Rock Swings

Editorial Reviews
Album Description
Sonically amazing, musically impeccable, vocally superb, this album swings hard from start to finish. Crank it loud on a great stereo. Crank it loud in your car with the windows open and the top down. This is fun music, this is music to drink cocktails to, this is a seriously fun album that seriously swings hard!

Beginning his career by entering amateur contests and sneaking into clubs, Paul Anka has gone on to become one of the most prolific, successful songwriters in history. This year marks his 47th Anniversary in show business, which he celebrates with the June 7th Global release of his latest album, "Rock Swings." It is a concept that takes rock hits from the 80's and adds a swing arrangement to give them a completely different, and fresh new sound. Songs like "Jump" by Van Halen, "Smells like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana, "Wonderwall" by Oasis.

Tracks:

It's My Life
True
Eye Of The Tiger
Everybody Hurts
Wonderwall
Blackhole Sun
It's A Sin
Jump
Smells Like Teen Spirit
Hello
Eyes Without A Face
Lovecats
The Way You Make Me Feel
Tears In Heaven

Album Description

Sonically amazing, musically impeccable, vocally superb, this album swings hard from start to finish. Crank it loud on a great stereo. Crank it loud in your car with the windows open and the top down. This is fun music, this is music to drink cocktails to, this is a seriously fun album that seriously swings hard!

Customer Reviews:

ROCKING, SWINGING & SOULFUL VOCALS~BRAVO PAUL!!!.......2007-07-09

Incredible that this Legendary Singer/Composer has been making spectactacular music for fifty years and in 2005 records a true Masterpiece that stands as one of his finest recorded works and never have Paul Anka vocals been finer or quite as mesmerizing and deeply soulful...Bravo Paul!!!
Opening with Bon Jovi's "It's My Life", Mr. Anka makes this song a personal athem all his own that takes the listener back through the years in a way that becomes a memorable trip back throught the great Sinatra years plus the big band era in an original yet updated way that is a totally great musical experience that ultimately becomes a personal slogan of life and survival...smooth as in a Neil Hefti kind of way, "True" is another personal trip back through time that is a deeply personal Anka statement that reflects years with greats such as Ella...these interpetations are so deeply personal that it is as if Anka composed every song in this masterful collection and I can only imagine this is because he is on of the great singer/songwriters from the past fifty years and a true original.
"Eye Of The Tiger' is cool, rhythmic, sophisicated and so totally hip plus quite a unique listening experience not to be missed by those who enjoy the true greats in sublime form as this magnificent performance hopefully won a Grammy Award and if it didn't, for shame!!!
For those who love to be hypnotized, then "Everybody Hurts" will become a regular addiction that will become a daily fix...this song is soul-deep and magnificent...by now you real music lovers must realize that this is a work that comes once in a lifetime and Mr. Anka is a truly incredible musical legend that must be a killer in concert and please Mr. Anka come to L.A.!!!
"Wonderwall" is programmed on T.V. Cable under "Singers & Standards" and was thankfully my introduction to this classic work and it just took one listen...a magical and engrossing song with a hot rhythm track and a stellar Anka performance that is one of his finest...and those great keyboards!!!! "Blackhole Sun" is another kicking big-band arrangement with a tremendous vocal that takes one away...a soulful arrangement and mesmerizing vocal make "It's A Sin" a true standout in this stellar collection of hypnotic and magical performances from a true master and this haunting ballad is an experience that will linger long after its over...get lost in these great songs as music doesn't get finer and is seldom like this!
"Jump" is definitive...plain and simple as this is hot and cooking and who would have ever imagine Paul peaking like he does here and this sounds so great and Paul is having a totally awesome time and in the end so do we!!!
Another great and surprising definitive masterful performance, how can one describe how great Mr. Anka is in his deeply soulful "Smells Like Teen Spirit" which compares to nothing...this is wild and awesone.
Lionel must marvel at how Paul goes so deep inside "Hello" and ultimately makes it his own...yikes does this guy have no mercy taking all these songs away from the originals...an emotional journey is where Paul takes "Eyes Without A Face"...smooth and sophisicated "Lovecats" is exotic and mesmerizing...blusey and intoxicating with "The Way You Make Me Feel", the finale "Tears In Heaven" will make a believer out of anyone with a feeling for those who can take us away with the magic of their voice and none is more magical than the voice of Mr. Paul Anka!!!
Thank you for all the years of the greatest in music both in singing and in composing...you are the ultimate in the world of music and please Mr. Anka keep it coming...you are one of the true masters and we love you!!!

