Signature Songs

Track Listings

1. I Belive

2. Life Is Precious

3. Robe

4. Common Creed

5. Motivation

6. Second String

7. Sticks and Stones

8. Love of Christ

9. Fisher of Men

10. By His Wounds

Tracks:

Bible Song
Mr. Sunshine
One Man
Pour
Lone Star
Stealing Kisses
If You Ask
Monday Afternoon
The Ledge
My Sweetheart
Cowardly Lion
Silver Bus
One Kiss Goodnight

Album Description

This songwriter and mother of four, who lives a stones throw from the town she grew up in, doesn't fit into any stereotype. She's garnered comparisons to Lucinda Williams, Bruce Springsteen, Dashboard Confessional, and Roseanne Cash. Her songs, as solid as Georgia oak, are played and sung with an emotional grit under the nails that comes from digging in life's mundane and less illuminated holes. These songs grab you with Lori's signature strident, soulful, and unapologetic vocals sharing earnest observations and stories of growing up and growing old, of loves and losses, winners and losers, guns and god, and drinkers and dreamers in a town that is resting uncomfortably between its blue collar roots and modern suburbia. Incapable of artifice, Lori McKenna speaks of the bitter and the sweet, but doesn't simply write songs, she documents her life, and in turn ours, in word and melody. Meet Lori McKenna and welcome to Bittertown

Customer Reviews:

Beautiful Lyrics.......2006-11-22

I went out and purchased Lori McKenna's 'Bittertown' last year after hearing songs she wrote on Faith Hill's 'Fireflies'. This is an incredible album, definitely one of the best that I bought in 2005. She has an interesting voice and beautiful lyrics, particularly on "Bible Song", "Stealing Kisses", "The Ledge" and "Cowardly Lion". While Faith Hill (on "Stealing Kisses" and "If You Ask", etc.) and Sara Evans (on "Bible Song") sing McKenna's songs very well on their latest albums, there's no comparison to the original, though Hill does a great job on 'Fireflies'. McKenna's voice is not at all over the top or showy and it fits the songs she sings in a very pure and simple way. I would highly recommend this album, and others by this artist, to anyone.

The Greatest Living American Singer Songwriter.......2006-06-04

And I say this based on hearing a single song ("Pour") from from a Putumayo World Music collection "American Folk". On that basis, I am going to buy the album, and I hope you will too, she truly deserves it. Emotions are conveyed intimately and harrowingly with a warm and very beautifully real voice, with her special twist and modulation. Lyrics are original, raw, and sometimes surprising with an insight that becomes much more apparent when you hear her sing: "In the depths of the deepest sea, there is a blue as blue as me, where a quiet symphony plays for the lonley, I could just let it all go, sink down to the world below, where i dont breathe but I dont know cause I am breathless" (and then follows a wonderful musical follow up which greatly amplifies the feelings). The music is beautiful, very appropriate, and carefully crafted.

Solid, gritty, and a good listen.......2006-03-30

This is my first Lori McKenna album. While a sample of her songs and the comparisons got my attention, I'd say she compares to herself. She's got a stepped up-bluegrass kind of sound and the gritty, solid voice that made many of country's greats who they are. "Bittertown" is hard to classify and even harder to get out of your CD player. Give it a listen, I think you'll agree Lori's someone whose words are worth hearing.

My new favorite CD for studying!.......2006-01-29

I LOVE this CD. I listen to it often while studying - the album flows wonderfully...I find it hard to compare to anyone else, though I am a big fan of Alison Krauss, the Wailin Jennys, and the like, if that tells you anything.

Buy it! You won't be sorry!

An Instant Classic.......2006-01-05

Lori McKenna has a grit to her lyrics and vocals that harken back to the greats of country like Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard. She also has the sort of lyrical imagery, roughshod vocals and sad songs that beg to be compared to Lucinda Williams. She is all this and more.
The album opens strongly with the driving desperation of small town escape that is "Bible Song," which still manages to pause briefly to show us a moment of her offbeat view of the world when she pauses in the middle of describing her a cousins's suicide to ponder "and how does she explain to those kids about the sorry thing Daddy did." "Stealing Kisses" plays like a prequel to John Prines classic "Angel From Montgomery." However, possibly the strongest moment on the cd is the spectrum spanning tales of addiction "If You Ask" and "Monday Afternoon." Lest you think all is gloom and doom however, McKenna proves she can do the lighter end of the register, with the confectiony sweet "Mr. Sunshine." The only weak note is the immature "Lone Star" but it is lyrically spot on and McKenna takes such relish in advising her old classmate "tell the girls in the beer line/that you're an old, good friend of mine" that it ranks, at worst, as a guitly pleasure.
Lori McKenna is one of the best voices to come on the scene in a long time--both as a singer and a writer.

