STEWART NESTEL – STEWART SAYS
Never judge an album by its cover. I was prepared for an ex-Wiggle-gone-solo pop album for the under 5’s. A “Stewart says put your hands on your head” record with some repetitive one-note piano and tambourine tapping on the side. But Stewart Nestel is anything but child’s-play. A singer-songwriter from Sydney, this is his debut album and it’s a storybook of thoughts and musings from a very serious musician. The first track is a clear rip-off of Ruby Tuesday but I like it, it’s catchy, it rhymes, it has a sincere feel about it, which is ironic given it’s a Stone’s imitation. The standout track is The King is Dead, a pretty little song about a fading King- could it be President Mubarak? “Even though we knew one day the king would fade away.” Could it be Harold Holt? “The King went fishing but perhaps he went too far.” Or could it just be Humpty Dumpty “he sits on a wall, I think he might fall”- ok now I’m judging the cover again. However you want to interpret Stewart, he certainly has a lot to say, his clear-spoken lyrics are a joy to listen to and most importantly, have a whole lot of heart.
*** 1/2
