Artist: Nemo James
Album: The Minstrel
Unbiasedly traveling to diverse societies around the world is meant to help people learn to appreciate distinct cultures and beliefs, but that objective examination can shockingly often lead to the same realization: that people of all stature experience the same heartbreak and joy. Musician Nemo James endearingly learned that lesson when he willingly left his successful career as a London session guitarist, in order to concentrate on exploring life outside of music. While his versatility as a guitarist kept him in constant demand, and he garnered work in such varied venues as classical guitar concerts, jazz and folk clubs, rock concerts and country and western festivals, he riskily took a 12-year absence from music.
During that vacancy from recording in the studio and performing in venues, he realized that everyone, no matter what type of life they lead, have to contend with despair. To highlight that anguish, the singer-songwriter-guitarist, who’s now living in Dubrovnik, Croatia, released the folk-country infused album, ‘The Minstrel,’ his first new material in over a decade, this past summer. The 17-track record enthralling emphasizes the relatable obstacles that everyone endures as they strive to overcome the emotional pains and hardships they routinely experience.
The first entry on ‘The Minstrel,’ which is titled ‘Dreamer On The Run,’ instantly attracts listeners with its soothing instruments, including James’ return to the guitar, and relaxed rhythms. The musician’s vulnerable vocals and acoustic guitar, combined with musician Chuck Sabo’s enticing drum beat, supports Nemo’s revealing disclosure that he’s striving to improve his life. He admits that his actions are negatively affecting his wife and their children, as he can’t fulfill his goals to support them. The song emphasizes the important social message that no one person can change the entire world, and it would be more beneficial if they solely focused their efforts on their families.
The record then gives way to the 1970’s folk-inspired ‘The Poet,’ which features a soulful guitar introduction. The singer-songwriter emotionally chronicles how he walks alone in life, and how his soul is on fire. The song also powerfully notes how his heart cries out in pain, as he’s tortured by his loneliness. James also passionately admits that he stands alone as he dreams of his perfect love.
‘The Poet’ leads into ‘The Minstrel’s title track, which emphasizes its folksy quality that’s heavily influenced by the work of James Taylor. After opening the song with a revealing and insightful guitar introduction, the British musician explains how words no longer have place in his life, as he can’t find the right way to express how sad he is that the person he cares about is leaving. After questioning if the person he loves still likes his songs, especially after the troubling times they’ve been through, he soulfully admits that the purpose of his songs is to bond them together.
After ‘The Minstrel’s entry on the album of the same name, James debuts the emotional song ‘Pride,’ during which he divulges that he’s still haunted by his past. Aided by distinctive female backup vocals that break up the growing monotony of sound of the previous songs, the singer reveals he has pride that his love won’t fade. While the woman he loves admits that she’s sorry that she hurt him, she feels that if he forgave her, they could have found a way to make their relationship work again. While he admits that it’s hard for him to be alone, and he knows her love was real, the pain she caused still won’t leave him.
James’ new record then eases into the blues, folk and country-inspired entry, ‘I Wonder.’ The track contains a pressing contemporary problem that many people face as they watch their lives pass them by. The musician admits that sometimes he thinks he will settle down, but at the same time, he also wonders what he’d do if he changed his life now.
‘The Minstrel’ takes a drastic turn in the next song, ‘Forbidden Fruit,’ which chronicles how the woman James loves decides she can’t take another day doing the same thing. As she finds the courage to venture out into world on her own, she knows she should head back to her old life, but she becomes compelled to drive and explore. She believes culture’s ideal that traveling is a forbidden fruit, but she’s still determined to leave her senses behind.
James then begins the next track on the album, ‘In The Garden,’ with a touching acoustic guitar. The musician then reflects on the work his mother used to do in the garden when he used to come home from school. While she looked happy, he admitst that it seemed as though she had a tough life, but she was happy working in her garden. Her determined spirit has lead her memory to remain clear since she died, and flowers now always reminds him of her cheerful spirit.