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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Grand
We Will Become Like Birds
Monday Morning Cold
Sing You Sinners
Voices on the Verge: Live in Philadelphia

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
You Mustn't Kick It Around
How To Open My Heart In 4 Easy Steps
Dirt Gardener
Love In 2 Parts

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.

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RICHARD SHINDELL'S "COURIER" - A TRIUMPHANT TROUBADOR
Captures Richard Live!
Check this out "Laid Back" folks!
Shindell's best work to date
Richard WHO?

Courier
Richard Shindell
Manufacturer: Signature Sounds
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Vuelta
Somewhere Near Paterson
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Cry Cry Cry

ASIN: B00005Y1TX
Release Date: 2002-02-12

Tracks:

The Courier
Memory Of You
Next Best Western
Willin
The Kenworth Of My Dreams
Arrowhead
Reunion Hill
Nora
A Summer Wind, A Cotton Dress
On A Sea Of Fleur De Lis
The Ballad Of Mary Magdalen
Are You Happy Now?
Transit
Fourth Of July, Asbury Park

Amazon.com

These live recordings find the seminarian-turned-new-folkie in his element: playing before an attentive, enthusiastic audience in his native New Jersey and New York, spinning mythic stories of fateful battlefields, haunted truckers, and visionary saints and lovers alike. Fronting an easygoing band of expert pickers, Richard Shindell turns in surprisingly solid covers of Little Feat and Bruce Springsteen tunes. Cry, Cry, Cry partner Lucy Kaplansky wraps Shindell's nasal, sinewy delivery in subtle harmonies, pushing the best of these songs, including "Next Best Western" and his finest, most poignant take on relationships, "Are You Happy Now," past previously recorded versions. As an introduction to Shindell's spiritual lyricism and as a live document for longtime fans, Courier is a cache of reflective, gently glowing gems. --Roy Kasten

Customer Reviews:

RICHARD SHINDELL'S "COURIER" - A TRIUMPHANT TROUBADOR.......2007-03-27

Few artists can successfully translate the strength and intimacy of a live performance onto a CD, but Richard Shindell is just the sort of rare singer/songwriter who does just that. His CD, titled "COURIER" was recorded live in New York and New Jersey, and the excitement of those performances is beautifully captured on this album. The CD opens with the title track "COURIER"-a strong foksy work told in the typical Shindell style of first person narrative. With such an impressive work as the number one track, some might worry that the rest of the CD may pale in comparison.On the contrary, it continues to get better and better with each passing song. Not only is Shindell's voice rich and expressive, but his writing is so insightful that one is reminded of other greats like Joni Mitchell and Tracy Chapman. His themes are serious-lost love (as told in "Memory of You" and "Nora",), War (as exhibited in the magnificent "Reunion Hill") and Prejudice ( in the song "Fishing"). Yet, Shindell's keen sense of humor helps to keep the work from being too mired down in the maudlin. For instance, in his crowd-pleasing "Are You Happy Now", he speaks about his lover who abandoned him on, of all days, Halloween. He writes "What was I supposed to do/But to sit there in the dark/ I was amazed to think that you/ took the candy with you too". By laughing through his pain, Shindell's angst becomes more powerful without being overpowering. Richard Shindell is an engaging performer with a rock-solid voice that is nothing short of mesmerizing, yet his greater talent is his writing. He weaves such intricate tales in a few perfectly chosen words...a true poet, as witnessed in such Shindell classics as "The Next Best Western" and "A Summer Wind, A Cotton Dress", that it is little wonder that Richard Shindell's work has become a staple on other's recordings, most notably Joan Baez, whose covers of "Reunion Hill" and "Fishing" truly bring out the genius of the work. On "COURIER", Richard Shindell is blessed with some fine back up musicians and singers, including John Putnam on guitar, Denny McDermott on drums, Lincoln Schleifer on bass, and the ethereal Lucy Kaplansky lending her lilting country folk voice as a perfect foil to Shindell's powerful tones. There are no missteps on this recording...only brilliant writing in the true folk tradition, presented in a straight-on manner that is certain to please.

Captures Richard Live!.......2005-11-28

Most songs are quite brilliant. "Courier," "Transit," "Reunion Hill," and "Ballad of Mary Magdalen," are the best. Even a couple of trucker songs in there done very well, like "Next Best Western." This CD gives one an excellent feel for what a live show is like.

If you get a chance, read his bio on the [...] He has quite an interesting history.
He was going to be a priest, but apparently found songwriting more interesting and more "his calling." He is still a very spiritual man and it shows through in his intelligently crafted music.

Check this out "Laid Back" folks!.......2005-03-29

This is a really clean, tight nit live performance by Mr. Shindell. A couple of the tracks sound somewhat familiar but it's overall variety and tone is really nice. A real asset for a late night run down the interstate. Good stuff I must say!!!

Shindell's best work to date .......2005-01-11

I loved Richard Shindell in the "Cry Cry Cry" project with Lucy Kaplansky and Dar Williams, and the cover of his "Reunion Hill" as done by Joan Baez is as magnificent and stirring as anything you'll hear. But I've found his voice slightly nasal for my tastes, and the recordings (even his solo performances) a bit dry compared with his always stellar songwriting.

