NICOLE ATKINS

AMG calls New York City singer-songwriter NICOLE ATKINS a mix of ROY ORBISON, LORETTA LYNN, and JENNY LEWIS. Well, gee. Couldn't they raise their expectations just a LITTLE bit?

I'd also throw a dash of NELLIE McKAY into that melting pot. And if you've ever wondered what MAMA CASS would sound like covering a SHIRLEY BASSEY James Bond theme (and who HASN'T?), then just give a listen to Atkins' sultry and soaring "The Way It Is" [below].

That song will appear on her debut full-length, NEPTUNE CITY (named for her New Jersey hometown), which will be available June 26 on COLUMBIA. In the meantime, you can delve into her distinctive brand of country-cabaret on her 2006 EP BLEEDING DIAMONDS by purchasing the bloody thing at INSOUND, iTUNES, or any number of other on- and off-line retailers.

High expectations be damned: Nicole Atkins looks to be a keeper.

NICOLE ATKINS on MySPACE.

NICOLE ATKINS, town-to-town >>>

Apr 23 2007 8:00P/The Paradise/Boston, Massachusetts
Apr 24 2007 8:00P/The Fire/Philadelphia, Oklahoma
Apr 25 2007 11:00P/The Red & Black/Washington DC
Apr 28 2007 8:00P/"Under the Enchantment with the Sea" PROM PARTY @ Union Pool Williamsburg/Brooklyn, New York

Apr 30 2007 10:00P/The Paradise/Boston, Massachusetts
May 18 2007 11:00P/The Stone Pony/Asbury Park, New Jersey
May 20 2007 8:00P/The Chameleon Club w/the Avett Brothers!/Lancaster

From the LP NEPTUNE CITY, 2007 >>>
[MP3] "The Way It Is"

From the EP BLEEDING DIAMONDS, 2006 >>>
[MP3] "Carouselle"
[MP3] "Snowshakes"

BONUS TRACK >>>

[MP3] "Skywriters"