Recently, I have listened to a ton of records where the artist does little more than imitate their ”inspirations” and provide little effort into projecting their own voice, display their own product, or share their own vision. Thankfully, there are records where the artist draws inspiration from various artists and uses those inspirations as tools with which to create and expand and not merely to trace over. Kasey Anderson’s (Official / Myspace) upcoming record, Nowhere Nights, fits easily into that category.

Yeah, there are hints of The Boss and Lucero, but Anderson’s sandpaper snarl and evocative lyrics serve up a fantastic disc that doesn’t seem to have a weak link to be found. Similar to Lucero, Anderson deftly switches up the tempo and expertly alters the mood of the record at various points. ”From Now On” is an understated epic that recalls some of Springsteen’s moodier work. The raw punches of the electric strums lend the song a bit of urgency and diversity. If Anderson were to ever film a video for this song, I would have to imagine that a cold, mist-filled, lonely, urban night would provide the backdrop. The central story of a soldier in “I Was a Photograph” is as sad as it is timely. The record isn’t all mood and melancholy, however. “All Lit Up” and “Sooner/Later” crank the amps up a good bit. Anderson has built a solid catalog of quality Americana, but Nowhere Nights is a true gem that should find its way into many people’s collection.

LISTEN: Kasey Anderson – “Sooner/Later”

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