Until this.

I listen to this album when I want to feel life deeply. It's a live album without chatter between songs, which really works for me, his voice and songwriting meeting in blissful marriage. The Civil War ballad "Arrowhead" thoughtfully explores the "glamour" of war vs. its reality; the relationship song "Are You Happy Now?" is poignant AND fall-down funny; "The Ballad of Mary Magdalen" has special longing from the male voice as compared with the Cry Cry Cry version. Nice to hear Lucy backing him him up on some of the tracks. And special notice to the spiritual, surrealistic revenge fantasy "Transit," which always gives me chills (in an uplifting way).

Tasteful covers of "Willin'" and "4th of July, Asbury Park (Sandy)" round out this altogether spectacular offering.

Richard WHO?.......2004-12-17

Why are all the great artists of my time so obscure that when you mention them most people don't know who you're talking about? I guess we just have to look at who just got re-elected President to see the lack of judgment of the American public. The all DO know who Jessica Simpson is though.

This is a magnificent CD from beginning to end. Shindell's songs are brilliant, and his vocals are passionate and moving. "The Next Best Western," "Reunion Hill" and "The Ballad of Mary Magdalen" are probably the most intensely PERFECT songs on this CD, but it's difficult to say that anything on this Cd is a "stand-out." Every song is a "stand-out."

Average customer rating:

one listen and you are hooked...
Songwriter's Dream
Wow...This is Great!!
Go Richard Shindell!
A Folk Tour De Force: Shindell's Poetic Magnum Opus

Somewhere Near Paterson
Richard Shindell
Manufacturer: Signature Sounds
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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Vuelta
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Courier
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ASIN: B000040JCT
Release Date: 2000-02-08

Tracks:

Confession
Abuelita
You Stay Here
My Love Will Follow You
Spring
Wisteria
Waiting For The Storm
The Grocer's Broom
Merritt Parkway, 2 AM
Transit
Calling The Moon

Amazon.com

Richard Shindell saw his fervid following expand thanks to Cry Cry Cry, an album of covers he recorded with fellow folk stars Dar Williams and Lucy Kaplansky. But fans are keen to take him straight up, and folk's Velvet Fog has obliged them with Somewhere Near Paterson. His fourth release is in fact a return to form after the uneven Reunion Hill. Still, longtime fans--and those lucky to come upon this singer-songwriter for the first time--should cherish almost everything here. In the jingle-jangle opener, "Confession," a Wall Street type is desperate for pharmaceutical grace. Some will consider this monologue a chip off the Michael Stipe-ish block, yet its compound of irony, sympathy, and slant observation is Shindell's own. Other great tunes include "You Stay Here," narrated by a war-zone Everyman, "Waiting for the Storm," featuring another of the disc's quiet outlaws, and "Spring." Though this cut's Celtic-style coda has its longueurs, few would be without its paradoxical chorus: "Maybe will be certain / You can take it as a vow / Winter's just the curtain / Spring will take the bow." Shindell insists that his dramatis personae exist only in "songland," but his best work makes one beg to differ. And no one does dynamics and drop-D tunings better. --Kerry Fried

Customer Reviews:

one listen and you are hooked... .......2007-06-14

there I was in Cedar Rapids, Iowa the night before my own one-man show was set to take center stage and I was invited to attend a concert being given by the foks of Legion Arts. That was my first introduction to the music of Richard Shindell. I bought this CD that night after the concert. A unique singer-songwriter with lyrics that run deep. Beautiful music, one of the great unknowns of American music with a loyal, dedicated following. Listen and you'll know why. My wife became a fan after I played it for her and it is still one of my most played cd's that I own. Confession, You Stay Here and My Love Will Follow You are my favs.

Songwriter's Dream.......2007-02-26

Richard Shindell explores a variety of personal emotions in his work. Every song is interesting and most will stick with you. I believe "You Stay Here" is one of the best songs ever written. It packs a huge, unspoken story into such simple lyrics.

"Wisteria" ids also a favorite of mine. "The Grocer's Broom" is moving.

Shindell is probably too introspective for some, but if you're in a contemplative mood, you won't go wrong with this one.

Wow...This is Great!!.......2005-11-09

"Confessions" and "My Love Will Follow You" are the strongest tracks. There is also the poignant "You Stay Here," about survival and family, and "Transit." Shindell has a knack for crafting haunting and compelling stories and music. This is a very gifted singer/songwriter. "Lately I've been thinking, something has to give....I left the doors ajar, sitting here in this rocking chair waiting for the storm." Powerful. I cannot believe I'm just discovering his music now. I just received this CD and have been playing it over and over in the car, feeling more enriched after each listening experience. I've ordered his live CD "Courier" which I understand is even better! I look forward to seeing him in concert some day soon too.

