One wonders what it must have been like as those first European explorers discovered America. The joy of coming face-to-face with something new, fresh and indescribable must have been both breathtaking and incredibly satisfactory on a soul level. While one can’t exactly compare the unearthing of a new land with the discovery of a new rock band, my introduction to the music of NIAYH comes pretty damn close.
NIAYH is a four-piece outfit from Portland, OR whose name is an acronym for “Now is all you have,” a phrase which is part of the band’s manifesto serving as a self-reminder and invitation for their listeners to “appreciate the divinity of the moment.” While most bands converge for musical or relational reasons only, NIAYH has come together on a deeper, even spiritual, level to share their love and philosophical message through amazingly well-written and well-performed music.
NIAYH’s debut album, Hope (2008), is by far my favorite album of the year – if not the past several years. Through syncopated, funk-inspired grooves, premium musicianship and unbelievably infectious melodies, Hope is a sign that all is not lost in the often soulless and computer-tweaked realm of modern rock.
As to the band’s sound, it is self-described as “hip-hop infused, psychedelic soul, rock, rhythm and blues.” Casual listeners may be quick to make comparisons to such bands as Jamiroquai, Maroon 5, Jason Mraz, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Incubus, but those comparisons turn up to be extremely superficial upon deeper investigation. For one thing, Hope features a stylistic diversity that few bands are courageous enough to tackle. The album flows from pop-rock (“Break You Off”), to sultry swing (“Gottarythmaway”), to hard funk rock (“Catie”), to 50’s bluesy soul (“Baby, What Am I Gonna Do?”), and back. Don’t let that fool you, however; this is not an erratic, disjointed free-for-all. There’s a common thread - something in the songwriting, performances and production - that tie all of these diverse songs and styles together into a cohesive whole.
Secondly, what NIAYH has up on similar-sounding bands is a humility and “realness” that is hard to fake. While several of the acts mentioned above can sometimes project a certain amount of pop superficiality (dare I say cheese?), NIAYH never seems to cross that line; quite the opposite, actually. A sincere, edgy and raw emotion flows out of each track, inviting the listener to share in the lustful yearning (“Catie”), heart-breaking agony (“Baby, What Am I Gonna Do?”), desire for change (“Some Part of Me”) and other honest emotions embedded in the album’s eleven tracks. In fact, if comparisons must be made, perhaps those to the soul and R&B masters of decades past may be more apropos.
Hope begins with a track entitled “Rock” which is not only the perfect opening song, but a perfect introduction to the group as the lyrics themselves tell the story of NIAYH coming together. Christopher (the band’s vocalist, also known as Worth) speaks to meeting and getting to know each of the now-members and pulling them all together:
“When we rocked every one of us knew
That we would come together to do what we would do
And spread the seeds of a philosophy: ‘Now is all you have!’”
“Rock” finishes up with a total 180-degree change-up into a slow, dub reggae jam with spacey sounds reminiscent of early, experimental Pink Floyd. This is done as if to buck expectations and say, “Yes, we write pop songs, but we’re also going to add some depth and complexity – why? Because we damn well want to.”
“Break You Off” follows with one of Hope’s more “ready for radio” offerings and further confirms the sense that this is an extremely solid band. In both of the opening two tracks, Lydian and Roody consistently lock into a tight groove while Kenton’s funk rhythm guitar and lead lines fill in the spaces in a beautifully appropriate way.
Track 3 is “Gottarythmaway,” a stylistic divergence from the previous two songs. Following the opening stick clicks, NIAYH surprises the listener by popping into a slinky, back-alley swing number complete with finger snaps and horn bursts. Oozing with sexual cupidity, Worth oogles his female companion through his cool and polished vocal delivery:
She’s just shy of 5’5”, chocolate eyes with the brown hair to match
Fine lines, curvy behind, she wears her beauty like a matter of fact
Oh, this woman breathes all delectable things,
sweet raw sugar dripping from her cane…
“Gottarythmaway” slinks along into what you think will be an explosive chorus only to have the carpet ripped out from underneath you as the band slyly slides into a quiet and beautifully understated refrain.
With what may be the windows-down, road anthem of the season, “Let It Ride” emerges from the final, explosive burst of “Gottarythmaway” with a simple acoustic guitar and organ. While Worth reminisces about a girl from California, the band rolls in in stages before Lydian’s bouncy walking bass leads into one of Hope’s catchiest hooks. Like a car on the open highway, “Ride” cruises along with a semi-gentle fluidity until out of the bridge explodes one of Kenton’s best lead lines, marked by its crunchy, synthesized tone and technical complexity.
