Coward (Nels Cline album)

2009 studio album by Nels Cline

Coward

Studio album by

Nels Cline

Released| February 10, 2009 (2009-02-10)
Recorded| April 13–18, 2008
Genre| Jazz
Length| 72:25
Label| Cryptogramophone
CG141
Producer| Jeff Gauthier
Nels Cline chronology
| Draw Breath
(2007)  | Coward
(160)  | Dirty Baby
(2010)

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Coward is a solo album by American guitarist Nels Cline which was released in October 2009 on the Cryptogramophone label.[1]

## Reception

[edit]

Professional ratingsReview scores

Source| Rating
AllMusic| [2]
All About Jazz| [3]
Pitchfork Media| 6.9/10[4]

The AllMusic review by Michael G. Nastos states, "This sounds like a very personal and emotional project, certainly one that is rendered from the heart, and must be listened to with the challenged bravery and wide open ears that ignorant, frightened people and those afraid of living life will never, ever experience".[2]

Writing for All About Jazz, John Kelman stated "Like the best solo guitar albums, Coward transcends being merely an exercise in the instrument's vast potential—though it is that, too. Impossible to create without Cline's unequivocal virtuosity, the largely acoustic Coward remains about everything but guitaristic acumen. Instead it's an instrumental masterpiece, further positioning Cline as one of today's most open-minded composers, players and musical conceptualists. Despite its not inconsiderable challenges, it retains a surprisingly broad appeal, making it a true classic that will likely keep aspiring guitarists scratching their heads for years to come".[3]

Pitchfork's Mark Masters stated "There's no doubt that Coward is a worthy addition to his canon, but the chances of it being anyone's go-to Cline disc are roughly the same as someone listing a compilation as their favorite album".[4]

## Track listing

[edit]

All compositions by Nels Cline

1. "Epiphyllum" - 4:21
2. "Prayer Wheel" - 5:00
3. "Thurston County" - 7:04
4. "The Androgyne" - 3:11
5. "Rod Poole's Gradual Ascent to Heaven" - 18:41
6. "The Divine Homegirl" - 4:24
7. "X Change(s)" - 4:20
8. "The Nomad's Home" - 3:43
9. "Onan (Suite): Amniotica" - 2:48
10. "Onan (Suite): Lord & Lady" - 5:00
11. "Onan (Suite): Dreams in the Mirror" - 1:38
12. "Onan (Suite): Interruption (Onan's Psychedelic Breakdown)" - 1:51
13. "Onan (Suite): Seedcaster" - 3:12
14. "Onan (Suite): Liberator" - 3:21
15. "Cymbidium" - 3:51

## Personnel

[edit]

* Nels Cline – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, sruti box, autoharp, zither, megamouth, kaossilator, quintronics drum buddy

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Nels Cline website album entry Archived 2014-09-22 at the Wayback Machine, accessed August 18, 2014
2. ^ a b Nastos, Michael G. "Coward - Nels Cline". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
3. ^ a b Kelman, John (2009-02-04). "Nels Cline: Coward". allaboutjazz.com. Retrieved 2014-08-18.
4. ^ a b Masters, Mark (2009-03-16). "Nels Cline: Coward". pitchfork.com. Retrieved 2014-08-18.

* v
* t
* e

Nels Cline

Studio albums|

* Angelica (1988)
* The Inkling (2000)
* Destroy All Nels Cline (2001)
* New Monastery (2006)
* Coward (2009)
* Dirty Baby (2010)
* Lovers (2016)
* Currents, Constellations (2018)

Collaboration albums|

* The Gowanus Session [with William Parker & Thollem McDonas] (2012)
* Woodstock Sessions Vol. 2 [with Medeski, Martin & Wood] (2014)
* Room [with Julian Lage] (2014)
* Accidental Sky [with White Out] (2015)

Live albums|

* The Veil (2011)

Nels Cline Trio|

* Silencer (1992)
* Ground (1995)
* Chest (1996)
* Sad (1998)
* Hold It Under a Faucet 7″ (2002)

The Nels Cline Singers|

* Instrumentals (2002)
* The Giant Pin (2004)
* Draw Breath (2007)
* The Celestial Septet (2008) [with Rova Saxophone Quartet]
* Initiate (2010)
* Macroscope (2014)

Floored by Four|

* Floored by Four (2010)

Big Walnuts Yonder|

* Big Walnuts Yonder (2017)

Related articles|

* Scott Amendola
* Alex Cline
* Trevor Dunn
* Devra Hoff
* Mike Watt
* Wilco

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