The lyrics are very meaningful and not like the tripe we see in commercial music nowadays. The excellent music enhances the lyrics, taking them to another level. There is almost a blunt honesty in his music that shines through very graciously. As one reviewer said, this is "great music to listen to on a summer night in the car with the windows open." Congrats on an excellent recording Mr. Shindell :) Your music is a true treasure.

Go Richard Shindell!.......2005-10-17

I loved this CD! It was almost like sitting at one of his concerts. The songs are poignant, and the music is diversified, some mellow and reflective, some just fun. Richard's music is story-telling at its best!

A Folk Tour De Force: Shindell's Poetic Magnum Opus.......2001-04-12

If anyone questions Richard Shindell's place in folk music, he/she need only listen to this glorious, passionate tour de force and all doubts will vanish. Shindell has created a collection of astounding beauty and heartfelt tenderness. With this cd, he has raised the poetic simplicity of "Blue Divide" to astonishing heights of insightful commentary (Confession, Transit), poetic wistfullness (Wisteria, Thr Grocers Broom), and sumptuous music (Spring, Merritt Parkway). This is some of the fimest folk music ever recorded. His warm vocals and depth of spirit will at once break your heart and make you shout on the rooftops for joy.

Average customer rating:

Songs for anyone who likes acoustic music, hurricane, drought, or otherwise
Trains and Hurricanes!
Why isn't she a star?
One more time
Unforgettable Voice, Beautiful Music

Songs for a Hurricane
Kris Delmhorst
Manufacturer: Signature Sounds Recordingss
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B0000AGWGB
Release Date: 2003-08-12

Tracks:

Waiting Under The Waves
East Of The Mountains
You're No Train
Bobby Lee
Weathervane
Juice+June
Hummingbird
Hurricane
Come Home
Too Late
Wasted Word
Short Work
Mingalay

Amazon.com

A favorite of folk fans in the Boston area, the singer-songwriter makes a striking bid for a broader audience with her third release. The propulsive "East of the Mountains" and "Short Work" benefit from the backbeat of former Morphine drummer Billy Conway (Delmhorst's co-producer), while "Hurricane" builds to a furious climax through the Neil Young-style guitar squall of Kevin Barry. Multi-instrumentalist Delmhorst seasons various tracks with fiddle, cello, and guitars. Though her breathy, brooding vocals can occasionally sound a bit mannered--giving a cloying quality to the overly precious "Hummingbird"--most of the musical settings reinforce the power of her elemental imagery. While the bulk of the material evokes the turbulence of a relationship, the conviction that Delmhorst brings to her music suggests that it would take an awfully strong wind to blow her away. --Don McLeese

Customer Reviews:

Songs for anyone who likes acoustic music, hurricane, drought, or otherwise.......2006-03-26

If you needed proof that the best songwriters out there are not the most famous, Kris is it. Her voice will floor you and her lyrics will pick you back up again. Buy this album, and then go and buy Red Bird, her collaboration with P. Mulvey and J. Foucault. You won't regret it.

Delmhorsts songs are strong, implacable and iconic. In this album she really abandons the personal-confessional style of 90s-era acoustic songwriting -- and fully comes into her own, using the pure voice of metaphor, myth, and image. Delmhorst loves the negative image -- "Baby, you're no train, you're the track" ... "no more weathervane, I'm gonna be the wind / no more turn around" -- and through her gorgeous low voice you can hear the muscle of her language rippling powerfully beneath.

And what a voice! It grows dark, menacing in minor in the likes of "East of the Mountains," "Weathervane" and "Come Home on the Train," and so sweet and gauzelike in "Juice + June" and (especially) "Mingalay" that the hard of heart would grow teary-eyed to hear her.

Simply put, this album is a keeper.

Trains and Hurricanes!.......2005-02-13

I don't buy much North American music, though you'll find Caroline Lavelle, Loreena Mckennitt, Mae Moore, Sarah McLachlan, October Project, Paul Simon, Kristine W, Milla Jovovich, and Over the Rhine in my collection (all of these, by the way, are recommended). Kris Delmhorst was unknown to me until just a few weeks ago. Based on a personal recommendation (thanks a million, Katie!) I bought it, and I have been listening to it almost non-stop since. I adore this album!

To those unfamiliar with this artist, her voice is somewhat reminiscent of McLachlan's, but the songs are moodier, less contrived, and seem more personal than McLachlan's. In that respect, her work has more in common with Mae Moore, but with a more visceral approach.

Several of the songs contain imagery of trains and hurricanes, the reasons for which are mysterious....