Very Cool.......2007-01-10

I loved this CD. It's a really interesting concept. Famous pop and rock songs are remade in a swing-style. At first, the songs don't sound familiar, but then you start to notice that you know the words! Then you realize you are listening to a Bon Jovi or Michael Jackson song! It's really fun. Try popping it into the the CD player and not telling anyone about it, and see if they start to notice the songs' familiarity. Very cool!

Nice experiment, but it doesn't quite work.......2006-11-29

It's a fun experiment, taking a number of pop and rock hits and turn them into jazz songs. And the performances are very good, both by the band and by Paul Anka. But the problem is that most of the songs just don't work in this format. All songs are the exact same pace, and it does justice to very few of the songs.

The fact that the album is the same pace throughout makes it a bit dull after a while. It's background music. If you want to hear these songs, the original versions are better. If you want to hear jazz music, get a jazz album with jazz songs on it. 3 stars for production, singing and for an interesting idea. Unfortunately it didn't quite work out very well.

Paul Anka Rocks.......2006-11-03

As a long time Paul Anka fan and having seen him in concert this past summer, the DVD is excellent. It is very similar to the concert. I would recomment it to all Anka fans.

Impressive Regardless of the Concept.......2006-10-28

At first I was tickled by the idea of taking rock songs and turning them into big band swing compositions. But the more I listened, the more I realized two things: just how good some of these songs are regardless of music genre; and just how good Mr. Anka's instrument and these arrangements are.

The chord progressions in Black Hole Sun are simply beautiful. They all but remove the memory of the truly disturbing video that accompanied Soundgarden's recording, replacing it with warm tone colors and focusing in the meat of the song-- the lament of a man seeking a romantic love free from the storms that deluge far too many amors. The swing phrasing mixed with the post-modern, late-20th century poetry and melody demostrates the universality of this emotion. We all want the rain washed away, don't we?

Paul Anka's baritone is outstanding. The arrangements are lush and worthy of Nelson Riddle or Harry Connick's big band pieces.

This is a wonderful album. Give your ears a treat.

Average customer rating:

Good but not great
LOVE IT
Does the oldies justice...
Excellent interpretation
Great!

Bolton Swings Sinatra
Michael Bolton
Manufacturer: Concord Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Duets: An American Classic
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The Greatest Songs of the Sixties
Thanks For The Memory...The Great American Songbook IV
Andrea Bocelli - Amore

ASIN: B000F8DSTW
Release Date: 2006-05-23

Tracks:

You Go To My Head
Fly Me To The Moon (In Other Words)
For Once In My Life
Summer Wind
My Funny Valentine
I've Got You Under My Skin
That's Life
The Second Time Around
The Girl From Ipanema
Night and Day
They Can't Take That Away From Me
New York, New York

