bittersweet moments in "Staring at the Sun" and "Last to Know" where Bluhm reveals her emotional wounds, but more often she sounds clear-eyed in her postmortem of her relationship ("Something Really Mean") or defiant as she moves past the wreckage ("Can't Fool the Fool" and "Things I've Done"). Musically, To Rise You Gotta Fall is steeped in vintage R&B and soul with a dash of country for seasoning, and the bluesy angles of the music are a perfect match for Bluhm's ruminations on a love that used to be. The album was cut in Memphis at the legendary Sam Phillips Recording Studio, and producer Matt Ross-Spang has put together a band that can evoke the sounds of R&B past without sounding dated or falsely nostalgic. And To Rise You Gotta Fall features some of Bluhm's finest vocal work, filled with passion and nuance at the same time, and for all the powerful emotions in play here, she doesn't overplay, and the focus and restraint only make this music more intense. Hopefully Nicki Bluhm won't have to get dumped again for her to make an album this good, but at least she found a way to put her broken heart to good use, and To Rise You Gotta Fall ranks with her best music to date.
© Mark Deming /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 11 track(s)
- Total length: 00:43:28
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Nicki Bluhm
- Label: Compass Records Group
- Genre: Pop/Rock Pop
2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group. 2018 Little Knickers. Issued under license to Compass Records Group.
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