Why isn't she a star?.......2004-05-17

I love female singer-songwriters-- I'm a huge fan of Gillian Welch as well as Joni Mitchell, Ani Difranco, the Indigo Girls, Lucinda Williams, Alison Krauss, Norah Jones, etc. I'm always on the lookout for more to add to list, and if you'll let me mix my metaphors, Kris Delmhorst is a diamond in a haystack. Her voice and lyrics are beautiful and I'm really surprised that she isn't better known. Thank goodness I happened upon amazon's free download because I had never heard of this amazing woman. I went right out and bought all of her CDs and every last one is worth it. The songs range from mellow and introspective to rollicking and bluegrassy. If you like Alison Kruass, Norah Jones, Joni Mitchell, or the Indigo Girls I almost guarantee you'll appreciate Kris's albums.

One more time.......2004-03-13

This is one of those rare cds that I can listen to for days at a time and not get tired or annoyed. There is quite the musical mix and yet Kris's voice is constantly blending in perfectly as it floats over the music. This cd has it all: upbeat 'bluegrassy' songs such as "Bobby Lee", "East of The Mountains", "Come Home" and "Short Work". It has slow, jazzy songs "Waiting Under the Waves" and "Juice+June". Then there are the more 'rocky' songs "Wasted Word", "Weathervane". And of course, my personal favorites, the sad, mellow songs that really allow Kris's vocals to shine "Too Late", "You're No Train", and "Mingalay". "Hummingbird" is one of the most beautiful songs I have EVER heard and it is my favorite of this cd. I can get lost in this music and that is a good thing. Kris has a unique and soulful voice that can put me to sleep or get me excited to be alive. I love this cd and highly recommend it to all!!

Unforgettable Voice, Beautiful Music.......2004-01-27

Admittedly, I'm a sucker for great women singers. But on this album Kris Delmhorst shows she has much more than a distinctive voice, bringing a thematically linked set of songs together with some wonderful musicianship by Delmhorst and her band. And yet, it really is Delmhorst's voice that makes this an album to listen to both casually and carefully... repeatedly. But while you listen, you'll also find that this CD shows lots of respect for folk music styles. A sample of the songs and why I can't stop listening:

"East of the Mountains"
This country ballad displays something of Delmhorst's feel for a range of music styles. The voice here has all the rich texture of the gentler songs on the album, but applied to a quick-tempo tale of a woman "sent away" by her family, never to see her lover again, Delmhorst registers both sensual longing and resilient anger.

"Bobby Lee"
Of the many songs on the album that give Delmhorst a chance to really give the warmth of her voice full sway, this along with "Mingalay" may be the best. And while the star here is the wonderful tone of voice that gives the song's simple melody its full emotional range, the more I listen, the more I find myself thinking about its subject... the difficulty of "rolling the stone away" in a maybe-permanently broken relationship.

This song is a great example of just how resourceful a musician Delmhorst is, neither just a singer nor just a songwriter. You sense here that the album has a non-ostentatious feel for making use of its range of resources, much like you do when you listen to Merrie Amsterberg's "Little Steps" or Lucinda Williams' "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road" (as different as those artists are from Delmhorst).

"Juice and June"
At her most sultry here, Delmhorst and her band take it slow to get across the beauty of dancing toward passion, under the influence of "juice and June." The lovely risks of letting yourself fall too soon, which are slyly linked here to the pleasures of indulging in the music itself, give the song that wonderful quality of being a song about falling that lures its listener into falling for the song's own "juice and June."

"Hurricane"
I just have to begin by saying that this one sends chills down my spine. Again, and again. Why? Well, the song is about loving (someone's) storminess. It's an appealing tune, makes you want to sing it. And while the lyrics aren't unnecessarily tangled up with poetry... the texture of Delmhorst's voice gets a hold of the passion without histrionics... that is, through singing in the purest sense, not a display of singing. She handles the song the way a great actor does a great monologue, letting the material fully register in herself and show her the way to give it voice. And so she let's the song unfold toward its stormy closing instrumental burst in a way that feels organic.

"Come Home"
A song that could show up on a Gillian Welch album, here played simply with background rain effects, and sung with that remarkable voice. Listen to it on headphones to hear how Delmhorst keeps it simple and yet there's nothing simple in a voice working with a song's genre to capture its expressive range while staying true to its style.

"Wasted Word"
A sweet tune, about making the "wasted" past right in the lovely present. Pain has never looked so sweet, sincerely so, but you can't sing this song and make it believable unless you have a voice that can capture pain and beauty at once.

"Short Work"
A sort of country shuffle on betrayal and paying it back. Again, Delmhorst knows how to work within the song's shape to texture it musically but not interfere with the expressive potentials that it has as written.

"Mingalay"
An album that circles its hurricane theme throughout would not be complete without a traditional sailor's ballad... given a thoughtful update here through Delmhorst's final verse that complements the song's traditional look homeward from the sea with a look out to sea from those waiting on land. Played here with a bluesy sultriness, the song allows Delmhorst to handle the melody with a characteristic mix of aching tenderness and passion.

And again, you'll be torn between singing along and listening in rapt silence. To me, a singer who can cultivate precisely this conflict in the listener must be doing something right.

