Transitions, New Places and Garden Songs

Hello!

I haven’t seen you around here in a while.  In truth, there hasn’t been much going on of late.  Have a seat.  The table’s a bit dusty, but we’re cleaning up.

I started this blog seven years ago almost on a lark.  I was deeply involved in music from a young age, as a singer and performer; and as a fan.  This blog at first was a means to expand my exposure to music while giving back to the musicians who made it.  It became something of a mission and a joy; and then a burden.  At one time I was publishing up to three reviews in a day, and spending literally all of my free time doing so.  I built Wildy’s World up to the point where 500 visitors were passing through each day.  I was proud of that, but there was a price.  After a while it became something I had to do rather than something I wanted to do.  Then it became something I resented but still loved to do.

The culmination of all of this came in the last year.  In October I lost my mom after a brief illness.  It was a difficult process that involved making the sort of decisions that no one ever wants to have to make.  It threw me for a loop, and the desire to write about, or even listen to new music, came to a shattering halt.  That wasn’t the only effect, of course, but it’s the one that’s most relevant to this space.

So for a time, music became a burden.  I continued to communicate with musicians and accept submissions, all with the best of intentions.  But when it came time to write, I just couldn’t do it.  It wasn’t fun; the words just wouldn’t come.

Today I turn the page, and as I do the view changes.  I will continue to write my thoughts about music, but the formulaic reviews are mostly a thing of the past.  This space will truly be Wildy’s World from now.  In it I will talk about the world; whatever’s on my mind, really.  That will include music, including great new music from Indie artists.  I will continue to take submissions and spread the word about things that interest me.  I don’t promise to be here every single day, but if you’re interested, this is a place you can come regularly and find something new. 

Today is the first day of my 45^th year.  I suspect it will be an adventure.  Please feel free to join me.

In celebrating transition and change, I’d like to tell you a bit about Ron Hawkins.  As regular readers here will know I think Hawkins is the proverbial bee’s knees.  He’s somewhere between the Canadian version of Bob Dylan and Tom Waits.  His lyrical talent is prodigiously sublime; sometimes deep and occasionally profane but always entertaining.  Hawkins began his career as the co-lead of rockers Lowest of the Low.  It was a good start, as the band was inducted into the Canadian Indie Rock hall of fame.  The band has broken up or gone on hiatus several times, and Hawkins has always managed to remake himself, whether as a solo artist or with bands such as The Leisure Demons and The Rusty Nails, Hawkins has left an indelible mark on the Canadian Indie Music scene.

The most recent iteration of Hawkins’ muse comes in the form of The Do Good Assassins, a quintet consisting of Hawkins (vocals/guitar); Jesse Capon (drums); Alex McMaster (cello/keys/trumpet); Derrick Brady (bass); and Steve Singh (guitar).  Their latest effort is entitled Garden Songs, a collection of ten of Hawkins more thoughtful songs written over the years.  The album was recorded over the course of one week, and highlights Hawkins’ brilliance as a songwriter and lyricist.  It also shows off The Do Good Assassins’ ability to bring those songs to life.  Longtime fans of Hawkins will be familiar with tracks such as “Peace And Quiet”, “Small Victories”, “D.F.W.” , “Propellers” and “Rome”.  There are also some hidden gems here.  “Kingdom Of The Sun” is memorable, and “Saskia Begins”, an ode to a newborn child, is among Hawkins’ best songwriting. The recasting of “D.F.W.” and “Small Victories” particular stand out here, and listeners newly introduced to Hawkins will be stunned by what they hear.  Garden Songs is a must have album.  I’ll give it 5 stars, without reservation.

Learn more about Ron Hawkins at www.ronhawkins.com.  You can pick up the album from Ron’s online store at www.victimlesscapitalism.com.  Please be patient, because the initial demand for the album caused the first run to sell out.  They’ll have more soon! To hold you over, and pique your interest, check out this live performance of "Peace and Quiet", the lead single from Garden Songs.

