​Willie Nile (from The Great Yellow Light

​Willie Nile (from The Great Yellow Light

​Willie Nile (from The Great Yellow Light available on River House Records) (by Brian Rock)
Songwriter’s songwriter Willie Nile offers a flicker of hope on his twenty-first album, The Great Yellow Light. Amidst the uncertainties and upheavals of the world, Willie Nile urges us to take comfort in each other and to work to better ourselves. Alternating between high energy Rockers and contemplative ballads, Nile’s raspy Graham Parker meets Tom Waits voice offers hope and encouragement as we cope with the struggles of modern existence.
“Wild Wild World,” begins with an onslaught of pounding drums and fiery electric guitar. Introducing the album with a bang, Nile sings ‘A-bombs off in Asia, floods in Arkansas. Earthquakes that will nail you, damnedest thing you ever saw’. Describing a world of peril, he uses later day Cheap Trick power chord progressions to capture the energy and turbulence of a world on the brink. But instead of giving in to nihilistic despair, he remembers his love and takes a sudden U-turn, singing, ‘you wake up dreaming and I am believing in you’. Rather than focus his attention on possible problems at distant locations, he shifts focus to what’s right in front of him. Certain love has the power to banish uncertain fears. Suddenly, he is able to see ‘from the mountains and the valleys, to the seashells on the shore, to the mysteries of the jungle; tell me, who could ask for more’. Yes, there’s still trouble in the world, but there’s also beauty, and love helps him see it.
Doubling down on hope, Willie Nile brings more crunchy Power Pop energy to the anthemic “We Are, We Are”. With a stadium Rock chorus, he proclaims ‘we’re young and strong, we are, we are. We’re righting wrongs, we are, we are. We’re heading for the stars, we are’. He adds a tinge of proto-Punk to his sexually charged “Electrify Me”. He adds Celtic subtones to the cheery work song, “Tryin’ to Make a Livin’ in the USA”. He urges his fellow citizens to follow their better angels on the heartland Rock of “Wake Up America”. Slowing the tempo, Nile adds a new standard to your St. Patrick’s Day playlist with “An Irish Goodbye”. “What Color Is Love” urges us to look beyond bodies to see the beauty of each other’s souls. Inspired by the art and writings of Vincent Van Gogh, the The Great Yellow Light title track is a power ballad that celebrates finding our muse, whatever it may be while “Washington’s Day” envisions a world without war. Finally, Willie Nile offers words of comfort in “Fall On Me”. Like Solomon Burke’s classic “Cry to Me”, the song offers a refuge for those in pain. Whether rocking out or offering ballads of comfort, Willie Nile assesses the turmoil of our modern age and determines that whatever hardships lie ahead, they are better faced together. We could use more of that kind of refrain. (by Brian Rock)
Listen and buy the music of Willie Nile from AMAZON
 
Please visit the Willie Nile website for more information