Nields make true magic on new release

by Jim Trageser
This review first appeared in the August 6, 2000 edition of the American Reporter.

If you need a reason to check out The Nields, here's one: "Jeremy Newborn Street." It's one of the best folk songs ever written and it's on their new album.

Not quite reason enough to plop down $17? Okay, "Wanting" and "I Still Believe In My Friends." Both songs are darn near as good as "Jeremy Newborn Street," and all three will end up being played by cover bands in trendy folk clubs for the next hundred years.

But know this: Not one of those cover bands will ever, ever come close to capturing the incredibly rich vocal harmonies of Nerissa and Katryna Nields, though. Not since Phil and Don made the Everlys so magic have there been two siblings whose voices come together as wonderfully as The Nields'.

Nerissa writes most of the songs here – listen to a few of them and you'll understand why guitarist David Nields fell so damn in love with her that he changed HIS last name when they wed.

Katryna is the lead singer, and she has a voice as pure and goddesslike as anyone who's ever sung. Put her alongside Judy Collins, Tish Hinojosa and Joan Baez. She's got a quiver in her voice on her cover of Hank Williams' "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" that will just break your heart. The a capella closing verse by the two sisters is as pure a bit of singing as you're going to hear on this planet.

Look, $17 admittedly ain't chump change. But The Nields are one of those very few bands that creates real magic, that is so good you feel privileged to simply be allowed to listen to them.

You don't get that so often in this life, you know?