Our discussion of The Do Good Assassins fit in with the reintroduction of the blog today. They also kick off a week (or so) of discussion of bands related to my adopted hometown of Buffalo, NY.  While The Do Good Assassins call Toronto home, the band (as well Hawkins over the years) have spent a lot of time haunting the clubs and stages of Buffalo over the years.  As a result they get honorary status.  In the coming days we'll also be talking about Buffalo native Jeneen Terrana, and current Buffalo bands Dirty Smile, Grace Stumberg and Bryan Johnson And Family.  After that we'll move on to new or recent releases by Rachael Sage, Seth Glier, Laura Joy and others.

Until next time.

Rachael Sage - New Destination [EP]

Rachael Sage – New Destination
2014, MPress Records

Rachael Sage is a four-time Independent Music Award winning singer, songwriter, actor and sometime Comedienne.  With 11 full-length albums under her belt and numerous collaborations, it is hard to imagine Sage finding something new to accomplish.  Nevertheless, her latest release, an EP entitled New Destination, is a first for Sage.  Recorded primarily in her home studio, the songwriting on New Destination brings the intimate feel of a Rachael Sage show into the studio.  It also features some of her best songwriting to date.

Sage opens with the title track, with a bit more of an aggressive sound than you might be used to from her.  The bed of the song is still built with piano, cello, guitar and drums, but the verses have a workmanlike feel.  The chorus rises out of that atmosphere with an uplifting and hopeful melody and message.  This might be the most commercially friendly song Sage has produced in a while, and could be a breakout hit for pop radio in spite of the largely acoustic palette.  You’ll be hitting replay on this tune over and over, and you won’t be able to get it out of your head.  “Wax” is a thoroughly unsettled pop experience full of anguished beauty.  The rolling piano and metronomic rhythm section set the tone, as Sage’s soul searching creates a visceral ‘a-ha’ moment. 

“Misery’s Grace” is a cleverly disguised waltz with a gorgeous instrumental bed.  Sage holds the center with a personal and personable performance that’s straight from the heart.  It’s also one of the most striking vocal performances heard from her to date.  “Not Leaving You” is among Sage’s most affecting and personal songs, a strong statement about an artist who makes a point of coming straight from the heart.  There’s a distinctive polish to this tune, and yet there’s an elemental feel to the songwriting that manages to not get lost in the studio.  This is a brilliant love ballad that’s fit for a movie soundtrack, or perhaps even a Billboard bullet.

Brilliant is a word that gets thoroughly overused in reviews of this sort.  But it’s a word that’s entirely apropos in this case.  Rachael Sage combines brilliant, compact and heartfelt songwriting, professional polish and an elemental feel throughout the four songs on New Destination.  This is some of her finest work to date, and reflects, perhaps, a new stage in her career.  Given the recent attention her music has received on-line, Rachael Sage is on the cusp of the sort of breakout that Indie musicians everywhere dream of.  Whatever tomorrow brings, New Destination is a place where you’ll want to me.  It’s a Wildy’s World Certified Desert Island Disc.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more at www.rachaelsage.com. 

Geneva NY Relay For Life - Free Concert Event July 28-29, 2012

Hey New York!  This July 28th and 29th there is an amazing musical event coming your way!  Geneva, NY will be hosting it's own Relay for Life event on those days, and Wildy's World, in conjunction with the American Cancer Society is presenting a free concert event in conjunction with the Relay that is not to be believed!  Check out the lineup!

Saturday July 28th, 2012
4:00 PM   - Bryan Johnson and Family

5:00 PM   - Atomic Solace

5:30 PM   - Christie Lenee

7:00 PM   - The Devyl Nellys

8:00 PM   - Jessie Kilguss & Radio Gold

9:00 PM   - Jennings

10:00 PM - HEADLINER - Rachael Sage

11:00 PM - Jeneen Terrana

Sunday July 29th, 2012
12:00 AM - All Star Jam

The jam will include several of the artists listed above, as well as one or two special guests.

