Three

Three is my new album, produced by Malcolm Burn (Bob Dylan, Emmylou Harris, Daniel Lanois, Aaron Neville, and many others), released on December 11, 2020.

Nathaniel Bellows: Acoustic guitar and vocals
Malcolm Burn: Bass guitar, congas, Fender Rhodes, piano
Jane Scarpantoni: Cello
Steve Decker: Drums

Produced and mixed by Malcolm Burn
Mastered by Larry DeVivo at Silvertone Mastering
Recorded in Kingston, NY

Watch all 8 lyric videos I made for Three below; each features one of my large scale drawings from a recent, ongoing series.

“[Three is a] raw, gritty and soulful eight song masterpiece…[Bellows is a] brilliant contemporary folk singer/songwriter.” —The JW Vibe

“With Three, [Bellows] lyrically contrasts gritty, traditionalist masculinity with surprisingly raw, emotional depth….[his] rugged yet soulful vocals the real star of the show….[He] also seems to draw on his strengths in the literary field. His songs prove not only musically entrancing, but collectively stimulating due to the stories they tell in vivid detail. Such musical storytelling is rare these days, particularly given the demand for fast-paced, slickly-made entertainment – bringing to mind retrospectively the work of a Tom Waits or Bob Dylan.” — Indie Shark (5/5)

“Bellows’ voice – a soft version of a saw cutting through bone – treads a fine line between the machismo of guitar-riffers like Bruce Springsteen with post-modern delicacy. It’s clear when listening to Three in its entirety that you are being lulled into a visceral experience, not just a musical one.” —Vents Magazine

“Nathaniel Bellows is a unique phenomenon in today’s world. In an era where consistent brands and meticulous public images abound, he remains fiercely independent and dedicated solely to ensuring the quality of his craft…Bellows has graduated into rare songwriting territory usually reserved for greats like Tom Waits, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young…While his husky, masculine approach is still complimented by a raw, open vulnerability, there’s a lighter touch to the tone and feel of the album as a whole…Bellows proves he is one of the few artists at the top of his game in today’s world. Three concludes an evocative trilogy of sorts, and for reflective listeners should prove enriching and refreshing with its profound observations articulated through a bare simplicity.” —Too Much Love Magazine

“[A] triumphant masterpiece…Three is a raw and emotional record that sees every track masterfully tackling the struggle of falling into a pit and trying to find a way into the light, sometimes by hoping for a shoulder to lean on.  It reflects a vulnerability that resonates with the listener and provides moments of solace and peace.” —Imperfect Fifth

“Nathaniel’s voice, redolent with passion, cuts through to the bone…“Move Away” offers a tender intro made up of guitar and a crying violin. Vaguely reminiscent of Johnny Cash’s “Hurt,” the sad, aching pain radiating from this song will bring tears to your eyes.” —Rawckus Magazine

“Bellows treads a fine line between throwback to the greats (think Bruce Springsteen, Tom Waits, and Dwight Yoakam) with a surprisingly thoughtful dose of post-modern delicacy. He retains a distinct masculinity which doesn’t hamper thoughtful ideas and a well of emotional depth…. The communication of such raw vulnerability through an intensely masculine medium is nothing new, but with Bellows it is uncommonly real and immersive…Bellow’s voice is arguably the real star of the show, not saved by way of autotune or excess instruments…In many ways, one could argue Nathaniel Bellows is a product of another time. Yet a product who has aged well into the current musical stratosphere. While he’s preaching to a particular choir, it’s a choir that’s alive and well – especially amongst the millennial entertainment markets. He isn’t interested in pleasing or patronizing the listener, but rather seems intent on offering them an invitation into his world. We recommend you accept.” —Indie Band Guru

“Central to the album is the acoustic guitar and Nathaniel’s evocative voice. He has a gruff aged strain to his voice that on tracks like ‘Haul Me In’ he suddenly flicks into a vulnerable falsetto with ease. You simply don’t expect it from a voice that sounds riddled with the daily grind. It is a beautiful moment and Bellows knows exactly how to write his music to excavate every drop of emotion from himself…‘Three’ continues to showcase Nathaniel Bellows as a modern-day crooner. There is a timeless quality to his music and the way he growls and moans over the sparse but brilliantly arranged acoustics captivate you in his storytelling. In a year where lots of us found personal truths and priorities in the world, this album feels like Nathaniel found a lot of his too. His music is all the better for it. Superb.” —Higher Plain Music

“The songs on ‘Three‘ cover huge acreages of emotions within the space of a few minutes each…No-one could mistake ‘Three‘ for an easy or unflinchingly uplifting album.  Nathaniel Bellows has emotional demons – and he doesn’t take the easy path of just casting them out.  Instead he bravely faces them, and by so doing has made a sombre, literate and austere song-cycle that abjures simple solutions.”—AmericanaUK