Customer Reviews

Nil Lara

5 star:		(52)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

i have been listening to Nil's self-titled release nonstop since it came out nearly 4 years ago and i still love it as much as when i first brought it home. i have listened to "fighting for my love" (probably my favorite--if it is possible to pick out one favorite) at least 10 million times and still i hear something different each time. This album is so unlike any other i've heard in it's delerious mix of afro-cuban rhythms and american rock 'n roll. nil uses his own version of indigenous instruments including an electic version of the cuban tres which contributes to his unique sound. His voice his unbelievably strong and clear and gorgeous, and his lyrics--both in english and spanish--are moving and intelligent without being condescending or ostentatious. BUY THIS RECORD--you won't regret it!

As I write this, it's been 8 years, 6 months since this self titled album was released. I've never met anyone who's even heard of Nil Lara, yet not one single review here has awarded his work less than 5 stars. How can he possibly remain unknown?

Is this a prime example of record companies' need to slot a performer into a genre? What a shame. Let's call the genre "WOW!", and Nil Lara can be the standard by which its judged.

Amazon.com listeners have already judged him fabulous listening. The more you listen, really, the more astounded you will be. He runs a gamut of styles and nails every one. Just listen to the sample of "Money Makes the Monkey Dance," and it will stay with you for days. Or sample "My First Child" at the other end of the musical spectrum - it will haunt you for days. Just the samples.

Nil Lara should come with every CD player sold. A stand-alone Desert Island Disk!

Here's a quick plug for an album that easily sits in my Top 10 of all time list, maybe even landing in the Top 5, and it's certainly number 2 on my list of Best Albums By People That 99.5% of the World Has Never Heard Of.

The man's name is Nil Lara, and he is a brilliant singer/songwriter/musician. He was born in New Jersey to Cuban immigrants, but spent most of his childhood in Venezuela. That's pretty much all you need to know about him, really. He's taken a combination of instruments, musical sensibilities, and experiences from those three places and combined them in a way that is uniquely beautiful.

His singing is passionate, and whether the lyrics of the song are in English or Spanish, he still takes you with him to wherever he's going, even if you don't understand the language. "My First Child" is written from the perspective of a mother singing about her baby boy. Nil does a masterful job of conveying the emotions of a young mother. He nails the emotional perspective of the opposite gender better than anyone I've ever heard or read before. Musically, the album is sparse, and never overdone. The band always provides exactly what the song needs to convey it's point musically - nothing less, and nothing more. It's an appealing mix of rock and Cuban rhythms, interspersed with Venezuelan instrumentation. My mere words cannot begin to convey how good this release is. It is a gorgeous and very nearly perfect album.

The only down side to Nil Lara's story is that this album was released in 1996, and never got the publicity that it richly deserved. He toured the world for nearly 2 straight years supporting the album, and by the time the tour was over, he was out of money. He didn't release another album until Da saw the light of day in 2004. I have not heard this album yet, but I've heard that it is quite different - still good, but the result of 8 years of development as an artist. More experimentation with drum machines, hip-hop flavored numbers and the like.

Please, please, please check him out. He seems to be content playing in small venues around Miami now, which is a shame, because I would hate to think that Nil may never get the level of respect and awareness that he so richly deserves as a musician.

I've considered myself a huge fan of Nil Lara's, ever since seeing him perform at coffee shop & bookstore gigs in Ann Arbor, MI...in fact, I purchased my copy of his album from him after one such gig. It's been four years since then, and this is still one of my favorite CDs of all time. His guitar skills are evident on every track, and his soulful voice perfectly delivers every intended emotion. There isn't a less-than-amazing song on this disc. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys accoustic guitar and/or *real* Latin music.

I have patiently waited for a second release from Nil and can wait no longer! There are few other artists who can be substituted for what Lara does. His work is emotion-ridden, powerful, and possessive of a unique voice in today's music scene. Just listen to "My First Child", and you will understand all of these things. Please, Nil, bring your fans' wait to an end.

I was given this CD by an executive at Capital Records just before it was released. I said "Alright, I probably won't like this, whatever" and took the disc. What a pleasant change from my usual listening! Nil Lara has eclectic Latin/Carribean influences and great songwriting. No two songs are similar in genre. As previous reviewers have said, this disc was unfortunately ignored. Upon doing some research, I found that one of the better songs on the disc was released on the "Scrubs" soundtrack. Maybe finally it'll get "NL" some much-deserved attention. A 5-star disc. A great choice for people with varied musical taste!

I have owned this CD for eight years now, and I am still in my Nil Lara phase. I can't say that about any other recording artist of my thousands of CDs. Sure, I go back to the Police, Zeppelin, the Beatles, Bach, JT, Gipsy Kings, Ben Folds Five, Jeff Buckley, blah blah blah, but Nil has never left the building.

Every track is a gem. There is so much to discover. You will dance, you will wail along in your car, you will cry. Why Nil doesn't rule the world... it blows my mind. You will buy copies for everybody you know.

well he's finally out of the woodworks after this release with a few follow-up albums. if you're lucky enough to get your hands on the newest stuff congrats. I found this album while it was still considered a tough find right when it was released after watching a PBS special "On Tour". It's an album you can play on Sunday mornings to kick you off on the right foot. It's beyond me why anyone would let this CD go used, so be wise and snag it cheap while you can.

This CD is STILL one of my favorites. I eagerly anticipate the arrival of his two new CD's on (www.nillara.net/com). My favorite tracks are Baro and Bleeding. DO NOT PASS THIS ONE UP! The man is a genius! StaceyLynn.

Luckily, I heard of Nil from a friend the album is just great and I can't believe i have never heard of him. Why are artists with no talent being thrown at me when a true artist like Nil is never talked about?