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- Music review by Carrie Sanderson
- Trail Staff Writer
Heartbreak, plain and simple. That is the theme of Nick Lachey’s new album What’s Left of Me. This seems to be the obvious topic considering the events that have taken place in his life recently. He captures his emotions vividly in every song contained on the album. It is easy to hear his heart breaking with every word and note he sings.
The obvious event leading to the creation of Lachey’s album is his divorce from actress/singer Jessica Simpson, which was finalized on June 30, 2006. After a three-year long marriage and three seasons of their hit MTV reality series Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica, the seemingly perfect couple called it quits due to irreconcilable differences. All of the songs off of his album seem to be about Simpson and their failed relationship.
Lachey began his music career as a member of the boy band 98 Degrees. They were a popular band, but they never reached the success of 1990s powerhouses like The Backstreet Boys and N’Sync. His first solo effort came in 2003 with SoulO, which only reached the number 54 position on the Billboard charts and produced only two singles “Shut Up” and “This I Swear.”
His career grew as a result of Newlyweds, which made him better known as more than just a part of a former boy band. Lachey released his newest and most successful album by far, What’s Left of Me, in May 2006. It reached the number two position on the Billboard charts and has sold 550,000 copies so far.
The first single and title track to the album, “What’s Left of Me,” was a huge hit and sky-rocketed Lachey’s album sales, and reached the number five position on the Billboard charts.
It is about trying to salvage a relationship that is obviously over. His second single “I Can’t Hate You Anymore” is another very personal song. So far the track has reached the number eight position on the Billboard charts and it is still climbing. His next single will be “Resolution.”
My favorite song off of the album is “On Your Own.” It is about always being there for someone you really care about even though they haven’t always been there for you. My favorite part, and the most meaningful to me is the chorus, which says “But if the world should ever fall apart around you, and if you’re lost and barely breathing I will find you and carry you back home. I won’t forsake the only love I ever known. When you’re out there on your own.”
Another one of my favorites is “Shades of Blue.” It is probably the saddest song on the album. It is about waiting for someone who has left, the whole time being miserable and dwelling on everything you did wrong instead of what really happened.
What’s Left of Me is a truly great album. Lachey’s voice is absolutely amazing as is his intensity.
An album this wonderful only comes along once in a very long while.