June, 1999
Texans Like Beaver
Sylvie Simmons, Mojo, The Music Magazine

Singer-songwriter Beaver Nelson—a big buzz at this year's Texas music conference South By Southwest—reminds me on The Last Hurrah (Freedom) of a tougher Jules Shear. A moving, slightly strangled voice and infectious songs, from alcohol-fuelled country rock romps to sad, sweet ballads (on Too Much Moonlight, Shear is credited as co-writer), it's at times Golden Smogesque, at others all Stonesy attitude. In Stray Dog he asserts defiantly, "I piss where I please." Indeed.