David Nail

David Nail – “I’m About To Come Alive”

If you thought that Nashville was no longer turning out good, new, traditional Country artists, then this album will restore your faith. David Nail may be the new boy on the block but this album process just what an accomplished artist he is and a possible force to be reckoned with in the future.

This is his debut album featuring 11 tracks which showcase not only his excellent voice but his songwriting abilities and his knack of choosing the right songs and delivering them with passion and conviction. Fans of Clint Black and Kenny Chesney will find much to be admired and enjoyed in David Nail’s music, there are distinct similarities in tone and style to these artists. In fact, Kenny Chesney has contributed to the album, having co-written Turning Home, whilst David himself was involved in the writing of four out of the 11 tracks. Three were co-written and the fourth penned solely by himself, demonstrating a talent and aptitude which will stand him in good stead.

The first three tracks on the album are slow ballads with David Nail sounding like remarkably like Kenny Chesney on “I’m About To Come Alive,” then one can detect hints of Clint Black on Red Light. The pace picks up with “Again,” which is one of the few danceable tracks on this album but also a great track to just listen to.

The stand out track for me is Clouds. This is beautiful, both lyrically and musically, and dancers would love dancing Night Club Two Step to this super ballad. “Strangers On a Train” features harmonies by Miranda Lambert. Gary Le Vox contributed to “Summer Job Days” as co-writer. “This Time Around” is one of the few livelier tracks and suitable for dancing. The album closes with “Missouri,” a gentle, self-penned ballad which leaves us relaxed and almost definitely impressed. My only criticism would be that there are too many ballads making it very samey. A few more upbeat tracks would have redressed that balance but overall, this is a very enjoyable album and hopefully the forerunner of many more to come from David Nail.