"A force to be reckoned with." — SPIN "Gently Disarming... Folk-pop, nicely done." — Chicago RedEye "I'm not sure who or what finally persuaded him to let everyone else in on his music, but Something Obscure proves it's a damn good thing they did." — Windy City Rock "There's a confidence to the six-song collection - rooted in a rich, reflective folk-rock sound - that defies Nelson's newness on the scene." — Transmission "Derek Nelson is trying to avoid stereotypes and bring back a sense of urgency in music." — Blare Magazine "It is rare to discover such a young folk(ish)-music talent writing songs that seem so far beyond his years ... I legitimately love Derek's music. His lyrics and the way the words tie into the music is phenomenal." — A Curious Monogram "The Chicago songwriting sensation that is Derek Nelson ... " — SimpleTalk "Derek is on the verge of breaking out of obscurity and into the spotlight….he may need to rethink the name of that EP." — The Prettiest Girls in the World Live in Chicago