Nathan Lee's "Risk Everything", a New Album that Inspires as it Entertains

Taking risks requires courage and fortitude. Nathan Lee is a singer-songwriter who has risked everything for the music career he's always wanted. Having just listened to his album, Risk Everything, due for release on September 1, 2009, I believe Lee's decision to risk everything has paid off handsomely.

It seems that everyone who wants to be a rock star has a story. In that respect, New Jersey native Nathan Lee is no different than any other musician. Nathan Lee grew up immersed in music; his father ran a recording studio just outside New York City. As a young man, Lee found himself performing in bars and clubs throughout the Northeast. Later, he moved to Nashville, where he wrote songs with a friend who had already scored a record deal. It wasn't long before Lee's songwriting skills caught the attention of EMI and Lee had a publishing deal.

Nathan Lee was successful at writing songs for others and learned a lot from the experience. Naturally, as a born musician and songwriter, he wanted to express himself through his own music. Achieving that dream required many sacrifices of Lee. He walked away from a very successful painting business that afforded him a comfortable lifestyle. He formed a band, started writing music, and eventually ended up homeless. Lee's recovery from homelessness led him back to the business world, where once again, he found success through building a music production and tour company. But once again, Lee was unable to ignore his yearning to become a full time musician. He left the business world again and ended up living in his car. Undaunted by yet another reversal of fortune, Lee kept writing and playing his music.

Risk Everything is the end result of a long, twisted road to success. This album, which runs for approximately 45 minutes, consists of eleven songs that Lee either wrote or co-wrote. The liner notes include printed lyrics, powerful, spiritual, and inspirational words that illustrate Lee's commitment to achieving his dream. While it seemed to me that Nathan Lee strongly believes in a higher power, his music is never openly religious. Instead, it's as if he relies on a higher power to help him draw from his strength from within.

The music

Risk Everything is an album about a man's journey to a better life and seizing the day. Each of the songs on this album are, in different ways, about overcoming adversity. And yet, though Lee has his own style, I detect the influence of several other well-known rock notables. For instance, on "Open Road", the opening number on Risk Everything, Lee's vocals on this song remind me a little of 90s era Billy Joel, while the arrangement makes me recall 80s era U2.

On the other hand, the beautiful, mystical ballad "El Diablo Y El Angel" slows things down, with its gentle piano opening and delicate melody. Lee adds ethereal strings, which lend an air of moodiness and class to the arrangement. His vocals remind me of Peter Gabriel's, complete with a beautiful break into a soaring, emotional tour of his upper range, which Lee pulls off with precision.

I hear a touch of Bruce Springsteen on "Bring Down The Fire". This song's message is about defining and maintaining faith when the going gets rough. An echoey piano solo augmented by heavy guitars gives this song the right level of power to complement Lee's lyrics about facing the eleventh hour, the last breath, or dealing with the best laid plans going awry. The Springsteen mood seems to return with "Bleeding Black", as both Lee's vocals and the melody remind me of Springsteen's "Devils and Dust". This song maintains the theme of accepting risks, but not regrets.

The last song, "Broke and Hollow Man", has a gospel feel to it, as Lee shows off his raspy growling vocals. The song ends Risk Everything on a powerful, inspirational note, as it begins with a simple melody that explodes into a genuine rock anthem at the song's halfway point. Lee leaves his listeners something to think about with vocals that start out somewhat restrained and crescendo into a passionate, emotional delivery.

The entire album centers around the theme that life is about moving beyond the comfort zone, trying new things, and taking risks-- and of experiencing and accepting either defeat or glory. After listening to Lee's eleven songs, I'm left with the idea that anyone can go through life doing whatever's easy and pays the rent, but those who manage to confront their fears and break free of the safety net open themselves up to new levels of satisfaction in life. The music on this album is very dynamic and emotional, yet multi-faceted. On the slower songs, I found myself able to contemplate Lee's message. On the faster ones, I felt my pulse quicken.

Overall

I really enjoyed listening to Nathan Lee's Risk Everything. While I know that not everyone is willing to risk everything to chase their dreams, I like Lee's encouragement to dream a little. People avoid risks for plenty of reasons, including reasons that have to do with the well-being of others. But I think that many of us could use a reminder that life is meant to be lived, even if it means just trying one new thing. If listening to Risk Everything is enough to encourage listeners to take even one tiny step beyond the usual, I think Nathan Lee's message will have succeeded tremendously.

Track Listing

Open Road
Hold Me Down
El Diablo Y El Angel
Bring Down The Fire
Wrecking Ball
The Journey
Bleeding Black
Back To You
High Speed Low Drag
Still
Broke and Hollow Man