Amazon.com

Rod Stewart greased the wheels, and now everybody's lining up for a ride. Bolton Swings Sinatra, like Barry Manilow's The Greatest Songs of the Fifties before it, is an obvious bid to snare some of the spotlight Stewart's expertly executed Great American Songbook series generated. A recap for those who have yet to crack the time capsule: The mood of these discs is forcibly retro (nobody shows up for a CD cover shoot without a suit jacket), the pulse romantic. So if the big-belting Bolton is not exactly a natural fit--here's an artist you wouldn't go out of your way to call suave, a major prerequisite for marching along in this recycled hit parade--he's not wholly out of his element, either. Bolton can swing Sinatra, sort of. Classics like "Fly Me To the Moon," "Summer Wind," and "I've Got You Under my Skin" sneak up on the listener and reveal a quiet reverance for the departed chairman of the board; only on "My Funny Valentine" does Bolton-esque over-singing threaten to spoil the brew. "The Second Time Around," a duet with Nicollette Sheridan, also doesn't overreach, landing on the ears like an open love letter. And the arrangements work consistently. Still, there are those who will roll their eyes and call this project too ambitious, too cheeky, and they may have a point. What next, they might reasonably ask: Richard Marx Rocks Elvis? Chris Botti Scales the Brill Building? --Tammy La Gorce

Album Description

International superstar Michael Bolton has taken on another extraordinary challenge with Bolton Swings Sinatra (PASSION MUSIC CO./Concord Records). The collection finds him singing classics like "New York, New York," "Night and Day," "My Funny Valentine," "Fly Me to the Moon," "Girl From Ipanema" and "That's Life," and bringing in special guest Nicollette Sheridan for a duet on "The Second Time Around."

"For years I've kept a list of dream projects," Bolton notes. "At the top of that list was an album of songs made famous by Frank Sinatra."

Supervising the arrangements and orchestrations down to the last note, he's created an affectionate, dynamic tribute to some of the greatest recordings of the 20th century. The result will be a revelation even for longtime fans - passionate, playful, boisterous, intimate, and everything in between; Bolton Swings Sinatra is a dazzling pairing of singer and material.

Customer Reviews:

Good but not great.......2007-06-09

Nice renditions of Sinatra favorites. Bolton hasn't lost his voice with age. I just wasn't wowed.

LOVE IT.......2007-04-18

This is my favorite of all his CD's. I hope he does another just like it! I listen to this even more than my Michael Buble cd!

Does the oldies justice..........2007-02-08

I know some of the reviews of this disc have been poor. I'm a big Sinatra fan and I think Bolton accomplished a nice redo of Sinatra's oldies. We have to remember he isn't trying be Sinatra here, and his gravely voice gives the tunes a nice flavor. The arrangements are great and the music makes you feel like you stepped back into the old Sinatra days. I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars because there are only 12 songs on the disc.

Excellent interpretation.......2007-01-25

I have always liked Michael Bolton, thought he was good, and that was it. But this album really blew me away. His voice sounded better than ever, and his interpretation of Sinatra's songs was wonderful. I personally think Frank Sinatra would be pleased. Wonderful orchestrations add a nostalgic touch,while at the same time making them sound more contemporary. I can't speak for anyone else, but I loved this album.

Great!.......2007-01-18

Another great CD. He done a beautiful job. Enjoyed the music and all of his other CD's

Average customer rating:

Unique, diverse, rich
I tried
Much Better Than You're Being Led To Believe
Singificantly better than many diehards will tell you.
Unfocussed Slosh

Wild Mood Swings
The Cure
Manufacturer: Elektra / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Bloodflowers
Wish
Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me
The Cure
Disintegration

ASIN: B000002HH9
Release Date: 1996-05-07

Tracks:

Want
Club America
This Is A Lie
The 13th
Strange Attraction
Mint Car
Jupiter Crash
Round & Round & Round
Gone!
Numb
Return
Trap
Treasure
Bare

Customer Reviews:

