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The daughter of a German architect mother and African American father, Aja has had her heart set on a musical career since her parents decided to name her after the Steely Dan song they heard on a restaurant sound system.
22 year old Aja is a talented singer/
songwriter in the Alanis Morrissette tradition and is
just as good as her and Michelle Branch of the same
style,Among the contributing musicians are: A Perfect Circle drummer Josh Freese, Edna Swap bassist Paul Bushnell, Wallflowers keyboardist Rami Jaffee and Extasy label head and Japanese rock superstar Yoshiki
who plays guitar on one track.
The last song of
the album "Candy cane" is a real goodie with some
wonderful strings and "Help me" is a flirt with Tori
Amos,music for a nice walk in the park on a sunny
sunday afternoon.
She doesn?t have the same
charisma as Alanis and not the same hits as Michelle
Branch,but music is not only about getting hits
thank god......just listen to "Wearing maybelline" and
understand that she should stand next to the Vanessa
Carlton record in your collection.
Maybe it?s wrong
of me to compare Aja to Alanis,I think a more correct
comparison would be Macy Gray meeting Kate Bush.Don?t
expect a masterpiece but expect a solid work of pianobased pop! |
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SHORTCUT
Here you have an album which is a mix between the groove of Lenny Kravitz and anacoustic version of Norah Jones. The same sort of songs, the same sort of voice but instead of a piano the music is based on a guitar and a few songs are a little "tougher" with a rock-bandgroove. It´s an ok album without anything to really complain about. But I will probably won´t put on the album more after this review as I have far to many CD´s that I personally like more than this in the genre. |
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I have far too many CD´s that I haven´t told you (written) about and therefore I will add a few shortcuts for you, where I more or less only recommend or not recommend the cd´s for you. This is of course not a new policy for us. It is just a way to come to the bottom of the bloody box of not reviewed CD´s
If you enjoy girls like Aimee Mann and Mindy Smith... Girls with one foot in americana land and one foot in California I suggest you check out Bethany Dillons debut album. Its nothing new under the sun but shes doin the stuff right and the production and songs are fine. And so is her voice. You can listen to her album at www.bethanydillon.com Its not a top 20 album from 2004 but well worth the attention if you like these sort of singer songwriter girls. |
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Ok, let?s get it out straight away. What we have here is the best CD of 2003 so far. It might well be the best CD of the year when we sum the year up later in December. It?s so damn good that I?m totally stunned. Thrilled. Chocked. Use any superlatives you want and they?re all worthy Bill?s album. Imagine a voice somewhere between Jude Cole, Neal Casal, John Mayer and Shawn Mullins and music in the same style. But there are also much more straight ahead classic melodic Midwest rock a?la Del Amitri and Brett Walker in some songs. Thoughtful lyrics, dynamic arrangements and FANTASTIC song-writing. Add a superb production signed Gregg Wattenberg (Dishwalla, Five For Fighting) and we?re quite ahead of what we have on the album. It?s amazingly good. And it?s an independent release! As I said, I?m stunned.
Let?s get over to the songs then? The opening 20 minutes is an appetizer of what we?re gonna get, and after 5 songs I?m thrilled over it, but it just goes on and on, and gets better all through! And the grand finale ?The Gift Of Seeing Through? is actually one of the best songs I have heard in the genre? ever? It?s as good as ?Driving With The Breaks On? with Del Amitri and the best stuff from Jude Cole?s album ?View From A 3rd Street?. When the song gets the climax around 5 minutes into the song I even take words like "best ever" in my mouth. And then the damn song just continues and ends up after 7 minutes and 30 seconds of magic!!! Well, I could mention all songs on here cause there is not a single bad second on the album, but I won?t do that. What I will though is to DEMAND all of you guys to buy yourself a copy today. Right now when I write this review I?m at song number seven for the third time today and that refrain is so ridiculous good that I just wanna get the man a big wet kiss on the mouth. And then track number eight is coming? ?Who We Are? that is nothing less than a killer tune all through? Marvellous folks. Marvellous. |
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With Chasing Down A Spark, former Gathering Field frontman Bill Deasy has not only emulated the brilliance of his debut solo effort Good Day No Rain, but the album also confirms his status as one of the most valid singer-songwriter voices around.
That may be a bold assertion, but even a cursory listen to the endearing melodies, rich lyrical seam and heartfelt delivery on Chasing Down A Spark backs up such a claim. Opening with the irresistible pop-rock of ?Until I Get It Right?, the Pittsburgh native maintains a level of quality that never dips until the final note of the album rings out.
