I love a good sub-reference. So when I looked at Nature's self-titled debut and found songs entitled "Z-Man's Party" and "Z-Man's Lounge," I was very intrigued. "Z-Man" was one of the characters from Beyond the Valley of the Dolls perhaps the most critically acclaimed X-rated movie this side of Midnight Cowboy.
As for the music itself, Nature could be best classified as "post-industrial" in the vein of Filter and My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult. The album opens with "You Only Live 2X," a much better remake of a James Bond theme than Guns 'n Roses did a few years back with "Live and Let Die." Nature's version - while still being similar to the original - manages to have the band's distinctive mark on it.
Songs like "Justine" (which finally bridges the gap between the Marquis De Sade and Justine Bateman) and "Zodiac '99" both go all over the map in terms of music and lyrical content, proving that Nature are accomplished in not only being able to do the songs of others, but write their own material, as well. Mr. Bolton, are you paying attention?.
And as intriguing as Nature is in their use of sub-references and song topics, the most intriguing thing about Nature is the band itself. Brian Threatt (guitars, vocals), Hugh Bonar (bass), Andrew Parsons (guitar) and Brendan Etter (drums) mesh together perfectly. Many of the songs go from one hundred miles an hour to a dead stop, and their musical ability is undeniable. Nature is one of the most entertaining albums of the year, and one of the best new bands to come around in some time.
