Nathan Larson

By Kevin Zimmerman

Aug 27 2001

Nathan Larson may not be a household name - yet - but chances are pretty good that you've heard his music.

Formerly the guitarist for critically acclaimed hard-rock outfit Shudder To Think, Larson, in the wake of that band's demise, has turned his attention to film scoring, with a resume that includes Boys Don't Cry, Velvet Goldmine (with Shudder), and upcoming films from Todd Solondz (who directed Happiness) and Joel Schumacher (Batman & Robin).

Now comes Jealous God, Larson's debut for Artemis Records. Shudder fans will be surprised at the sweet and soulful pop songs contained within, while others will merely revel in the blissfully catchy hooks of "I Must Learn to Live Alone" and "Just Because a Man Expects Me To."

"It's weird to have been a punk-rocker and now I'm 30 and I'm like some sort of postmodern yuppie, almost," Larson remarks. Of the perhaps unexpectedly pop sound, he adds, "I was lucky enough to work with these great producers, Clive Langer and Alan Winstanley, who had done a lot of stuff that I love, like Elvis Costello's 'Shipbuilding'."

Larson is pleased with the pleasantly surprised reactions to Jealous God he's received. "People who've heard it were like, 'Hey, I didn't know you could sing,' or 'Hey, these are like straight-up love songs,' or 'Hey, it kinda sounds like a soul record,'" he says. "Which is good, because that's what I'm into."