Nathan Reich is another guy with a guitar, so the burden of proof is on him to stand out in the great unwashed rabble of his peers. He has his deep voice and somber lyrical material on his side, and a handle on the seriocomic that allows him to dig into the heavy stuff without being insufferable. “Better Off Dead” from his most recent release, “All Night Pharmacy” showcases his ability to turn a phrase and sound like Stephin Merritt. If you can’t appreciate his candor in the chorus “I think we’re better off dead,” at least get a grin from Reich calling Broadway “God’s little hallway.” –Terra James-Jura
