Customer Reviews

Second Grace: The Music of Nick Drake

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This doesn't necessarily qualify as "Spacemusic," but it's exquisitely gorgeous and I heard it on ECHOES, played by that closet folkie John Diliberto: I've just sat and listened (and listened...and listened..you get the idea) to "Second Grace: The Music Of Nick Drake" by Christopher O'Riley.

O"Riley is a well established classical pianist, and while his interpretations of Nick Drake (or Radiohead, for that matter,) don't veer into the jazzy experimentalism of Brad Meldhau, where Nick's music doesn't sound comfortable to me anyway, he nails that English Pastoral sound the way Ralph Vaughn Williams might have. Plus he is leagues ahead of the "Look Ma, no left hand" school of "jazz pianism" best demonstrated by George Winston, who should not be allowed to record again until he plays through every Bill Evans songbook in existence.

OK, that's what "Second Grace" is not-but what IS it? It's the way "Northern Sky" and "Joey" always sounded to you when you were humming those tunes to yourself; it's "Fly" and the dawn of spring, it's the melancholy of "Three Hours" and "River Man," it transforms "Rider On The Wheel" from a throw-away Nick tune into a possible Cassandra Wilson cover.
Even then, though it may sound deceptively simple on first listen, but keep going-this is one of the best CDs of 2007.

I must repsectfully disagree with my friend John Diliberto on one point-I think he gives a short shrift to Nick's fans when he rights that "I'm not sure that "Second Grace" would actually appeal to Nick Drake fans." Like the music of Nirvana, Nick Drake's has stood the test of time; like Cobain, the creator of the music unfortunately doubted his own creative genius. But that genius is EXACLY what appeals to the resepective fans of Drake and Cobain.

Note to all screenwriters; Where is the "Nick Drake movie?"

if you like this nick drake tribute, be sure to try out 'home to oblivion'.. (o'riley's tribute to elliott smith..) plus his radiohead cds which are awesome too..
ghost

I know Nick's music quite well and this work of art does not parallel Nick's work at all. Although Chris is clearly an accomplished piano player he does no justice to Nick's illustrious compositions. Most of these renditions sound rushed which scorn the original versions' interior and exterior beauty. Avoid this disc and check out other artists like Tim Story who perform this style of music much better.