Deasy?s evolution on his sophomore solo album has seen him return to the more electric sound of his former band, but the record is a celebration of diversity; from the achingly pretty ?Pass Me On? to the jaunty pop flavours of ?Fireflies? and the soulful refrains of ?Turn Your Light On? and album highlight ?Levi?. Producer Kevin Salem is credited with aiding Deasy to expand his horizons musically on the bluesy ?Wishing Well?, but it?s the sense of captivating honesty on tracks like the beautiful ?Now That I Know What It Means? that helps enhance Deasy?s well-earned reputation as a gifted writer this time around.
An impressive roster of guests, including Donnie Iris, Maia Sharp and Rob James and Scott Blasey of The Clarks serve as further evidence of Deasy?s standing amongst his peers. Already an established songwriter for other artists, Chasing Down A Spark deserves to take Bill Deasy?s own career to the next level. |
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Whether as a solo artist or a member of The Gathering Field, Bill Deasy has never made a record that wasn’t filled with stirring melodies, evocative lyrics and heartfelt performances, and his third solo release, "The Miles" continues that tradition in fine style.
It’s Deasy’s most complete record to date, revealing his diverse influences and showcasing his trademark heartland singer-songwriter style with a memorable set of songs. The opener and title track is a metaphor for the Pittsburgh native’s nomadic life as a musician and songwriter, while the philosophical “Getting Closer” is a definite nod to his days in The Gathering Field.
The country stomp of “Judgement Day” takes Deasy into previously unchartered waters as a songwriter, but after that successful experiment, delicate ballad “Wish There Was a Way” sees Deasy at his brilliant, understated best. “Beautiful Stranger” shimmers with its haunting guitar refrain, poignant lyrics and Renee Stahl’s delicate background vocals, while “Trouble From The Start” sees the diversity continue with a contrasting song featuring a down-and-dirty verse and beautifully uplifting chorus.
In an album without any filler whatsoever, the acoustic “Blue Highways” is another highlight, but perhaps the most powerful and affecting track is “Standing By The River”, a piano-based epic that confirms Deasy’s songwriting gift, even though it was never in doubt.
Following Deasy’s highly successful foray as a novelist with his debut novel "Ransom Seaborn" in 2006, "The Miles" is yet another creative triumph for one of the most talented singer-songwriters in America. |
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2010 was truly a tough year for Bill DeMain, first he lost lots of personal journals and songwriting notebooks because of a flood and 4 months later a fire took out his entire home. But something good always comes out of something bad, Bill managed to save his guitar and wrote a lot of songs during this time when he had very little of material stuff and renting farm cottages around Nashville. As one half of Swan Dive, Bill had already released 9 albums over the past decade and he had also written songs for artists like Bleu, Farrah and Marshall Crenshaw. But he hadn´t made a solo record so Bill wrote 18 songs for his first album, he wanted to keep it brief so he only recorded 6 songs for "Extended stay". This is a warm and optimistic EP, filled with bright melodies and old school harmonies in the classic songwriting style. My favorite is the beautiful "In your letter", a piano ballad that Paul McCartney could´ve written for Wings in the 70´s. Also worth noticing is the Ben Folds-like "Raggedy man" which was co-written with David Mead, you can feel the 60´s flowing through your body during this song. Another great song is "Looking for a place to live", that chorus is made for radio. Imagine a mix of America and Shawn Mullins and you´ll right there in the atmosphere of this album´s opener.
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The revolution for modern singer songwriters just continues. Brendan
Dwyer
is the next name you all should check out right away. This E.P is a
lovely 4
track piece of plastic and I cant be anything else than really
impressed.
One great thing with Brendan is of course his voice. Its somewhere
between
Adam Duritz of Counting Crows mixed with Dave Matthews and Mark Kano from
Athenaeum.
And musically were near these guys, but with a more singer songwriter
sort
of edge. I just love it. First out "My Miami"
sets the
tone right away, and in second out "As The Band Plays" the journey
continues... All four songs are all real damn good and if you love the
bands
I Just mentioned you have to surf to CD BABY and buy this guys
minialbum
right away. Im sure we will hear
much much more from him in the future. |
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For all of you out there that are fans of the New York based band Nine Days that scored the big hit "Story about girl" a few years ago,here I have a cd that you probably will have in your collection pretty soon.
Brian Desveaux, the second vocalist recently released his first solo album/ep on his own label with the help of some cool musicians like John Hampson and the Tonic member Dan Lavery.
And like always we?re given a fat dose of ultra catchy modern rock spiced up with some powerpop. Two of the eight songs here can be found on the Nine Days independent album "FLYING THE CORPORATE JET" released last year, but the other six are new fine pop pearls.
My favourite is the opener "New Wave", which is a typical Brian Desveaux song, but goodies like "Let it ride", and "Alive today" are other recommendable songs.