All sets on Saturday are free and open to the public.  Individuals who want to stay on the grounds after midnight must be registered for the Relay for Life.  Special registration bracelets will be available on site for those who have not pre-registered.

All of the artists above are generously donating their time and talents to this year's Relay for Life.  As such, there is no charge, but donations to the American Cancer Society will be gladly accepted.  Additionally, attendees will be able to purchase tickets to vote for their favorite artist of the night.  The artist with most votes will receive a special award!

For more information on the Geneva Relay for Life, please check out the event website!  If you have specific questions about the musical acts, or would like to come and participate in the jam, please contact me at wildysworld@gmail.com, or via http://www.facebook.com/wildysworld. 

All press inquiries can be sent to Laurena Marrone of Grit PR, who has graciously donated her services to promoting the event!

And of course, if you'd like to donate to the Relay For Life as a sponsor for my team, the Cave Crashers, you can click on Wildy's personal page an select the 'donate on my behalf' button.  Any amount great or small helps us build toward a world with more birthdays!

Rachael Sage - Haunted By You

Rachael Sage – Haunted By You
2012, MPress Records

Singer, songwriter, producer and music entrepreneur Rachael Sage releases her 10^th album on May 8, 2012.  Haunted By You tracks a topsy-turvy period of falling in and out of love, breaking hearts and having her own broken.  The result is the three-time Independent Music Award winner’s most raw and emotive work to date.  Haunted By You finds Sage at her most elemental, stripping arrangements down to their bare bones, while baring her heart for all the world to see, while she ruminates on love lost and found, and the never ending cycle of renewal that begets it all.

Opening with “Invisible Light”, Sage lays it all on the line in a gorgeous love song full of amazing energy.  There’s a quirky feel to this number – not mischief but something not too far removed, and Sage’s superior melodic sensibility is not left behind.  Sage brings a 1970’s singer/songwriter flair on “Abby Would You Wait”.  This is a prospective love song, and Sage fills it with a solid, if subtle groove.  “California” is a lamentation, of sorts, of effort put into a relationship that now seems to be falling apart.    Sage is up close and personal here, in a heart-to-heart soliloquy that’s an intriguing mix of raw emotion and intellect.

“Performance Art” is a lush self-reflection on creation, performance and the drawbacks of being a public persona.  The parallel and competitive ambivalence between this career choice and romantic attachments is a sub-theme here, and Sage dresses up the whole thing in a gorgeous, string-laden arrangement that flows like honey-laden water.  “Everything” is a song of redemption, with love as the redeemer.  From a purely aesthetic perspective, this is one of the most compelling songs Sage has written in her storied career. Sage shows her edgier side on “Ready”, and it’s hard not to make a comparison to Tori Amos’ early work on this song, but it’s just sage showing one of her many creative layers.  “

Haunted By You” pushes aside the curtain of unrequited love in a personal missive that is compelling and impossible to ignore.  Sage’s powerful lyrics and musical presence will turn heads here.  “Birthday” finds Sage exploring good intentions and human faults, perhaps in the wake of a relationship.  Well-written and very real, this number brings laying it all on the line to a new level. “Hey Nah” is a celebratory love song pull of jaunty piano, funky bass and smooth horns.  It is destined to be a fan favorite and has the right feel to be a summertime hit.  “Confession” is a mea culpa full of romantic regret, with Sage bearing her heart completely.  “Soulstice” explores long distance love, using a stripped-down song structure with a lush heart.   Sage comes full circle to close Haunted By You, closing with a reprise of “Invisible Light”.

Rachael Sage herself comes full circle on Haunted By You, returning to the highly personal songwriting style that has driven her songwriting over the years.  Sage’s powers of perception and analysis are turned inward here, as she explores the landscape of romantic creation and destruction.  Musically, Sage is at the top of her game, creating everything from minimalist piano accompaniment to fully orchestrated arrangements, as befits her musical mood.  Haunted By You is a Wildy’s World Certified Desert Island Disc.  You’re certain to find it a mutual attraction.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Rachael Sage at www.rachaelsage.com.  Haunted By You drops on May 8, 2012.  You can pre-order the album through the e-tailers below, or from the Wildy’s World Amazon.com store.

