Joe Nolan, “Bring Me a Candle” (Independent, 2009)
Reviewed by Abu Ramses – All Tracks FCC CLEAN

Nineteen year old Canadian singer/songwriter Joe Nolan accompanies himself on acoustic and electric guitar and harmonica. Unobtrusive instrumental backup. Folky/bluesy sound. Lyrics are the center – protest songs, love songs, social critique, & just stories. Influences of Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Tom Waits, Leonard Cohen. Nolan’s voice is better than Dylan’s. All slow to mid-tempo.

Try tracks 3, 4, 11
Tracks
1. Bicycle Road 2:42 – acoustic guitar and light percussion
2. The Ballad of Kasey Gun 4:34 – nice finger picking, English horn
3. The Night 3:08 – bluesy sound; Nataya Nolan vocal backup
4. Laura 2:53 – acoustic guitar, harmonica, Dylanesque
5. The Renter 2:54 – finger picking, acoustic guitar ain’t got no home
6. Polly Wants a Cracker 4:05 – Big, multi-instrumental, rockish
7. I'm a Tree 3:14 – slow. Joe on harmonica, Nataya vocal backup
8. Gutter of Your Home 2:52 – acoustic and electric guitar, keyboards, Nataya joins in on vocal, haunting
9. Fire Home Tonight 3:06 – mostly quiet acoustic guitar. Nataya joins in. You can hear his fingers up and down the frets too much.
10. Famous Dolphin Earrings 2:56 – Alice is weird. Nataya joins in.
11. Bring Me a Candle 4:26 – mid-tempo. Strong acoustic guitar & harmonica.