Album Review: Nathan Lawr and The Minotaurs

By: admin | in: Music |

Nathan Lawr and The Minotaurs

While talented drummer/singers do exists they are definitely a rare species. Hell, I can only name about three off the top of my head. Let’s see… Ringo Starr, Phil Collins, Dave Grohl… (Honorable mention: Uncle Jesse and the guy from the Monkees.) My list of drummer/singers that I actually like would be a much smaller list.

Well, it looks like I’m going to be adding Nathan Lawr to my short list. After spending most of his career drumming for Royal City, and the FemBots and touring with Jim Guthrie, The Constantines, and the “Mid-winter/Mid-autumn Night’s Dream” revues, Nathan decided to step from behind the kit for “A Sea of Tiny Lights,” his 3rd solo release.

He has The Minotaurs (Paul Aucoin, Evan Clarke, Kristian Galberg, Shaw-Han Liem, Dave MacKinnon, Kate Maki, and Simon Osborne) to help with anything he doesn’t have the desire to play since he plays almost every instrument in the band minus the horns. That task is taken care of by his brother Mark Lawr. Whether it’s the lazy guitar strum of “Oh No!” or the country shuffle of “Righteous Heart” the music alone is defiantly worth multiply listens but the true star is Nathan’s vivid song writing. The songs of “A Sea of Tiny Lights” seem to be inspired by anything he can get his hands on. “Footsteps” is the story of Jim Loney, the Christian kidnapped by insurgents in Iraq. “There’s A Devil” is inspired by Gus Van Sant’s Columbine interpretation “Elephant” and “Swimming Like a Needle in the Haystack of the Sea” (where the album title is derived from) was inspired by Uruguayan author Eduardo Galleano’s Book of Embraces.

Nathan Lawr and The Minotaurs are currently on tour in Canada. Catch them if you can.

There’s a Devil

Righteous Heart

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Posted on November 5, 2007

Comments

3 Responses to “Album Review: Nathan Lawr and The Minotaurs”

Nathan Lawr on November 7th, 2007 4:21 pm

Hi there,

I appreciate very much you taking the time to write some kind words about my album.

I must take exception however with your faulty research. I do not have a brother named Mark. Nor do I play music with my brother. Mark LAVER played baritone and tenor saxophones on the album and though he is a talented and wonderful guy, is not my brother.

I can’t even imagine where you would have gotten that idea. I would recommend closer examination of the fact sheet before you offend someone who actually matters.

Thanks again.
Nathan