Review: Zac Nelson – New Once

Zac Nelson
New Once

Temporary Residence
Street: 06.16
Zac Nelson = The Shins + Son Lux + The Postal Service

New Once is an interesting record for me because it hits so many parts of modern indie rock that I’m really into, but I don’t find it all that incredibly satisfying a listen. Throughout this record Zac Nelson layers his James Mercer–esque vocals on top of his electro acoustic arrangements that have a slightly programmed feeling beat underneath. It’s got to be a case of “It’s not you, it’s me” here, because I don’t think Nelson has really done anything wrong. These songs are expertly executed and hit all the right points. I just don’t dig it for some reason. –Alex Gilvarry