Rather late to the party I know but it’s overdue I post a little something about Franz Nicolay’s album Luck & Courage released last November on Decor Records (who look after Richmond Fontaine, Mark Eitzel and AMC amongst others), it’s probably tiresome for the fella but in case your trying to place the name Franz was the keyboard maestro with Brooklyn’s finest The Hold Steady, I’ve not seen the band live since Nicolay’s departure but they’ve got to miss him he has that natural performers stage presence to go with his musical skills and was an excellent foil to Craig Finn.
Wildly eclectic and without a dull moment this his second solo release following on from 2009’s Major General and it’s a quality piece of work, built around his excellent lyrics the song structures appear tilted on their axes giving the album a loose feel regardless of whether it’s the sparsely adorned tracks or those with a full-on sound, it’s an album deserving of repeated listens that doesn’t unravel all of it’s intricacies at once, the banjo work on the album is wonderful and there’s some nice steel on offer too courtesy of Mark Spencer (Son Volt).
Franz Nicolay – Luck & Courage
May I recommend you also check out Franz Nicolay’s Daytrotter Session
Buy at Decor Records
