Somethin’ Special?: a Listen to the Nuthin Special Demo

On first listen to Nuthin Special, one finds themselves transported to a place both unfamiliar and new. This is the music you hear on a long road trip along winding mountain roads, the kind of music that envelops you in a cozy bar, or the kind of music that I heard as a kid in front of the fire in my kitchen. Yes, the first album review I’m writing is about a band that my father is in, and the howling, bluesy guitar is nothing if not familiar.

Nuthin Special is a four-piece hailing from the picturesque Ogden, UT, known for its high peaks, winding valleys, and perfect powder for skiing. The band is the brainchild of Ruthie Shinn, the triple-threat lead singer, songwriter, and keyboardist of the band. Nuthin’ Special is true-blue American classic rock, with blues, country, and folk influences peeking through. Though familiar, the music blends together many eras of rock music seamlessly and is equal parts referential, reverent, and refreshing.

The four-track demo opens with the emotional song, “Bus to Brigham”. Highly personal and pulling no punches, the song follows the difficult realities of addiction and the rise from the darkest places that life takes you. On the track, Ruthie Shinn almost moans at times, the words so heavy that they creep out of her mouth into the haunting sonic landscape. The guitar and bass weave around…