Unique, diverse, rich.......2006-09-21

Man oh man oh man; I cannot fathom these 1 star reviews by people. There must be SOMETHING they just DON'T get about this album, because it's brilliant. I won't go into specifics, but let me just say that I own every single Cure album and song ever released, from Three Imaginary Boys in '79 to Self-Titled in '04, along with the Join the Dots (B-Sides and Rarities) release in '04. In any case, my point is that I know ALL Cure. Everything. Many fans will compare this to other Cure releases such as "Disintegration" or "Pornography" or "Faith" or "Wish" and diss the heck out of it...just seems bizarre and strange to me. This album has so many eclectic features and and an incredible range of diversity, yet it is still held together by all things Cure. The songs are downright beautiful. For people to call this slosh and self-indulgent is just plain ignorant. To attack the lyrical content is downright immature. So what if he's singing about cheating? Each song is unique with a wide array of themes. Pay no regard to the bad reviews. You can trust me as someone who has everything The Cure has released that this is a more-than-worthy addition to your collection. I actually prefer the second half of the disc more than the first, but still love the first half as well. Do it up and treat your ears to a real work of art.

I tried.......2006-09-09

I was a huge Cure fan in the 90s. When this came out I really really wanted it to be great. I listened to it many times. I remember none of the songs and didn't like ONE song on the CD. If you want an underrated Cure CD, go get Wish. Don't even bother with this one. Completely forgetable.

Much Better Than You're Being Led To Believe.......2006-09-06

Wild Mood Swings is not a bad cd. Many of the negative reviews come right out and admit to trying to pull the rating of this cd down. Why? It usually comes down to being stuck in the past. There are a lot of people who cannot accept Robert Smith doing anything outside of Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me or Disintegration.

Wild Mood Swings is different. It's upbeat in some places and downbeat in others (ok, ok, I know that describes Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me but the instrumentation is different here); it's not your typical Cure release but I like it. It reminds me some of The Top, a much more psycho and, in many cases, just as maligned an effort.

WMS also reminds me of many of the silly music that made up the mid-80's. There are lots and lots of great keyboard sounds to go around and a ton of great guitar. What's not to like?

Singificantly better than many diehards will tell you........2006-08-22

An album that is generally dispised by fans of the Cure, "Wild Mood Swings" is as different from everything else in the band's catalog as can be, and a the time of release it was a bit jarring. It's an album of acoustic guitars and bright production and of open space, and while it was significantly different from anything the band has done, a decade after its release, it's pretty clear that the album, taken out of the shock of its appearance, is a decent record in its own right.

Of course, from the opener, you wouldn't know it'd be full of bright songs-- "Want" is classic dark Cure stuff-- ringing bass, clean tone melodic electric guitars, and noisy leads supporting a vocal that turns as fierce and jarring as anything Smith has done. But there is a sense of space that's obvious in it that permeates the album, and the record's brightness is obvious throughout, whether in the form of explosive pop songs ("Mint Car", a positively ecstatic explosition of new love), bizarre blues/funk tinged horn driven pieces ('Gone!"), moody, acoustic Bowie-styled reflections ("jupiter Crash") or just downright bizarre (more of the record than you'd guess-- Latin-tinged "The 13th" defies explanatio and the lower register vocal of "Club America" is in direct opposition to the usual Cure). Admittedly, amidst all of this there's a couple bunts (propolsive rocker "Trap", somewhat dull pop song "Strange Attraction") and yeah, the bright production can get irritating in its lack of subtlety ("Round & Round & Round"), but there's a lot to be heard here, just put aside your preconceived notions of what the band should be at the door.

"Wild Mood Swings" found the Cure crippled-- longtime guitarist Porl Thompson and drummer Boris Williams, who had both been with the band for a decade, left, and leader Robert Smith seemed to have felt painted in a corner stylistically. This one is definitely quite a detour, and if you're not one to like your band's drifting from their core sound, this isn't one for you. For the rest of us, "Wild Mood Swings" is one of the more intriguing things the band has done.

