Appeared in Scene by the Idaho Statesman
November 3, 2006
Review by Michael Deeds

Despite an ample selection of twangy radio stations in the Treasure Valley, local country musicians are a rare breed.  That's not the only reason Neil Nelson deserves notice:  He has a robust, likable singing voice that's well suited for an environment of traditional country guitar and juke-joint piano.

Nelson's 2005 CD, "Double Shot of Whiskey," was a collaboration with guitarist Dave Robinette.  "It Ain't Over Yet" is the first disc credited to The Neil Nelson Band, a quintet that includes veterans such as drummer Lawson Hill and multi-instrumentalist Don Cunningham.  

The Group mentality pays off.  Even if Nelson's songwriting treads no fresh or unique pastures (with one notable exception), these well-executed tunes have easy, wide appeal.

Nelson mostly plays it straight throughout the disc, delivering country-Western, dance-floor-worthy songs untarnished by modern bombast: "There ain't nothin' worse  than 'Country with Bump'" he sings.   Backed by comfortable, old-school instrumentation, Nelson reminisces about good and bad times with an earnestnesses that would make George Strait or Tom T. Hall proud.

Things feel a little odd on the final track, a harmonica-soaked country ballad about drinking beer... while white-water rafting.  Perhaps Nelson thinks the Idaho-centric subject matter of "The River Song will help him make a splash.