The wild magic of the Jersey Shore boardwalk has inspired musicians across generations, but it takes a uniquely distinct vision to go find that slice of regional wonder in Northern Alabama. On Italian Ice, that’s exactly what Nicole Atkins has done, taking over the hallowed Muscle Shoals Sound Studio with a one-of-a-kind band featuring members of the Bad Seeds, Dap-Kings, the legendary Swampers and more. “Musically, it doesn’t make any sense,” says Atkins half-jokingly. “But I’m a superfan of all of them, and we ended up with the weirdest, craziest band ever. It just became this awesome misfit party.”
For the Italian Ice sessions at Muscle Shoals Sound studio, Nicole gathered a group of her “best musical friends” – who just so happen to be Jim Sclavunos and David “Moose” Sherman of Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, The Dap-Kings’ Binky Griptite, and drummer McKenzie Smith (St. Vincent, Midlake) – along with Spooner Oldham and David Hood of the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section. Co-produced by Nicole and Ben Tanner, Italian Ice also features special guests Seth Avett, John Paul White and Erin Rae, and songs co-written with Hamilton Leithauser, Britt Daniel and Carl Broemel from My Morning Jacket.
Named dually for her favorite summer treat growing up in Asbury Park and an alter ego she’s taken on while shooting dice, Italian Ice has been described by Nicole as “an acid trip through my record collection,” at turns as opulent as symphonic pop and as gritty as garage punk with shades of psych-rock, honky-tonk and girl-group melodrama. Conjuring the romance and danger of the Jersey Shore, Italian Ice’s eleven tracks ultimately channel an endless summer set to the sounds of the AM radio dial.
Tracklisting
- AM Gold
- Mind Eraser
- Domino
- Forever
- Captain
- Never Going Home Again
- St. Dymphna
- Far From Home
- A Road To Nowhere
- These Old Roses
- In The Splinters