Unfocussed Slosh.......2006-05-17

No matter how often and how many times I've tried to listen to this album I cannot get more than half way without getting so bored with it that I'm compelled to change discs. The Cure has been my all-time favourite band since 1985, and still is to this day (2006), but this album is simply unlistenable drivel. It's not that objectively speaking, the album is the worst thing since Celine Dion, but, standing against the background of such groundbreaking classic Cure favourites as Faith, Pornography and Disintegration; Wild Mood Swings falls right out of the swing and hits itself badly on the head, concussing and haemmorrhaging to death on the hard earth of reality.
Some tracks are catchy enough, especially the openers Want, Club America and The 13th, but nonetheless come over as sounding so similar to tracks already done wonderfully before (respectively Open, Harold & Joe and The Lovecats) that they're less like original variations than pale caricatures of them. From there it's all down-swing as the album does a bland, unfocussed and uninspired take on jangly Brit-style pop and ballads. Songs like Mint Car sound so obviously like Smith is trying so incredibly hard to be happy and poppy and fluffy (when he's probably just really drunk) that you can't help cringing when you listen to them. Smith himself has said this is his least liked album The Cure has done of them all.
If you're interested in The Cure but new to them - avoid this one, and stick to one of the certified greats, such as the above mentioned titles.

Average customer rating:

Unexpected pleasure
Best John has done
Doctor Who's Captain Jack Sings!
John Barrowman Swings Cole Porter
It's a Keeper

Swings Cole Porter
John Barrowman
Manufacturer: First Night (Red)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0002YLDN2
Release Date: 2004-10-05

Tracks:

Just One Of Those Things
What Is This Thing Called Love
In The Still Of The Night
I Happen To Like New York
Anything Goes
After You, Who?
Ca C'est l'Amour
Don't Fence Me In
Miss Otis Regrets
Do I Love You?
You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To
Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye
It's Alright With Me
Easy To Love (from the 2003 recording "Anything Goes") (Bonus Track)

Amazon.com

John Barrowman delivers a solid collection of Cole Porter standards on the heels of his on-screen role opposite Kevin Kline in the Porter biopic De-Lovely. Barrowman, who has appeared on Broadway and in London, played Jack, the actor who had to be coached through the "impossible" song, "Night and Day." That song is absent here (it was on the movie soundtrack), but there are 14 other songs, including the gorgeous "In the Still of the Night," the piano-accompanied "Miss Otis Regrets," and the swinging "Ca, C'est l'Amour." John Barrowman Swings Cole Porter is nothing ground-breaking, just a well-sung set of great tunes backed by tasteful arrangements throughout. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews:

Unexpected pleasure.......2007-07-17

I originally ordered this simply because I was smitten with John Barrowman from having watched him as Capt Jack Harkness on Doctor Who and Torchwood. I was more than pleasantly surprised to hear how well he executes these Cole Porter songs. His voice is clear and reminiscent in spots of a modern, minimal Irish tenor. And I was thrilled with his delivery on some of the songs as well. "I Happen to Like New York" is a keen favourite of mine. His hot photo on the cover is also a plus. What a dreamy, gorgeous man! I was so impressed by the cd that I bought 2 more to give as gifts. This is definitely worth your dollars.

Best John has done.......2007-02-13

I have seen John on stage but never paid that much attention. (Sorry John). But with this CD, Dr Who (Sci Fi & BBC TV services) and Torchwood (BBC TV Series) - John is really someone to notice and notice again.

Doctor Who's Captain Jack Sings!.......2006-08-05

John Barrowman isn't just another pretty face, and his credentials for entertaining go way beyond the new Doctor Who/Torchwood series, so why not buy this CD and listen to the Man sing his favorite Cole Porter classics?

You won't regret it! Order SWINGS COLE PORTER, I did!

John Barrowman Swings Cole Porter.......2005-06-25

John Barrowman has produced an excellent CD of the music of Cole Porter, containing many classic Cole Porter numbers mixed with a selection of the not so well known. Each of the selections is given a superb interpretation by the multitalented John Barrowman.

I must confess that this CD has taken up residence in my car CD player since I purchased it. CD's like this performed expertly by the popular singer and actor John Barrowman will no doubt introduce many of today's youngsters to the music of one of the great song writers of the 20th century.