If you want to get a sense of just how remarkable the songwriting is here, do this: make a short playlist for yourself of
"East of the Mountains"
"Bobby Lee"
"Juice and June"
"Hurricane"
"Wasted Word"
"Mingalay"
and give this short set a listen. I defy you to find me a more beautiful set of songs on any recent recording, though each is different in style. But don't keep listening to this short set, go back to the full CD and listen to it all.

This is very, very good songwriting, musicianship, and, not least of all, singing. Spread the word, because this is an artist who deserves an appreciative audience.

Average customer rating:

Grammer Continues to Carry Carter's Torch

Better with each listen

My new favorite CD, truly beautiful and touching

Flower of Avalon Review

My first exposure to Grammer (and Carter)

Flower of Avalon
Tracy Grammer
Manufacturer: Signature Sounds
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music
Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B0007W7HPW
Release Date: 2005-04-26

Tracks:

Shadows Of Evangeline
Gypsy Rose
Laughlin Boy
Hard To Make It
Hey Ho
Mother, I Climbed
Preston Miller
Winter When He Goes
Phantom Doll
Any Way I Do

Album Description

Tracy Grammer and her late partner Dave Carter were one of the most celebrated young acts in folk music. In just four years they released three critically-acclaimed albums, toured with Joan Baez and earned a solid following with their indelible live performances at festivals and venues all across North America. Despite Carter's sudden death in July 2002, Grammer's career as an interpreter and instrumentalist continues. "With the release of Flower Of Avalon, Tracy Grammer begins a new story while continuing to champion the songs of her former partner. While the album features 9 brilliant previously unheard Dave Carter songs, the spotlight is clearly on the gorgeous vocals and instrumental prowess of Tracy Grammer.

Customer Reviews:

Grammer Continues to Carry Carter's Torch.......2007-05-05

Grammer continues to carry Carter's torch. She is his voice from beyond. This is a wonderful compilation of music that provides listers with an excellent example of Carter's songwriting ability. In "Flower of Avalon" Grammer takes Carter's lyrics to a bitter sweet culmination, creating for Carter a crowning achievement. Grammer's voice is passionate, powerful, and precise.

Better with each listen.......2007-02-02

I wasn't in love with this album from the first listen but now it is one of my favorites! Of course with anything Dave Carter writes, it takes a while to get to know the song and unravel its meaning :) Outstanding CD!!!

My new favorite CD, truly beautiful and touching.......2006-11-30

Tracy is coming to my town shortly, and a friend at work lent me her copy of this CD to hear what Tracy does. I'm buying my own copy at the show. I listened all the way through, started out to return the CD, but instead went back to my desk and listened again, every note of it, drinking it in and losing track of what I was working on. I think the last time I did that was in 1968 with Disreali Gears. It is only through the other reviews that I know who Dave Carter was, and his loss is such a shame, such beautiful writing.
Tracy Grammer does these marvelous songs more than justice. Her renditions are a fitting tribute to Carter's lyrics. In her voice I hear notes of Mary Black, a hint of Nanci Griffith, and overtones of Allison Kraus, while maintaining a voice of her own. Should be telling; Tracy holds her own in the harmonies with Mary Chapin Carpenter on this CD. I am usually a rock & blues listener but with an affinity for acoustic music like Chris Smither or Union Station, and this CD has simply touched me from first note to last like few others have. I completely love it.

Flower of Avalon Review.......2006-11-10

I bought this CD about 4 months ago and the more I listen, the more I like it. Tracy Grammer is an exceptional soprano and her backup musicians are extremely talented. The songs she performs (David Carter's music) are refreshing, interesting, and capture the imagination. If you like sopranos and like music in the folk style, you'll like this.

My first exposure to Grammer (and Carter).......2006-08-11

Though "Laughlin Boy" is theoretically the "single" on this album, my ears first poked up listening to our local PBS station play "Hey Ho". What a great indication that protest music was and is still alive and well in the USA. There's not a bad song on this album, though I have to admit that "Winter When He Goes" isn't one of my favorites. I would have liked to hear Carter working with her on "Hard to Make it"...seems as if it would have added to the "punch" of the song if the last line was sung by a male. My favorite, however, has to be "Mother I Climbed". OK, it's a downer, but it's beautiful, and the sentiments are perfect. I also love "Preston Miller" (reminiscent, in some ways, of "Cateye Willie" on an earlier album), and "Phantom Doll".
Carter's mastery of the language is evident on this album. He had a touch with alliteration that is deft, without being obvious.
After hearing this album, I immediately bought the three that they made together...and I'm anxiously awaiting her next.

Average customer rating:

Don Francisco's Signature Songs

Manufacturer: Provident Music Distribution
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music
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He's Alive

ASIN: B00069C512

Product Description

Playlist: 1. He's Alive 2. I Could Never Promise You 3. Holiness 4. Give Your Heart A Home 5. Got To Tell Somebody 6. Adam-Where Are You? 7. I'll Never Let Go Of Your Hand 8. Holy Roll 9. Walking Wounded 10. The Traveler/ Joy

Average customer rating:

Simple But Beautiful Music
pure and clear
Add this to THE LIST!
Inventing Keroucana
An immense young talent...

