Far from old Napoli, that’s 'Amore'

To follow up to her 2007 release of “Neptune City,” singer-songwriter Nicole Atkins has embraced a darker, more dramatic sound for her sophomore album, “Mondo Amore.”
Dark tones, wistful crooning and a healthy mix of rock and blues sounds make this album her best.

Her song “Vultures” exhibits both a musical and lyrical crescendo. As the opening track, it introduces listeners to the collection of songs with a shock to the ear. Emotional and powerful, as “Vultures” ends, listeners can feel Atkins’s feeling of confinement, not only from her lyrics but from the sound.

The two weave together to form an unstoppable duo on this album. This duo continues throughout the album, including in the dreamy “This Is For Love.” Atkins meshes her lyrics with a vacillating sound to create that blend that makes music so great: musical talent and raw emotion.