It's a Keeper.......2005-06-23

Have to agree with Mr JD Arndt (reviewer) This simply is a well put together cd. Cole Porter being my very favorite composer of American standards, John Barrowman put out one hell of a cd with this one and I'm sure Cole would be just beaming. Also purchased his Broadway cd, that one is no comparison, infact, I sold it. Being a fan of Mr Barrowman, I expected better. This one is a winner, one that you should enjoy for years to come, I promise.

Average customer rating:

Fresh
www.glasswerk.co.uk review
Hasn't left my CD player in 4 months
distilled!
What more can you say?

Distillation
Erin McKeown
Manufacturer: Signature Sounds
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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We Will Become Like Birds
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ASIN: B00004YBYQ
Release Date: 2000-10-10

Tracks:

Queen Of Quiet
Blackbirds
Didn't They?
La Petite Mort
The Little Cowboy
Daisy And Prudence
Fast As I Can
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Amazon.com

Erin McKeown's quirky, folksy music weds the intimacy of the coffeehouse circuit with the braininess of her daytime gig as an ethnomusicology student at Brown University. Accompanying herself on guitar, piano, banjo, and the odd sampler, this precocious Virginia native has crafted a winning album of original songs that range from the coy minimalism of "Queen of Quiet" to the genuine beauty of "How to Open My Heart in 4 Easy Steps." McKeown infuses her songs with a droll wit and a keen awareness of jazz, blues, and Tin Pan Alley traditions (how many 23-year-olds cover Rodgers and Hart's "You Mustn't Kick It Around"?). With its echoes of Gillian Welch, k.d. lang, Suzanne Vega, and the Handsome Family, Distillation is an eclectic collection of mostly upbeat tunes that play nicely while the barn is burning. --Bill Forman

Customer Reviews:

Fresh.......2007-03-25

She's different than the rest -- some old fashioned sounds with an entirely unique style -- entirely McKeown.

www.glasswerk.co.uk review.......2003-04-09

The topics of uncertainty and love has never been so subtly expressed as Erin McKeown has managed to do so, and in her debut proper 'Distillation' she explores swing, folk and Tin Pan Alley jazz with beguiling consequences. Acoustic guitar number 'Queen of Quiet' is the first and the shortest song, with McKeown's Deep South drawl adding to the uplifting mood set by this opener. 'Blackbirds' develops with a more of a jazz/blues style, delivered with a great deal of swagger, and she manages to do that to more or a lesser degree in every song.

It is with lyrics that the 24 year old excels in the most. Subjects of death among others are dealt with humour and sensitivity, "....we both found heaven right then, you just chose not to come back...." in 'La Petite Mort' a country number with bluegrass roots, and touches on the topics of cocaine and roses in the poignant 'The Little Cowboy' where McKeown reaches Joni Mitchell levels of diva dizziness. The slim production of the record successfully brings out McKeown's ability to use an instrument both rhythmically and sonically. As a result of this the songs sound resolute and bright, with the result that the quieter moments on this record are at times the memorable and striking moments, especially on the quieter times on 'Daisy and Prudence' and the yearning 'Love In 2 Parts' which shows her songwriting to be strong and her delivery impeccable. Swing is also an obvious influence, and provides the jollier moments with a cover of Rodger and Hart's 'You mustn't kick it around' and the quirky 'Didn't They?'. Each song is intricate despite its simplicity, overflowing with invention and sentiment, and is sure to win the hearts of those who cross her path. With 'Distillation' Erin McKeown has proved that less is indeed much, much more.

Ricky

Hasn't left my CD player in 4 months.......2003-02-26

Wow, what can I say, the lady is the complete package, an intersting voice, the most original lyrics and the coolest guitar playing I've heard since Richard Thompson. Hearing blackbird once propelled me to buy Distillation and have not been dissapointed. It has occupied my #1 slot in my 6 disc changer for 4 months, obsessed? I guess!

distilled!.......2003-02-19

She's the queen of quiet and soon the UK is going to see what the US has been keeping from them when her debut album "Distillation" gets a UK release in February. Already very popular and well known among the folk community of the states, this is the 24 year old Erin McKeown's first major release after her two successful 2,500 cassette only releases, a self-titled debut and "Monday Morning Cold" (1998) and. One of America's best-kept secrets and well worth the wait.

