Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 08/19/2008
Though
Indigenous had started as a group including several members of the family of frontman
Mato Nanji, by the time of
Broken Lands it was really just a name he was using for recordings that were essentially solo vehicles. There's still a family connection in his wife,
Leah Nanji, who co-wrote the material with
Mato, but
Mato dominates the proceedings as guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Though
Indigenous have been described and classified as a blues-rock group, in truth
Broken Lands is more a set of heartland American rock that owes more to, say,
Bruce Springsteen than it does to
Muddy Waters.
Nanji sings earnest, cleanly produced roots rock-oriented tunes in a slightly throaty voice that are anthemic, but more grimly determined in their mood than joyful. Accomplished blues-rock chops are sometimes evident in some of his guitar licks, especially on the closing number,
"Wailing." While undeniably a sincere and serious effort, in all it's rather routine mainstream guitar rock, its influences from the blues and
Nanji's Native American heritage fairly slight.
~Richie Unterberger, All Music Guide
;)
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