Album Review: Birth of a Lover – The Nice Device

If you want an album that’s guaranteed to get “stuck” in your CD player, then pick up a copy of Birth of a Lover, the latest release from The Nice Device. You’ll listen to it so much you’ll know the lyrics by heart, without even realizing it.

Birth of a Lover is a mixture of pure rock with a dash of pop – combining to make for pure listening enjoyment. The band, fronted by the vocally powerful Alicia Gbur (vocals, guitar), has a sound that makes it hard not to sing along. Backed by Matt Lannoo (guitar, vocals), Nick Gerhardt (drums) and Matt Hatch (bass, vocals), Gbur’s voice resonates long after the song has ended.

Nice Device is able to seamlessly transition from guitar heavy rock tunes like “Bittersweet” and “Oh Me Oh My”, to songs that slow it down a bit like “How Low How Obscene” – which still has its moments of “rock”. Gbur’s vocals never waver, even though each song has its own distinct sound. Not many bands can pull that off…The Nice Device can. Gbur says, “We’re not afraid to sound like Pat Benatar, or Black Sabbath, for that matter.”

The album, portions of which were recorded by Jim Diamond at Ghetto Recorders, Brendan Benson at Grand Studios and Zach Shipps, has a gritty sound, but the saccharine sweet vocals keep it from sounding like every garage band in the scene. There is one small problem with the EP…it only has seven tracks, and we want more.

If you haven’t checked them out already, The Nice Device will be having their CD release party at Small’s on Saturday, July 10th. -Jacquie Trost