Music Review: Nikki Lane, All Or Nothin’

By Melissa Bratcher

On her second album, All Or Nothin’, Nikki Lane (with the help of producer Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys) lets fly with incredibly hook-filled songs about drinking, smoking pot, one night stands, and crappy ex-boyfriends. Nikki Lane is a hard one to pin down: her music easily thematically fits into the “outlaw country” camp, and her voice is a magical mix of Loretta Lynn and Dusty Springfield, and All Or Nothin’ is crazy with the steel guitar of country, but she’s not exactly country. The most striking tracks on All Or Nothin’ sound like they’re straight off of the Red Bird label, the early ’60s girl group record company founded by Leiber and Stoller.

“Good Man” is one of those tracks. All of the touches from those ’60s girl group songs are there: chimes, sweet harmonies, odd little bells, then filtered through a country sheen. Lane’s voice is engaging and unusual; a little husky, a bit drawly. And her writing voice is sharp and well-defined. You don’t get the feeling that she’s putting on a character, trying to be someone she’s not.

“Right Time” with the perfectly on point lyric, “It’s always the right time to do the wrong thing” has a marvelous fuzzy guitar that lends a note of ominousness to the song. I fully expect the music supervisor for True Blood to use it over the ending credits of an episode this season. The fantastic “I Don’t Care” has that girl group edge to it, a wildly hooky chorus, and surf rock guitar. It hits the ear so perfectly that it will be on repeat all summer. Lane dips into surf-noir on the quietly thrilling “Seein’ Double.” The chorus is magnificent. The shuffling title track, with its gorgeous backup vocals, is a slinky delight.

Nikki Lane’s “Sleep With A Stranger” is straightforward; on the prowl for a one night stand, she sings “You can call me/anything you want to/as long as you don’t call me/after tonight.” It’s refreshingly honest. On “Man Up” she exhorts her fellow to “Get your ducks in line” and while, lyrically it’s swell, if the lines had been delivered with a bit more fire, it would have given the track the power that it deserves. It’s a bit lackluster, in fact, the most lackluster track on the album, when it shouldn’t be. Still, it’s a straightforward country song, and sure to be a sing along for the pink cowboy boot-wearing set.

The album closer, “Want My Heart Back” is a gorgeous, Wall Of Sound homage. Lane’s voice is so open and warm, and she’s backed by a chorus of harmonious ladies, some slow burn steel guitar, and perhaps a rumble of timpani. It’s expansive and wonderful.

All Or Nothin’ leans toward the retro but with a modern edge. Nikki Lane has an interesting voice to go with her unusual persona (on the album cover, she wears a cape and fringey dress) and wicked lyrics.

All Or Nothin’ was released through New West Records on May 6.

Tour Dates:
5/16 – Denver, CO – Blue Bird*
6/1 – Nashville, TN – 3rd & Lindsley (w/ Howlin’ Brothers)
6/4 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade%
6/6 – New Orleans, LA – The Parish @ House of Blues%
6/7 – Houston, TX – The Continental%
6/8 – Austin, TX – Stubb’s Jr.%
6/10 – Dallas, TX – House of Blues%
6/11 – Lawrence, KS – Replay Lounge#
6/12 – St Louis, MI – The Demo
6/13 – Chicago, IL – Schuba’s Tavern#
6/14 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th Street Entry#
6/16 – Madison, WI – The High Noon Saloon%
6/17 – Indianapolis, IN – Do317 Lounge%
6/18 – Milwaukee, WI – Cactus Club#
6/21 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Tavern%
6/22 – New York, NY – The Mercury Lounge%
6/24 – Brooklyn, NY – Union Pool%
6/25 – Allston, MA – Great Scott%
6/26 – Philadelphia, PA – North Star Bar%
6/27 – Washington DC – Gypsy Sally’s%
6/28 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506%

* = with Old 97’s
% = Max Gomez
# = Hugh Bob & The Hustle