Adam Sherman is a veteran of the Boston music scene. In the early 80s, he was the voice of power pop band Private Lightning, an act that’s been somewhat overlooked in subsequent years – you’ll never find anything from their 1980 LP included on even the most niche of compilations. In more recent times, he’s recorded with The Souls, and also The Nervous Eaters, a band whose 2024 LP captures the spirit of older power pop bands like 20/20 perfectly. He’s even recorded a couple of solo discs that, despite critical praise, didn’t reach beyond a cult following. It could definitely be said that, even though he mightn’t be a household name, he’s kept himself busy over the years.

His 2025 release ‘Nowhere But Here’ takes a sidestep from power pop and ventures into the realms of Americana with four very mature sounding tracks. The standout cut, ‘How Hard I Tried’ opens with thoughtfully strummed acoustic guitar, joined by rich sounding orchestration. The slow melody immediately seeks to tug at the heart strings, and with the addition of a stately piano melody and a harmony vocal courtesy of Robin Lane, the song quickly grows into something quite lovely. The tempo never rises beyond a steady beat; the lyrical sentiment is simple, but Adam seems to instinctively understand that very little else is needed to make this work. In fact, the only other embellishment arrives at the eleventh hour, when a quietly played steel guitar adds a very light country lilt. With the ghosts of material like ‘Do I Still Figure In Your Life’ by Honeybus influencing the overall mood, this baroque pop/acoustic singer songwriter hybrid is almost perfect – reason enough to shell out for a download.

The other three numbers aren’t quite as immediate, but each has its own charm. ‘Torn & Tattered’ teases with a similar acoustic base, but quickly asserts itself as a very different tune. The orchestration has made way for a more prominent use of crying guitar sounds, leaning even further into old school country, whilst a much stronger piano melody provides a very accessible heart. Adam’s vocal taps into something forlorn, and when joined by a strong harmony from Robin once again, offers something that feels like a throwback to the early 70s. The fact that part of the melody seems like a close relation to Kris Kristofferson’s ‘Help Me Make It Through The Night’ definitely goes some way to making this feel like a classic heartbreaker that’s been resurrected, but this is far more than easy recycling. Throughout the entire track, Sherman never skimps on emotion, and despite this being a world away from any Nervous Eaters fare, he clearly feels the material. The slightly jangly ‘Pure As Yours’ introduces a higher toned vocal which has the effect of making the lyric feel a little more fragile, but between some solid, unfussy rhythm guitar work and an adult pop infused melody steering a chorus that feels more immediate, the number shows off Adam’s mellow side admirably. Although it seems, at first, like a simple chorus hook will be the selling point here, it’s actually the track’s coda that shines through. By weaving the vocal melody in and out of a light bluesy guitar, something that’s pleasingly subtle actually ends the performance with a really confident air. It’ll take a couple of plays to stick, but when it does, this track gives this short listen another highlight.

Adam’s the earlier digital single ‘Gratitude’ sits very comfortably amongst the material here, even though it’s a little harder around the edges. From the outset, the riffs come with a hint of Tom Petty, crossed with mid-period Nick Lowe, and as such, the bulk of the melody comes back sounding like something from the much overlooked Edward O’Connell. Vocally, Sherman makes everything his own; with the aid of a relatively high toned and slightly warbly approach, he gives his classic sounding, slightly simple melody far more character, and by delivering a heartfelt message, this song has an honest quality that never feels imposing. Giving things an extra gentle boost, a slightly country-tinged harmony vocal (again, courtesy of Robin) makes everything feel even more satisfying in an equally unassuming way. Simply put, ‘Gratitude’ shares the sound of a man who is content, and even though its a track that’s actually outshone by the rest of the material on ‘Nowhere But Here’, it’s pleasant enough.

In many ways, these songs feel like a natural extension of the sounds on Sherman’s 2021 long player ‘Triangle Sky’. In a couple of instances, he reaches further into the realms of Americana, but it’s always clear that his affinity with aching singer songwriter moods is very natural, and the mellower material provides a great platform for him to share a bigger and arguably more heartfelt voice. ‘Nowhere But Here’ probably won’t connect with those who want him to deliver the twenty first century equivalent of 80s power pop sounds, but at the time of this release, Aussie power pop sensation Gavin Bowles and Adam’s Wicked Cool Records label-mate Kurt Baker more than cover that audience’s interests. On its own merits, this EP is a very strong offering and should offer a more than enjoyable listen for those with broad tastes.

April 2025