| MARIANNE GIRARD �In this town�(My paint music) Very nice folk-pop songs from this Canadian nightingale. It�s been a while since I discovered a cd where every song is so well constructed(musical and literary) as this one. It hasn�t left my cdplayer for weeks. Marianne is backed by a full band. In the first song �Maverick boy� you can hear some great mandolin from Steve Briggs, who also plays acoustic and electric guitar. Marianne plays some unusual instruments like the octophone creating a special effect in songs like �Know you rider�, �War song� and �Fare thee well�. A special song is �If I had wings� where you can hear the French translation of the song in the background from Fran�ois Klanfer. Other musicians are Kirk Elliot on accordion, Dennis Keldie on mellotron and Hammond organ and John Switzer on mandola,dulcimer,djembe and snare. Very recommended to all fans of the better singer-songwriter stuff. www.mariannegirard.com |
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| CHUCK PYLE �Affected by the moon� Laid-back pop songs dotted with folk and country influences. Chuck reminds me a bit of Don Williams and Ian Tyson who have that same easygoing relaxed vocals. Most of the songs are ballads, only in a few tracks Chuck raises the speed, without losing control. Chuck�s songs have been recorded by different artists like John Denver, Jerry Jeff Walker, Tish Hinojosa and others. He�s also a well-crafted guitar-player with his finger picking style. On this cd he gets help from some quality musicians as Daniel Jones on steel and dobro, Pete Wasner on keyboards, Larry Knight on electric guitar, Gordon Burt on fiddle, Doug Hadywood on bass and electric guitar and Christian Teele on drums. Highlights are the Randy Newman-inspired �97 Hillside Road�, If not now�, �Laurie Ann�, �I love you back� and �Think I�ll go to Texas�. Recommended to the fans of Ian Tyson and Don Williams. www.chuckpyle.com |
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| PAUL BRILL �Sisters lp� (Scarlet Shame Records) Alt-country fans who were very fond of Paul�s first cd(�Halve the light�) will be a bit disappointed because this time there�s only two songs with a pedal steel on(�Macon� and �For the sake of Marjorie Ruth). Instead violin and cello have taken up command. Paul has mixed his roots/pop/Americana with new elements as world music,jazz and blues, so in the end it will be very difficult to catalogue this cd. Paul has maintained his well-crafted technique creating very nice choruses and hooks as in �Skylight� and �Something to get along�. Another highlight is the acoustic �Blue Blanket�. The cd ends with a jumpblues track �Two Stars�. Paul gets musical help from Nancy Hess(vocals), Adrian Romero(bass, guitar,drums), Giovanni Fusco(percussion), Liz Claire(violin), Victoria Leavitt(cello), Rick Morse(pedal steel), Rob Burger(accordeon) and others. This is a �growing� cd, you�ll have to give it a few spins before it really gets to you, but it�ll be worth it. www.paulbrill.com |
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| THE HAZLEWOODS, Leavin' You For A Cowboy, Laughing Outlaw Records This Fine Australian (Sydney) country band started in 1999 under the name "The Desperates" and later on "The Starlings" and end up now on "The Hazlewoods". They bring some influences from Nancy Sinatra, Hank Williams, 50's heroine Wanda Jackson mixed up with The King, give us a essence of "The Hazlewoods". "Leavin' you for a cowboy" sounds like the 50's music scene but this five peice band makes a funny album full of parody lyrics on country music today. Highlights on the album are "Trouble" "I really ,really love you", "Big Hair" and "Adios Amigo". (www.laughingoutlaw.com.au) |
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