Things We Do

In the late 1990s, a whole slew of young guitarists emerged, all making a grab for the Stevie Ray Vaughan mantle. In this group, one must include Mato Nanji, guitarist for the family venture Indigenous. Unlike many of his predecessors, Mato Nanji may actually be deserving of the honor. That's a bold statement, but a listen to "Begin to Wonder," the instrumental "Holdin' Out," or especially "Nothing I Can Do" off of Things We Do are sufficient to justify it. The album opens with the low-key, midtempo title track, but it's on "Got to Tell You" that Things We Do really hits its stride. On the whole, this CD is a very strong effort, especially for musicians still in their early 20s. --Genevieve Williams