Mrs McKeown in her songs achieves the goal of both being distinctly modern, living up to her post-Bjork and Moby comparisons and at the same time old fashioned brining swinging 1920's jazz onto such songs as "Blackbirds". Erin grew up in Virginia and it was at Brown University that she found her unique gift for combining music old and new into her own hybrid style. Very difficult to pigeonhole in one genre toying with everything from modern pop, swing jazz and cabaret. She showcases here all her past influences and love of music and movies. While it's easy to get caught up with the comparisons it must also be said that this is unlike anything else before it, Erin is the first of her kind and it's easier to imagine that in the future people will compare artists to her, instead of visa versa which is a view shared by many writers like Dar Williams, "Don't let anybody tell you that Erin McKeown is the 'next' anyone. She's the very first Erin McKeown, and she's great."

Another extraordinary thing is the production, or lack of it. All of this record is self financed and instead of confining her sound to a soulless generic recording studio Erin and producer David Chalfant relocated to a farmhouse out in Massachusetts. All of the tracks were recorded here and very few have any processed electronic tinkering on them .The songs are refreshingly real sounding and gritty without the usual re-mastering that occurs. What you get is what happened and this, for use of a better word makes it sound real and fresh. The whole thing from the recording to promotion (self promoted from word of mouth and her website) is all very down to earth and grassroots.

Plucky guitar opener "Queen of Quiet" the shortest of the songs offered here, introduces unusual and enchanting vocal stylings not to dissimilar to US singers Kd Lang, but more energetic and uplifting. It also showcases her brilliant song writing with lyrics confessing her to be "The kind of lover that won't run for cover, what kind of lover am I?". Then "Blackbirds", a jazzy, blues style number is so catchy and infectious with it's danceable blues guitar sounds and lovable lyrics harking back in many ways to the children's rhyme with the birds of the same name. If you don't get the urge to dance to this, then check for a pulse. All the songs have smart lyrics from an artist who is offering us everything she is and while some of the best are partly collages of other influences as used on "Blackbirds" she really comes into herself with the more coherent songs like "The Little Cowboy" with the haunting images of roses and cocaine. While we've had ladies giving us distinct and original vocals before, Alanis Morrisette or Ani Difranco for instance, it's the combination her of striking singing and skilful playing of whatever instrument she picks up be it a banjo or a guitar. Smart and very cool.

To the slow emotional "How to open my heart in 4 easy steps". Erin flexing her songwritting muscles again and asking kindly to "Untie these strings, from around my heart" and sadly confessing herself as "undone". That description is appropriate for this and many songs that are so open and overflowing with ideas and emotion. The perfect almost-a-love songs to complete the amazingly eclectic collection of songs.

So cheerful and instantly likable, so diverse that everyone will find something here to there taste. Fans of eclectic musicians like Badly Drawn Boy and the increasingly famous Polyphonic Spree will embrace this album openly. Buy this and then buy her previous albums on re-release soon.

What more can you say?.......2002-04-30

For those of you who feel you've out grown Ani Difranco because you don't like the way she's heading, give this lil gal a try. It's not all political riot grrl angst here. This 5 foot spit fire delivers prose like a emerson on benzedrine. Her Alternate tunings on her guitar change from song to song and give each one a distinctive feel that connects with each word that pours from her mouth. Her Songs move from theme to theme and genre to genre, never lulling in expectation. "Queen of Quiet" breaks it down in an almost contradictory spoken word speech. I've never heard a hop-along country song like "little cowboy" mosey along as if Roy Rogers and Jack kerouac collaborated On The "dusty" Road. Watch this one. She's gonna have more tricks up her sleeve.