Nora O’Connor
Til the Dawn
Bloodshot Records
Reviewed by Stormy Lewis
  While Bloodshot
Records is perhaps best known for its energetic, insurgent country acts like
Neko Case or The Old 97’s, Nora O’ Connor breaks from this tradition with a
cozier, more mellow disc, Til the Dawn. She does this through a careful
balance of simple, evocative vocals and complex melodies. Although the record
is short, at only nine tracks, it fulfills the adage that good things come in
small packages.
Til the Dawn is a collection of pre-rock southern music -- Blues,
Folk, Country, and Zydeco -- that is matched with exquisite production to
create something that sounds very fresh, if not new. Nowhere is this more
apparent than on O’Connor’s cover of Johnny Mathis’ “Bottoms,” -- her voice
turns Country-Blues in a song highlighted by touches of Zydeco and Acadian
fiddle. On the other hand, her cover of “Love Letters” seems a bit trite,
particularly for such a commonly done song. And, while she went for the
lesser known Stevie Nicks song “That’s Alright,” O’Connor’s normally distinct
voice comes just a bit too close to Nicks’.
When she moves away from these better-known ballads, O’Connor really shines.
On the stunning “Revolver,” her voice is girlish when she pleads, “you know
where I’m at/Don’t do it,” then grows brassy when she belts “come on home and
let me love you.” O’Connor also shows off her songwriting chops on “Tonight”
and “My Backyard,” a small sample to be sure, but one that leaves the
audience wanting more -- particularly with such lines as “I don’t believe
you/you always said if we got back together/I’d believe you.” “My Backyard”
also offers O’Connor a chance to showcase her skills on guitar and harmonica,
adding to a near perfect layering of music found throughout the album.
Nora O’Connor has clearly made the most of her time with Alt-country band The
Blacks, and doing harmonies for such acts as Neko Case. Til the Dawn
is the work of an artist on the cusp of greatness. With this quiet, folksy
record, Nora O’Connor lights a gentle autumn blaze, as crisp and beautiful as
scarlet leaves.
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