Rating: 10/11
By: Faetra Petillo

Sturgis Nikides is taking blues to a whole new level. It’s a level that makes the average Joe want to become Joe the Rebel. It’s a level that makes you want to rent a convertible, light a Marlboro, and drive off into the sunset thinking only about all the merciless women (or men) who have made you who you are today. Okay, maybe that is a little extreme. But in all seriousness, Nikides is one extremely talented man who knows a thing or two about singing the blues in a modern fashion. His album, Man of Steel, is fierce and intense, but still handles its tough emotions with delicacy and elegance.

From the first few beats of “Lower the Boom,” the listener is hooked. The songs have a way of starting off with one simple instrument or a vocal solo that is built upon as the song goes on. Every track uses a wide range of instruments: with bongos, acoustic guitar, keyboard, banjo, and more (this list just touches the surface), nothing is off limits for Nikides. Straight-up, old-fashioned country tracks like “Heartbreak Lost and Found” and “Dusted” take the listener back to the days of Johnny Cash and early Neil Young. Other tracks, like “She Got a Gun” and “Room 204,” have a more modern pop-folk rhythm and a more traditional use of acoustic guitar/drums/bass.

Nikides’s voice is his selling point: sad and sexy, but strong and confident. Most importantly, Nikides is able to use music to tell a story; his lyrics drive each song rather than acting as mere background to the instruments. His stories are of love, loss, heartbreak and, in many cases, the essence of New York City. As he croons in one song, “I’m not easily impressed/Lonely street is my permanent address.”

Man of Steel is an album with tons of wisdom, both in terms of its lyrics and the way it navigates its various emotions. That alone could sell a record; in this case, the musical talent of Sturgis Nikides puts its quality over the top.