Destroy Nate Allen – Perfect Recipe for a Smile

By Matt Conner
But let’s be honest. Critiquing this is like spending time downplaying the importance of Pee Wee Herman – an exercise in critical frivolity. It doesn’t matter either way what score I give it.

Written by Doug Van Pelt
Doug Van Pelt’s Site
cd destroynateallenDestroy Nate Allen
Perfect Recipe for a Smile

[Album Review with band response/commentary in italics]

GOL. I think that means “Groaned Out Loud” in today’s digi-language and ‘twas my response when forced to listen to Destroy Nate Allen’s disc, Smile. And, unfortunately, I believe that’s the intended response. The husband/wife duo from Portland – Nate and Tessa – create acoustic tripe that’s one half PBS after-school tunes for adults and the other half local community theatre set to music. In other words, if these two had a cable access show, I’d believe it.

Dude!  This guy totally gets us! He nailed it! We are totally about modeling healthy relationships, good communication, and making positive life choices. And we both were involved in various theater projects in high school.

“Turns Out You’re Perfect for Me” grates the ears with off-key notes (via Tessa) and lines like “Turns out you’re perfect for me/You scratch my back when it’s itchy.” “Recipe” follows suit with “When you are trying to cook/Sometimes you use a recipe book/But there’s danger in the air/If there’s ingredients to spare…” You get the point.
You’re right. I didn’t know how to sing when we went in to record this.  But after being on tour for 6 months, I can tell you, my voice is much improved.  The 2 songs you pointed out are the first 2 songs that I ever wrote.  Nate wrote almost all of the other, more serious songs. But you know what? “Recipe” is an audience favorite! And if you’re going to quote “Perfect,” you may as well tell them “I wanted a guy covered in tattoos/ But I learned some of them have mommy issues.”


But let’s be honest. Critiquing this is like spending time downplaying the importance of Pee Wee Herman – an exercise in critical frivolity. It doesn’t matter either way what score I give it. [Independent] Matt Conner
How did he know that Pee Wee’s Playhouse was one of my favorite shows of all time?  Cable access, hmm, what a good idea! Maybe something like Waynes World meets AA meets Yo Gabba Gabba…

Grade: 1

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WHAT TO DO NOW?

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10 Comments

  1. Doug Van Pelt had this to say on March 22, 2010 | Permalink

    Here’s the deal:
    I assign writers to stories and reviews based upon my knowledge of each (writer and the artist he/she is writing about). Most of the time there is a good “fit.” Other times, I’m surprised that they happen to really REALLY not like it. This was one of those times. While I defend my writers and never tell them what to think or write, this time I deleted the review from HM. I thought the criticism was a tad hurtful. I’m good friends with the artist in this case and happen to know that Nate would publish negative reviews in his zine, so I shared it with him. They begged me to post it and offered their comments to go with. Hope you enjoy this reading experience. Matt’s still one of our best writers and we love him (even though we sort of hung him out to dry here…haha).

  2. Matt Conner had this to say on March 22, 2010 | Permalink

    Ugh, you did totally hang me out to dry here. You sent me some music. I didn’t get it. I wrote accordingly. I even wrote you a few times saying that you should have someone else review this particular disc, which you refused. Thanks for the hang. :)

    On a more serious note, no offense at all was intended to Nate personally, who I’m sure is a good guy (if he’s a friend of Doug’s). And it’s just one guy’s opinion.

    Sigh….

  3. Doug Van Pelt had this to say on March 22, 2010 | Permalink

    Matt wrote me several times, politely declining this disc and asking me to find someone else to review it, but I asked him if he’d write it again. He told me he wanted to like it…

    The final result is his carefully-written critical opinion of this disc. Even if some of us like the artist, like the album, like the music, this writer (who is qualified to review the album) has every right to thoughtfully express his educated opinion.

    I’m glad there are some people that will enjoy the review, because not many will be happy that I posted this.

  4. Nate Allen had this to say on March 22, 2010 | Permalink

    Matt.

    No hard feelings. We didn’t mean to have you hung out to dry. Doug thanks for running this.

    Tessa really enjoys responding to negative reviews, so I guess thanks for writing the review. Seeing this pop up online made her day and she’s currently in the middle of brutal tax season so this was needed.

    If anyone want to check out our DIY slices of folk/punk/pop visit http://www.destroynateallen.com. All 5 of our full lengths are up for free download and we’ll be on tour again soon.

  5. Jeremiah Boehner had this to say on March 22, 2010 | Permalink

    Nate you should bring back mercury. or maybe change it to tessa, since your married.
    Hope to see you all soon.

  6. Doug Peterson had this to say on March 22, 2010 | Permalink

    I wonder if the reaction Destroy Nate Allen are receiving isn’t a reaction to a chemistry that is so rare these days.

    I caught Destroy Nate Allen at C-Stone last year, and I wanted to walk away from their set. I witnessed two punked-out older types with not much concern for professionalism, playing off each other with such infectious harmony that i nearly cringed. I wanted to make a run for it.

    Then it occured to me I needed people like this in my life. So I introduced myself to them at their booth and realized these folks are the real deal. I mean, how often does one encounter artists writing exactly what they want with little concern for “an audience?” Where do we find couples so in love with each other on a consistent basis for the long duration? And how many artists upload their albums online for free for the sake of being heard by more people?

    I think I’d go as far as saying if Jesus was wandering around today, he would feel right at home with them. That’s my two cents worth.

  7. Claire Howard had this to say on March 23, 2010 | Permalink

    i’d just like to mention how incredible they are in concert. i mean like for reals. if you haven’t seen them you haven’t really experienced what is in my opinion the best part of this album! their energy and personality and the way they engage the audience! so fun!

  8. ruth had this to say on April 4, 2010 | Permalink

    i have never been to any of their gigs (i live far, far, far away. continents away.) but just listening to their music has been SO much fun! i love the lack of pretense. i love how happy and singalongable the songs are. i love that they love Jesus. oh, and Recipe is also one of my favourite songs… because i bake. haha. yay for nate and tessa!

  9. David Kroll had this to say on August 2, 2010 | Permalink

    Personally I really like this cd. You should see Destroy Nate Allen live Nate & Tessa are really funny/fun/talented.

  10. max wellworth had this to say on November 5, 2010 | Permalink

    you seriously pulled a negative review? That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard. If a work of art needs to make excuses for weaker aspects of the work, it probably deserves the negative criticism. That’s the point of criticism. Or it would be, on a legitimate website.

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