Beaver Nelson – Legends Of The Super Heroes
After being signed to major labels and not releasing anything for nearly ten years, Beaver Nelson appears to be making up for lost time. Legends Of The Super Heroes is his fourth disc in five years.
While The Last Hurrah and Little Brother were hailed for being lyrically direct and full of life, his last disc, Undisturbed, seemed to be a misstep, with songs that seemed incomplete and pop moves that fell flat. He’s returned to form here, delivering eleven new songs filled with heart and wonder.
At first, Legends Of The Super Heroes seems thrown together; it’s definitely less polished than some of his previous work. But eventually the melodies appear and the lyrics stick in your head. “Digging A Well” and “Government-Sanctioned Hayride” seem to jump from the speakers, with backing from Scrappy Jud Newcomb and Rich Brotherton that sparkles, yet is never flashy.
“Sleep (No Rest)” is a dream song with cryptic imagery almost worthy of a young Dylan. Though some may scoff at such a comparison, with this disc, Nelson proves he’s one of the best in the long line of Texas songwriters.