Customer Reviews

Because They Can

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I loved "After the Rain" (I own five copies of the cassette), so after the positive reviews, I was sure I'd love this one as well. After the first five songs, I was thinking I should give the cd to my country-music sister. Considering the reasonable price, it was probably worth the money... half the songs for half the price. "Won't Walk Away" was excellent and their instrumentals are always a joy, but it didn't live up to my expectations.

I love this album. I love all their albums. I had a dubbed tape version of this album(I know I am evil) because I didn't know where to find it. When my cd collection ballooned, I forgot about all my poor little tapes, even the good ones, like this. I found the tape and immediately ordered the cd, remembering how much I loved these guys and their music. Originally, Imaginator was their second album but Geffen wanted After the Rain II. They came as close to it, without replicating it completely. If you liked their debut, you will love their "sophomore" effort.

It took five years for Nelson to finally issue a follow-up to their best-selling 1990 debut After the Rain, and by the time 1995's Because They Can was released, the musical climate had taken a dramatic shift. Radio and MTV were no longer interested in Nelson's brand of pretty boy pop metal, instead doting over the latest mopey alterna-rockers. I suppose there was no way for Nelson to win, but you have to give them credit for what they came up with for this album.

Because They Can isn't the catchy, melodic arena rock of After the Rain, nor is it some weak attempt to pass themselves off as grunge. Instead the Nelson brothers - sons of the late Ricky Nelson - came up with an album that played to their strengths as singers as well as songwriters. Because They Can is probably best described as adult contemporary or AOR. It's very laid back, with almost acoustic guitar strumming replacing power chords and substance replacing flash. With a little more twang it could even be a passable country album. The change in styles was drastic, and I confess I was disappointed at first, but after a few spins the album really grew on me. It's a very melodic album, and the signature Nelson vocal harmonies are just as amazing here as they were on the debut. If anything, the mellow nature of Because They Can makes the vocals stand out that much more. The songwriting is also much improved. There are some very beautiful, very moving songs on this album, "Cross My Broken Heart", "(You Got Me) All Shook Up" and "Nobody Wins In the End" to name a few.

If you go into this album not expecting another After the Rain, you should find Because They Can a very enjoyable album. I still prefer the more bombastic rocking sound of After the Rain (and later albums like Imaginator), but there are times when a laid back album like this is exactly what I need to hear.

How can I describe this album? I may give only three comparing with After The Rain. But as a country pop rock album maybe I should give five stars. So it may not be their cups of tea for those who want them to rock hard. They should buy Silence Is Broken,Imaginator or Life instead. But if your music taste is broad enough to appreciate Faith Hill, Shania Twain and The Corrs why not try this. My #1 favorite is The Great Escape which is true to their regular rock style. Love Me Today one of the best ballads by Nelson, and Roller Coaster rock Won't Walk Away are awesome. Recommended for wide range of pop rock fans.

I am a huge Nelson fan, and have been since their beginning in music. This is absolutely one of the best cd's I own. Even better than After the Rain, if possible. Matthew and Gunnar Nelson are highly underrated as musicians and songwriters. I would recommend this cd to everyone.

I'll come right out and tell you this. I love this record. These are the kinds of songs that lift your spirits and make you feel alive. Gunner and Matthew Nelson are without a doubt two of the best performers/songwriters around. To reassure us that life is in fact precious, they have recorded such songs as "Only a Moment Away", "Right Before Your Eyes","Love Me Today" and "Cross My Broken Heart". All of these and others, all heard here on this record, will give you just about as much hope and love that music can give you. If you get the chance, take it.

There are some good songs on this album. The emphasis here is on the soft rock vocal arrangements, and acoustic guitar but not supplemented by the electric as much as in the past. "(You Got Me) All Shook Up" is catchy, fun... "Love Me Today" is an ode to their dad--sad and beautiful, "Won't Walk Away" is my favorite on the album. It is reminiscent of their stronger sound, found on their first album "After the Rain" and third "Imaginator".

After the success of "After the Rain," the band had...let's just say....difficulties in the release of their second album. Finally after a five-year wait, this is what emerged. And let me just say the wait was worth it. As much as I love their first album, this album is ten times better. Much more was put into this disc than the first, I find. From the opening chords of the album, you can't help but be hooked. This album is sure to please a music fan of every taste. It was ballads ("Love Me Today"), instrumentals ("Remi") and up-beat melodic rock ("The Great Escape.") Ever since I picked up the disc, I've been in awe. The emotion that pours forth from the music is so pure, and will no doubt please fans of soft-core country to even some hard-core pop fans and just about anybody who's a fan of good old pop-rock in general.

I LOVE this tape! The music is fantastic, and the tape plays perfectly. However, for a brand-new (as opposed to used- still in the original wrapper) product to arrive in a broken case (not just cracked, but in pieces), was disappointing.

Most albums have "filler" material, right? You know....those "OK" songs in between the fabulous songs? Not so with this album. Each and every song is a masterpiece in it's own right. There's the catchy pop genius of "(You Got Me) All Shook Up" to the very clever use of numerics in the lyrics of "Five O'Clock Plane" (Are we ONE or TOO far gone...to say THREE words I love you....beFORE you take that FIVE o'clock plane?). Very clever, indeed. Then there's the very two-steppin "Cross My Broken Heart". The Lean-On-Me-ish "Only A Moment Away", addictive after two listens and "Won't Walk Away" displays the fast-paced metal-pop sound reminiscent of their first album. "Right Before Your Eyes" is an uplifting reminder of believing in yourself and "Love Me Today", has a sweet and heart-wrenching second verse about their father, Ricky. The two instrumental pieces "Joshua Is With Me Now" and "Remi" are mesmerizing. The latter reminding me of the works of Phil Keaggy and the first involving some exquisitely fast acoustical guitar playing.

"Be Still" is probably my favorite on this album with it's bluesy slide guitar. The spiritual lyrics of "Peace on Earth" are beautiful and the rock -opera-ness of "Nobody Wins in the End" is the perfect song to close the album.

Clearly, the Brothers Nelson FAR surpass the "talented" category and this album displays their gifts in several sub-genres of music. Sadly, they didn't get the proper support from their label, Geffen Records. This is really not the album they had envisioned as their "sophomore" effort, as they presented "Imaginator" to the powers-that-be at Geffen and were told it would receive no promotion, as it was too "heavy" for Nelson. Well, I'm glad they released this album and that I was able to come across this hard-to-find treasure.