Noboby Loves You More by Kim Deal

There aren’t many people from any era of alternative music more worthy of recognition than Kim Deal. That’s why her debut solo album (though not first solo release) ‘Nobody Loves You More‘ is the Feature Album this week on 2SER

An introduction isn’t necessary but I’ll provide one anyway: Deal is a founding member of Pixies, a band you likely know at least a little bit about. Trading as a bassist and co-vocalist, you have her to thank for the grooves on tracks like ‘Hey’ and ‘Gigantic’. Deal later formed The Breeders, another seminal and still-active outfit you definitely know a song or two by, even if not by name. 

At the very least, Deal is an important member in some important bands. Realistically, however, albums like ‘Doolittle’ and ‘Last Splash’, among the most important and influential alternative rock records of their time and style, wouldn’t be considered indie cannon without Deal’s presence. Would ‘Where Is My Mind?’ really have the legacy it does without the ‘Oooo Ooooo‘s floating in the background? I doubt it. Deal’s resume is all time.

That brings me to Nobody Loves You More. Having bore witness to the birth, death, and afterlife of countless rock subgenres, (shoegaze, grunge, post-hardcore etc), Deal’s first solo album is a culmination of all the sonic influences she has amassed over her nearly 40 year career. ‘Are You Mine?’, for example, moves at a pace not dissimilar from slowcore pioneers Low, embellished by strings and country twang. ‘Disobedience’ thrives on dissonant riffs and solos that are remembered as Deal-era Pixies’ stock in trade. ‘Coast’ was recorded with Steve Albini, one of most prolific and important sound engineers in the history of American alternative rock, shortly before he passed away earlier this year.

What Nobody Loves You More does best, however, is showcase Deal’s effortless knack for songwriting and production. The aforementioned ‘Coast’ is one of the most fun and laid back songs I’ve heard all year, reminding me a bit of the back end of Paul Simon’s ‘Take Me to the Mardi Gras’. Following track ‘Crystal Breath’ takes a more digital approach, where the march-tempo drum machine leads Deal forward, both musically and lyrically. Baroque instrumentation is always welcome where it’s not expected, so the track ‘Summerland’ was a joy to listen to for the first time. The more more songs I list, the more it becomes apparent that Nobody Loves You More is loaded with brain-itch scratch songs, catchy and with endless replay value.

Nobody Loves You More could have been easily be overlooked as a footnote in Kim Deal’s career. Expansive in its influences and abundant with hooks, it instead serves as a testament to her greatness.

Nobody Loves You More is out now on a variety of formats via 4AD / Remote Control.

Words by Josh Ray