The best entry on ‘The Minstrel’ is ‘It Really Doesn’t Matter,’ during which the singer admits that he told the woman he loves that he was leaving. She accepts his decision, even though they have known each other for 10 years, and they don’t shed a tear for their newly-ended relationship. But she feels like she’ll move on with her life, even though she still loves him. The musician’s message offers an interestingly different take on break-up songs, as the two won’t allow themselves to be slaves to heartache. He also admits that he knows it’s time to look ahead.
‘The Minstrel’ then delves into the hopeful song, ‘Love-In-Your-Heart,’ which features more upbeat vocals and acoustic instrumentals. James insists people must have love in their hearts if they want to survive. The singer then once again emphasizes the importance of real love in ‘A Simple Love Song.’ While he states that he wants to write a song to tell the woman in his life how he feels about her, he finds it difficult to think of a new way to tell her how much he loves her in a song. While he thinks that she probably knows how he feels about her, he still feels the need to tell her how much he cares for her.
‘I Hated What I Found,’ which is the next track on the album, offers delightful guitar work, which is complemented by admirable harmonies. James sings that he’s waiting for a train to take him to other side of town, as he tries to find where he belongs. He also reflects on when he was married, as he only now realizes how much he loved his wife. While he insists that he had to find himself when he left the marriage, he now hates what he saw in himself.
James then delves into the entry ‘Marie (Where Are You Now),’ during which he notes how it’s been many years since world seemed like a safe place. After he met the woman he loves years ago, and only now realizes that she’s the true love of his life, he’s trying to soothe his broken heart. He harrowingly admits that their time together still haunts him, as he sees her face in the stars, and realizes that he would like to see her one last time.
‘The Minstrel’ then explores the woman the musician wants to get to know better in ‘A Woman Unknown,’ as he ponders her past. He sullenly realizes that he wishes he could give her the love she’s always longed for. In stark contrast to the harrowing track, the next song on the album, ‘Little Tin Box,’ reveals that the musician’s personal life is disintegrating. He soulfully admits that his relationship is failing, and he doesn’t have any potential options on how to improve his life.
The country-inspired next entry on James’ record, ‘Sing For Your Child,’ emotionally explores the consequences of when a parent may not be around for their child for long. As opposed to a failed romantic relationship, like the one he continuously mentioned on the album’s previous tracks, he notes that children always depend on their parents. The song than powerfully chronicles how a girl asks father to sing for her, but he doesn’t have the time, even though singing for his daughter would show that he cares. The track, with its endearing sentiment, then gives way to the unfortunately forgettable next entry, ‘The Wheels Go Round.’
The last entry on ‘The Minstrel’ is the reflective ‘Rosemary and Time,’ which embraces life’s important moments. The song explains that growing up, the typical woman unfortunately gives into society’s beliefs, no matter how hard she tries to fight it. On her wedding day, for instance, she’s not always sure of her feelings of love, but her elders tell her love will grow, and she will be loved. Everyone also tells her not to hurry into making decisions.
While people often feel that embracing diverse societies and ways of life may enlighten them into overcoming their pan and confusion, objective examination can surprisingly often lead to the same realization: that people of all stature experience the same heartbreak and joys in life. James endearingly learned that lesson when he willingly left his successful career as a London session guitarist, in order to concentrate on exploring life outside of music. While his versatility as a guitarist kept him in constant demand, he riskily took a leap of faith when he left his niche 12 years. The relatable songs on his comeback album, ‘The Minstrel,’ prove that everyone, no matter what type of life they lead, has to contend with despair at some point. The singer-songwriter-guitarist’s effort enthralling emphasizes the relatable obstacles that everyone endures as they strive to overcome the emotional pains and hardships they routinely experience.
Listen to James’ ‘The Minstrel’ album in its entirety below. For more information on James, visit his official website, as well as his Facebook and Twitter pages.
Written by: Karen Benardello