lambchops's Full Review: Tonight and the Rest of My Life by Nina Gordon
Who is Nina Gordon?. Remembered as half of the girl rock duo Veruca Salt, Gordon’s 2000 release of Tonight and the Rest of My Life is a step in the direction to solo success.
Born in Washington, D.C. during the winter of 1967, Gordon attended The Latin School of Chicago and Tufts College in Paris before making her major label debut as part of Veruca Salt. She played her first chords on the guitar when she was just 7 years old, yet found herself bored by the instrument and dropped her hobby for years. Who knew that Gordon would go on to write some truly great music?
Gordon and Louise Post paired to form Veruca Salt in 1992. The two went on to record two well-received alternative albums. 1994’s American Thighs and 1997’s Eight Arms to Hold You both spawned numerous radio ready hits. Songs like ”Seether” and ”Volcano Girls” remain alternative classics. Gordon split with her best friend in 1999 to record her debut solo effort.
Tonight and the Rest of My Life is the product of Gordon and producer Bob Rock who worked his magic on Veruca Salt’s 1997 album in addition to albums from the likes of Bon Jovi. With Rock at the helm, Gordon spent months in Hawaii perfecting the chords of her debut outing. The resulting piece is smooth, soft pop music in the same vein as other artists like Fiona Apple, Tori Amos, Aimee Mann and Liz Phair. Nobody would ever accuse this album of being new and different. Tonight and the Rest of My Life is different than anything that Veruca Salt created as a whole. It’s rich and full, lush and lovely. Gordon’s voice is magnificent, even if some of the songs could be better.
That aside, Gordon comes close to proving herself as a solo artist. She seems to have smoothly made the transition from Veruca Salt to solo success while still maintaining her personal style and substance. The lyrics of these thirteen songs are mature and exquisite…usually (save for a few strange moments I’ll talk about a bit later). Gordon’s usually light and airy voice seems truer and more intense than on albums with Veruca Salt. In addition, an all-star lineup of musicians was assembled to ensure the album’s success. She’s put together a special CD here, one that should appeal to many audiences on many levels.
Most of the songs on this album revolve around love, won and lost. At the same time that Gordon walked out on Veruca Salt her relationship with Dave Grohl went sour. This public breakup was at least in part an obvious catalyst to writing and recording many of these songs. For example, the title track showcases Gordon’s vocals prowess while exhibiting a great adult-alterna-pop feel. The lyrics are awkward at times, but the yearning and the emotion paired with words like:
Gleaming in the dark sea
I’m as light as air floating there breathlessly
When the dream dissolves
I open up my eyes
I realize that
Everything is shoreless sea
A weightlessness is passing over me
Speaks directly to the loss of love and the subsequent feelings of loneliness. This is by far my favorite song from this CD.
Other songs of note include the upbeat and melodic ”Now I Can Die”. Gordon sounds smooth and as though she could be standing next to you singing about her relationship. Words like: ”He opened up my eyes, I understand everything, And now I can die echo the reality of love. ”Badway” is the song that most resembles Gordon’s earlier recordings for Veruca Salt. She growls with her girly voice along side rock guitars and a heavy drum. This song is the musical exception, each of the other tracks are very removed from the rock influences of yore.
‘Ballad’ seems to be the key word to this album. The majority of these songs are almost forcibly sad and sometimes strangely mid tempo. There’s nothing specifically wrong with Tonight and the Rest of My Life. Rather, it’s just not as inspired or energetic as I would like (save for the great ”Badway”. Songs like ”Horses in the City” lack any real meaning. That track relies on a metaphor: I don’t know what it is, I just feel out of place, like horses in the city. The metaphor doesn’t work for me.
Anyway, about 7 or 8 of these tracks seem to just mush together. Gordon shines throughout, but there’s only so much you can do to stretch the theme of love and love lost across thirteen tracks. The album would have been nearer to complete if there were only ten songs. Instead, there are a few good tracks, two or three great tracks, and a whole lot of filler.
My suggestion would be to listen before you buy. Gordon has a very feminine voice. She isn’t as whiny as she has been on songs from Veruca Salt, but there are still some semi-obnoxious moments. If you’ve heard the title track ”Tonight and the Rest of My Life”, you’ve heard the best track on the album. If you liked it, you may appreciate the other 12 offerings. If Veruca Salt’s rock flavor was for you, this album will likely prove a bit wimpy for you. I do recommend it, but look before you leap.
I give this album 3.5/5 stars. On the strength of some of the songs mentioned above, I will be kind and round this up to 4/5 stars. Nina Gordon could be famous. A second album will prove exactly how good she really can be.
Track listing:
1. Now I Can Die
2. 2003
3. Tonight And The Rest Of My Life
4. Badway
5. Horses In The City
6. Hold On To Me
7. New Year's Eve
8. Fade To Black
9. Number One Camera
10. Got Me Down
11. Too Slow To Ride
12. Hate Your Way
13. The End Of The World
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