“Caitie” begins with a 50-second prelude of vocal wailings, slide acoustic guitars and even the sound of spurs, sounding more Wild West than Northwest. Don’t get too comfortable with the sound, however, as out of nowhere crashes in the full band with this album’s funkiest and perhaps most stand-out track. “Caitie” is a hit, for sure, with its wonderful arrangement, compelling hooks and melodies and an all-out rock assault in the last 30 seconds that would make even Rage Against the Machine proud.
A darker, more mysterious offering and the album’s namesake – “Hope” – follows as Track 6. Kenton piles on the delay and works the tremolo bar as “Hope” emotionally builds into a double-time, hard-rocking bridge and then back into the song’s simple, yet effective mantra: “I hope that you’re feeling right.” Here again, NIAYH successfully shows off both their unwillingness to stay in the pop vein and the depth for which they’re willing to reach.
As if to further display the band’s musical cajones, a long intro then leads into Hope’s seventh, longest and most emotive track, “Baby, What Am I Gonna Do?” Using a very slow 6/8 shuffle, lots of room reverb and a blues/soul tonality reminiscent of something from 50 years ago, “Baby…” is teeming with longing and heartache. One of my biggest complaints about modern music is the recording studio’s ability to suck the life, soul and feeling out of performances in order to “perfect” a track (especially in the vocals). Producer/engineer Sean Norton (of Sean Norton Audio, Portland), however, consistently allows the musicians’ hearts to flow freely, inviting the listener to empathize with what’s being expressed. This is perhaps best shown through “Baby…,” though it is certainly prevalent throughout.
The next two tracks, “I’ll Wait” and “Forgot About Love” return to NIAYH’s current balance point, which seems to be a funky, groove-pop sound laden with bouncy, head-bopping bass lines and wah-wah’d guitars. Roody keeps the groove in the pocket throughout both songs as Worth continues to demonstrate his vocal chops and wise melodic choices. Both are enjoyable tracks supported by commendable songwriting.
Track 11, “A Better Man,” is a notable pop offering that challenges “Let It Ride” and “Caitie” for Hope’s catchiest hook. The chorus contains that kind of contagious melody that you find running through your head during sleepless nights and long drives. Another interesting aspect of “A Better Man” is its most curious bridge section. Here, Worth and the boys make a nod to Pearl Jam’s similarly titled piece “Better Man,” altering the chord progression only slightly before building back up into the refrain.
Hope’s final cut, “Some Part of Me,” is an intimate, playful and touching song which looks at the tussle between who one is and who one wants to be:
Some part of me wants to be everything in between
myself and all I pretend to be…
Some part of me wants to make it better
but I fear it’s not my priority
The band (who self-recorded this track in a home studio) did a great job recreating a campfire feeling, even down to the hissing and popping of a nearby fire, as they and several female friends add their voices to the sing-along chorus. With its stripped down instrumentation and overlapping melodies, harmonies, laughter, shouting and atmospheric noise, “Some Part of Me” refuses to take itself too seriously, even considering the more weighty subject matter. Think a mixture of “To Be With You” (Mr. Big), “More Than Words” (Extreme) and “All You Need Is Love” (The Beatles) and you’ll be close. “Some Part of Me” not only hints at NIAYH’s philosophical bent, but also the familial love and friendship that exists within the band and toward their fans.
Considering Worth’s heartfelt and beautifully delivered vocals, Roody’s rock solid drumming, Kenton’s uncanny ability to find non-standard guitar lines and Lydian’s superb tastiness and technical ability, NIAYH is one hell of a force to be reckoned with. Their ability to write melodies rivals that of popular music’s heaviest hitters and the band’s choices for parts and arrangements sets them out way beyond the fold of the scores of independent artists trying to “make it.” While most bands, try as they might, honestly don’t have what it takes to get to that next level, whether NIAYH chooses to ride a wave to the top of the pop and rock charts or stay indie and underground, I believe, is solely at their discretion. It is only a matter of short time before record labels and the mainstream music media come pounding at their door. And perhaps the most marvelous thing is that, their incredible music aside, NIAYH has chosen to be the prophets of a much needed message. In a world saturated with superficiality, fear and uncertainty, NIAYH invites us into the eternal NOW, rich with depth and overflowing with love, gratitude and peace. There are indeed very few bands who can provide excellence both in music and in message which is why I’m certain that while “now” truly is “all we have,” the world is only experiencing the first of many, many future “nows” with NIAYH.
by Trevor Harden, President of RockOm.net
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Tags: Album Review, Funk, Hope, NIAYH, Now is all you have, Pop, Portland, Rock, Soul
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