Stripping Cane
Jeffrey Foucault
Manufacturer: Signature Sounds Recordings
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Traditional Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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Five Stories

ASIN: B0002IQGOO
Release Date: 2004-08-10

Tracks:

Cross Of Flowers
Mayfly
Doubletree
Stripping Cane
The Bluest Blade
Pearl Handled Pistol
Northbound
4&20 Blues
Don't Look For Me
Tropic Of Cancer
Lodi
Every New Leaf Over

Customer Reviews:

Simple But Beautiful Music.......2006-03-18

I heard about Jeffrey Foucault from his fellow musician/friend, Danny Schmidt (another great musician, who I would highly recommend). I listened to samples on Jeff's website and was immediately impressed. As one reviewer noted, most music these days is shallow and overproduced. A lot of the songs use slide/lap steel guitar, but it's tastefully used. Jeff's music is best listened to when you don't have a lot of distractions. His music will seep into your very soul. He shows great depth and maturity for a person in his 20's. One person that influenced him is Townes Van Zant, who I'm not familar with, yet. I just learned that he has a new CD that is due to be released at the end of the month (to be in record stores by March 23). You can pre-order it at his website.

pure and clear.......2006-02-11

This is a CD not to miss. I apprecition anyone who has the talent to sit down, pick and strum, and have a voice as fine as the instument he masters. Jeffrey Cane is definatly one of those fellas!! Here in the Last Frontier we are blessed to have some of the finest talents come to entertain us accoustically. I am so excited that this man has accepted our invitation and I cannot wait to witness this talented newcomer in a small and intimate venue. This CD will take honor in my autographed collections!

Add this to THE LIST!.......2004-12-29

This is a great discovery for me. The voice and the guitar remind me of Kellie Jo Phelps and a little like Lyle Lovett. There is a lot of spirit on this record and it gives me goosebumps. Listen to it and see how you feel.

Inventing Keroucana.......2004-08-18

Given that Foucault's 2002 debut, Miles From the Lightning is as good a singer/songwriter debut CD as you will find anywhere, expectations for the follow-up have been high. Stripping Cane does not disappoint - this an excellent second CD and a recording that takes JF into a genre all of his own.

Combining the best of folk, roots and alt-country/americana, Foucault has utilised both his musical and literary skills to create a new genre all of his own - Kerouacana. Combining his love of Townes Van Vandt and literary interests (how many recording artists web-sites feature a link to the Kenneth Rexroth Archive?) Stripping Cane is a musical tour de force in the spirit of the Beat Generation. Featuring soon-to-be-classics "Bluest Blade", "Northbound 35" and title track "Stripping Cane" , Foucault's lyricism lifts him into a league well above the average journeyman strummer.

Benefitting from David "Goody" Goodrich's production and contributions from Redbird friends Kris Delmhorst and Peter Mulvey, the CD is pretty much filler free (if you ignore "4 and 20 blues"). Highly recommended.

An immense young talent..........2004-08-17

literate, soulful, haunting and simply beautiful. Jeffrey Foucault is a singularly unique artist. A stunning combination of honesty, intelligence and pure soul. The songs, whether blues, country or folk-influenced, all exemplify Mr. Foucault's aforementioned ample skills. In our commercial age where much of the music we endure today is superficial, transparent over-produced trash this CD as well as his debut, Miles from the Lightning, are pure joys. Do yourself a favor and buy this CD as soon as you can...

Average customer rating:

Appealing to many ages - thoughtful and fun
In a world of increasingly marginal and crappy music...
The Original Desperate Housewife
she got back up again
Rolling Stone Magazine Review

Little Fugitive
Amy Rigby
Manufacturer: Signature Sounds
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Alt-Country & Americana | Country | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000A0GOYQ
Release Date: 2005-08-23

Tracks:

Like Rasputin
The Trouble With Jeanie
Dancing With Joey Ramone
That's The Time
So You Know Now
Needy Men
It's Not Safe
I Don't Wanna Talk About Love No More
Year Of The Fling
Girls Got It Bad
Always With Me
The Things You Leave Behind

Amazon.com

You can say one thing about Amy Rigby: Whether cowering in the dreads of despair or rejoicing in newly sprung reverie, she's the same clever, cynical and exceedingly straightforward songwriter we have come to appreciate since her 1996 solo debut, Diary of a Mod Housewife. On record number five, the 40-something New Yorker once again turns life's observations, both humdrum and vital, into tightly wound, three-minute pop diaries. In "Like Rasputin," Rigby staggers to her feet from the evil man just in time to grapple with "The Trouble With Jeanie," her new husband's peach of an ex-wife. As usual, she finds levity in any situation, and this time she fanaticizes about "Dancing With Joey Ramone," calls out the absurdities of "Needy Men" and explains how the woman in "The Year of the Fling" was "running fast from the past (and) hell bent on having a blast." Like any great author, Rigby is content enough in her craft to expose the imperfections as comfortably as the triumphs. And as with any great songwriter, she always manages to pull it off. --Scott Holter

Album Description

Renowned songwriter Amy Rigby's fifth album finds the singer, who began her solo career as the Mod Housewife, bringing it all back home. Hailed for her keen eye and sharp wit in tracing the vagaries and victories of modern romance, her new release finds Rigby promising "I Don't Want To Talk About Love No More." But, of course, she does - getting to the heart of the matter and the punch line in due course.