So until we have a new Nine Days album out - go to this guys site and purchase
this nice piece of work. It?s fresh, it?s charming and.....good! |
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| If you like me adore female singer songwriters with a little touch of both midwestern and southern USA, will have another album to check out. Brigitte Demeyer is a new discovery for me, even if shes been around for a while. Musically we´re in the garden of Bonnie Raitt with flirts of both Amy Grant, Sheryl Crow and Carole King. The production signed by her and Cookie Marenco is very nice and the songwriting is also impressing. The album opens up with the great "Another you" and there are plenty of more good tunes on the album. The 5.45 long "My Everything" with the typical "Bonnie Raitt"-groove is one and the Sheryl Crow smelling ballad "Hands Cannot Be Tied" is another one worth mentioning. Great tune. So, as I said in the beginning of the review, surf away and listen yourself if you adore the other names I mentioned in the review. |
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SHORTCUT
Brigitte Demeyer is still serving us well produced singer songwriter soulfilled rock as a younger Bonnie Raitt goes Sheryl Crow tradition. And she is doing it fine. Best tunes on the album are "Honey Darlin´", "Somthing After All" and the mighty fine cover of Steve Earle´s "More Than I Can Do" |
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| Donald "Buck Dharma" Roeser is best known as the voice of Blue Öyster Cult, and very few know about his solo album from 1982 - "Flat Out". He recorded the album between a pair of BÖC discs and it's quite hard to describe the disc withone wordas it has several different musical sides. Some songs are almost at the chill out of West Coast sound, while some songs pull in the powerpop-direction. Then again,some of the songshave amore classic BÖC rock delivered. The disc is no masterpiece but it's verynice that it released on CD so that we once again have the chance to hear "Cold Wind" which sounds like a good America (the band)-hit, "Five Thirty-Five" which is atypical for the timeAOR song in same spirit as, for example, Michael Stanley Band and "All Tied up" which is adelicious West Coast flavouredpopsong. No classic albums, but definitely well worth buying for all lovers of early aor / west coast pop. |
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Location:Boston,USA
Discography:Adore (2002),Casey Desmond Acoustic (2003),Casey Desmond (2005)
Musicians:Casey Desmond - Vocals/Guitar,Taylor Barefoot - Guitar,Tony Levin - Bass,Chris Joye - Bass,James Caldwell - Drums,Mike LeVesque - Drums,Katherine Desmond - Keyboards
Influences:Sheryl Crow,Liz Phair,Avril Lavigne,Kate Bush
Will appeal to fans of:Katy Rose,The Corrs,Mandi Perkins,Michelle Branch
Album tracks Total length:48,18
1.Did we make it (3,26)
2.Taste it (3,28)
3.Two girls (2,50)
4.Shivering (4,42)
5.The child (3,49)
6.Swim (3,34)
7.Sorry ain?t enough (3,18)
8.Scenario (3,43)
9.I was right (3,02)
10.Stray (3,42)
11.Lay here (2,53)
12.Meaningless (5,43)
13.Undertow (4,02)
Comments:Casey is only 19 years old and has already recorded 3 albums,she has great company guesting on the new album with Tony Levin (Peter Gabriel) on bass and Mike LeVesque (David Bowie) on drums among the musicians.
It would be wrong just to file this cd as another Avril Lavigne clone coz she?s not,Casey?s music has roots in the singer/songwriter genre where names like Joni Mitchell and PJ Harvey comes in mind.
She has the same attitude as Anouk,the will to rock like Patti Smith and the ability of writing fine pop melodies like Alanis Morissette.
You could say this is a rootsy modern rock/pop album and it?s hard to believe she?s only 19 coz Casey sounds like a mature and experienced woman that has a lot to tell in her lyrics.
A good album that could?ve had a little bigger drumsound but this one will do. |
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Nashville based singer/songwriter Charlie Dodrill?s debut is a contemporary midwestrock album with blues tendencies,the music is laid back and mostly performed with an acoustic feel.
Charlie has a great voice and his songs puts you in a comfy mood,he almost feels like a cousin to Paul Simon with a resemblance to worship artists like Aaron Spiro and Wayne Watson.
Perhaps a few too many ballads but still a real nice effort with a touch of gospel that should appeal fans of well performed christian pop. |
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| Its not very often youll come across an independent CD this good. Its a superb midwestern popalbum the man have done. Its in the vein of Petty goes Willy Porter whos on his way to John Hiatt, Paul Brady and John Prine (when hes at his poppiest moments) Nope - its a great album I must recommend you all midwest lovers to check out t his homepage www.flyboyrecords.com The Album is mixed at the Elephante brothers (John and Dino) place. Just a thing like that. Buy at once people! ! |
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Did you know that?
A friend once said "What a Motley looking Crew" - Motley meaning "of great variety" and once describing the appearance of a court jester. The re-spelling of Motley Crue was their own invention; and said to have came to them while they were partying & drinking Lowenbrau beer.
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