Nina Diaz Record Review

Nina Diaz's solo debut finds her in an unusual position for someone who's been in the music industry since she was 13: getting to be whoever the hell she wants to be. The Beat Is Dead, a fierce, 40-odd minute whirlwind, deals with the singer-guitarist's addiction and sobriety, and plays nearly unrecognizable to her work in San Antonio trio Girl in a Coma. Opener and lead single, "Trick Candle" makes a fitting mission statement for a solo endeavor: brash, glamorous, Lady Gaga-esque layers of synth pop, groovy guitar lines, bells, and Diaz's bellow. "Young Man" and "Queen Beats King" both glitter with New Wave influences – sinister, theatrical, and delightfully Eighties-tinged – while "It," led by six-string crunch and a palpable swagger, and "Screaming Without a Sound" both push closer to straight-up rock & roll. The second half of the album dips back into the familiar as grungy rocker "Star" dazzles with Diaz's vocal chops. Peculiar ballad "For You" constitutes the LP's sole misstep, a far cry from its first moments, but The Beat Is Dead proves that Nina Diaz is alive, well, and better than ever.