Customer Reviews:

Appealing to many ages - thoughtful and fun.......2006-02-23

This CD is a thoughtful reflection on the peculiarities of life and love. The lyrics are witty and easy to relate to, and the melodies are fun. Amy Rigby is my nine year old daughter's new favorite performer - Rigby sings about topics at the center of all of our lives.

In a world of increasingly marginal and crappy music..........2005-11-30

...Amy Rigby just keeps getting better. I thought she had really hit one out of the park, topping her usual already high standards, with "Till the Wheels Fall Off", but this one is, amazingly, even better...You'll laugh, you'll cry. Nobody does this kind of tragicomic poignancy better, with the exception of Loudon Wainwright III.

Also, if you get the chance to see her live, don't pass it up. She puts on an incredibly rockin', generous and rambling show...

And, if all the above isn't enough to sell you, remember: the woman danced with Joey Ramone!

The Original Desperate Housewife.......2005-11-15

Her best writ since marriage, despair and growing up made her debut a masterpiece a decade ago, and her coolest vocal as well, diary number 5 tackles ex-husbands, ex-wives of new husbands, needy men, dreams of Joey Ramone, all while feeling an infinity with Rasputin. If only Oprah understood the complexities of real womanhood. A songwriter nonpareil, with only Lucinda as a peer. Sheryl Crow could learn a few [dozen] lessons. Why isn't this woman a star with 8 Grammy's and 10 million in the bank? Oh, yeah...the better for her lovers, like me. My grade: A

she got back up again.......2005-09-08

I didn't think she could top her last album but she did. INCREDIBLE. "Rasputin" is the kind of song Lou Reed should be writing. And it gets better and better from there...one killer track after another. This is her most powerful album yet. Every song is right in your face. It's fun, yet serious. Hooks galore. Great production. Super-tight band. Complete success.

Rolling Stone Magazine Review.......2005-09-01

For nearly a decade, this divorced, middle aged New York mom has been turning out pop-wise confessionals with the consistancy and charm of a Nashville Pro - most notably on her 1996 debut "Dairy Of A Mod Housewife". On her fifth album she makes pretty, witty out of brutal honesty and some apparently deserved bitterness. Wether comparing herself to Rasputin or dreaming of quality time with Joey Ramone, her biting humor and often bouyant melodies ensure that "Little Fugitive" never gets mopey or precious.

Billboard Magazine Review

On the first track of singer/songwriter Amy Rigby's fifth album, the one-time "mod housewife" wittily compares herself to czarist Russia's most infamous and rakish character. Odd entrance? Seemingly so, but the sly humor and infectious melody of "Like Rasputin" demands repeat spins. The rest of the 12-song package is equally rewarding, whether Rigby is questioning why her new husband's ex-wife has become a friend ("The Trouble With Jeanie"), dreaming of punk dancing with Joey Ramone or brilliantly tapping into the psychedelic sonics of "Revolver"-era Beatles ("So You Know Now"). Rigby's raw-rockin' delivery and fed-up-with-cheap-crap themes are most prominent, yet she also plays it jaunty on "Needy Men," Roche-like folky with the harmony-rich "Girls Got It Bad" and nostalgic on "Always With Me." Recorded in two days in New York with guitarist Jon Graboff as co-producer, "Little Fugitive" is one of the best pop/rock albums of the year. -Dan Ouellette

Average customer rating:

Signature Songs
Michael Card
Manufacturer: Greentree
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

Christian Contemporary Music | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music

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Brother to Brother

ASIN: B0002BARHI
Release Date: 1999-01-01

Tracks:

Love Crucified Arose
I Have Decided
El Shaddai
Now That I've Held Him In My Arms
This Must Be The Lamb
Jesus Loves Me (This I Know)
The Voice Of The Child
Light Of The World
Don't You Know
Abba Father

Product Description

This cd contains 10 tracks. A few tracks are I Have Decided, El Shaddai, The Voice of a Child, and Abba Father.

Music Review:

Music Review

Music Review

1. I Belive
2. Life Is Precious
3. Robe
4. Common Creed
5. Motivation
6. Second String
7. Sticks and Stones
8. Love of Christ
9. Fisher of Men
10. By His Wounds