The best part (EP). Paul McDonald & Nikki Reed

You can listen to 'All I'm asking' here.

Another gift from Noisetrade.com. In the past days I've played this album several times and each time liking it more. On The best part there is absolutely nothing exciting going on, there's not one road travelled that has not been travelled before and still this EP is a winner.

Paul McDonald and Nikki Reed are man and wife since 2011. This EP is their first collaborative effort on record. McDonald was a part of the 2010 edition of 'American Idol'. The music on The best part is anything but what I associate with a show like that. The best part is modest, all music and no show. The songs are all in a melancholy mood, aimed to impress the listener, but only from the background. With the exception of 'Now that I've found you (version 2)', that has a more country flavour, the songs don't call out loud for your attention. And even the exception is only by comparison.

To me The best part is best listened to when I'm in a relaxed mood, music in the background. It was in this form that this EP called out for my attention. Something in the back of my head signalled in that there was something interesting going on in the background. Paying more attention this turned out to be true. Hence this review.

Whether Paul McDonald's voice is enjoyed by me for a whole album and solo, I can't say yet. It is sort of high and sounds strained. The combination with Nikki Reed's angelic voice does wonders. The beauty and the beast is a too easy found platitude, but it's true. Their voices work well together in an atmospheric song like 'Goodbye', but also in a "real" song like the title track. The three examples given so far are an example of the diversity of this album. Just five songs, but the differences in the approach makes them stick out, where as a prevailing mood they would not. In other words: well done!

Despite the fact that there may not be a lot of new things going on on The best part, the EP is worthwhile to pick up if you are interested in alt.americana. The tandem McDonald-Reed works well on record. (And yes, Nikki Reed is the same as in all those movies.)

Wo.