Song Review:
You Don't Love Me But I'll Always
Overall Impression:
Nolan Bruce Allen breaks from his usual lightness and levity with the down-tempo and deeply sentimental tune, "You Don't Love Me But I'll Always"! True to Western Swing fashion, "You Don't Love Me But I'll Always" places Nolan Bruce Allen's smoothly flowing vocal tones at the center of a stylistically complex and musically enjoyable sound - his talented compatriots employing Country Western instrumentation with even-keeled and jazzy performance techniques that help to elevate and illustrate the depth of emotional lyricism on display!
Strongest Point(s):
This is such a sad and sweet tune! The instrumental performances are really lovely here - managing to convey an optimistic melancholy through gentle executions on instruments that bear a natural warmth and brightness. Excellent solos from the steel guitar and piano at the interlude, culminating in an emotionally poignant but sonically rich transition into warm strings and reeds that could be interpreted as the narrator's feelings settling into place. Nolan Bruce Allen's voice fills the space nicely, delivering heartfelt and heartbroken lyricism with a measured and meticulously controlled vocal performance that echoes the lyrical sentiment perfectly. What results is an engaging musical experience that's bound to resonate with anyone who's had to let go of someone they've loved - "You don't love me, but I'll always care." Excellent sounds!
Target Audience Appeal:
Nolan Bruce Allen may well be the king of Western Swing - boasting a sound and style that masterfully capture the genre's nuances and subtleties. "You Don't Love Me But I'll Always" cements this title, offering a laid-back feel and an emotionally rich lyricism that stand to conjure sympathetic yearnings and nostalgic desires for lovers long passed among any seasoned listener with a receptive ear! Organic in instrumentation and ubiquitous in subject matter, Nolan Bruce Allen's "You Don't Love Me But I'll Always" is an anthem of unrequited love - sure to become a classic to anyone who takes the time to listen in! - Jon W.
Artist target suggestions:
Spade Cooley & the Western Swing Dance Gang, The Maddox Brothers & Rose, Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys, T. Texas Tyler, Jimmie Ballard, Jimmie Revard & His Oklahoma Playboys, Johnny Tyler's Riders Of The Rio Grande, Bucky Bates, Tune Wranglers, Tex Atchison, Slim Harbert and His Boys, Tex Williams & His Western Caravan
About the Reviewer:
Jon Wright is a trained multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and music educator with nearly twenty years of experience in the field. Working with musicians and their individual sounds is his passion and profession, and he strives to interact with and understand every aspect of the production process - from theory and songwriting to recording and mastering. He continues to teach students of all ages and is currently collaborating with artists in a wide variety of genres.
Vocals: Strength
Lyrics: Strength
Instrumental Performance/Execution: Strength
Melody/Rhythm: Strength
Arrangement/Flow: Strength
Recording Quality/Overall Mix: Strength