    Amazon CD           Amazon MP3




Please note that the Amazon.com prices listed above are as of the posting date, and may have changed. Wildy's World is not responsible for price changes instituted by Amazon.com.

New Arrivals Vol. 4 - Artists Against Youth Homelessness

New Arrivals Vol. 4 - Artists Against Youth Homelessness
2011, MPress Records

Singer/songwriter Rachael Sage launched MPress Records a decade ago as a platform for her own albums, but also as a means to help Indie artists get their music heard.  In 2006, Sage launched the New Arrivals charity compilation series.  Each volume benefits a different charity while featuring both established and Indie artists.  New Arrivals Vol. 4 - Artists Against Youth Homelessness, available June 7, 2011, features established artists Rachael Sage, Lucy Woodward and Michelle Malone, as well as coming stars Seth Glier, Caleb Hawley (American Idol), Lindsay Mac and Greta Gertler & The Extroverts.  Proceeds from the album will benefit The National Network For Youth.

The album opens with American Idol 10 semifinalist Caleb Hawley.  His "Other Side Of It All" is a song of hope for a harmonious world.  It's a solid effort, catchy-yet-mellow, even if Hawley sufficiently glosses over the history he references to lose meaning.  Seth Glier is next with "Lauralee", from his album The Next Right Thing.  It's an amazing piece of songwriting from a guy you're likely to hear a lot from over the next decade or two.  Michelle Citrin impresses with a jaunty, live acoustic version of "Coffee".  Her voice is exceedingly pleasant to the ear, and you may find yourself seeking out what else she has done.  Light In August is up next with the dreamy acoustic pop style of "Northern Lights".  If you're familiar with the solo work of Barenaked Ladies keyboardist Kevin Hearn then you'll have an idea of where Light In August are headed here. 

Lindsay Mac's "Stop Thinking" is brilliant folk/pop blending sensuality and pathos, drawn from her album of the same name (See review here).  The Paper Raincoat's Amber Rubarth shows off an impressive voice on the atypical pop sounds of "Sympathetic Vibrations", but Rachel Davis might just steal the show.  Davis doesn't appear to have a powerful voice, but with a soulful and deeply nuanced tone, Davis will make a believer out of you on "Mark Of Cain".  Micah Dalton offers up a solid performance on "We Came Alive Tonight", and Avi Wisnia will grab your attention with his songwriting and unusual phrasing on "New Year".  Josh Schicker's "The Other Side" isn't overly memorable as a song, but his voice will make you forget about the song.

Michelle Malone grabs you by the shirt and shakes for all she's worth on "Miss Miss'ippi", raising the roof and dropping it on unsuspecting listeners in her signature style.  After a bit of a lull, including a less-than-inspiring entry from GRAMMY nominee Dave Eggar, Greta Gertler & The Extroverts  drops "Veselka" out of a clear blue sky.  This wonderfully quirky bit of cabaret-pop memorializes a Ukrainian soul food restaurant on the Lowest East Side of New York City with character, humor and a distinctive sense of melody.  Listeners will be reaching for their handhelds and signing on to Gertler's website before the song is over.  The album wraps with two Indie icons.  Rachael Sage contributes "Big Star", from her album Delancey Street.  It's an entertaining mix of reality and advice for all who would walk the path she's followed in the music business.  As a special bonus, listeners are treated to Lucy Woodward's frenetic performance of "He Got Away".  Done in a call and response style with her band, this song will remind you (or educate you, as the case may be) of just how wonderful Woodward's voice really is.

As with any various artists’ collection, different tracks will appear to different listeners for different reasons.  But of the Indie collections released in the last few years, New Arrivals Vol. 4 - Artists Against Youth Homelessness has to be rated among the best for both songs and selection of artists.  So if you're looking for an opportunity to learn about some wonderful up-and-coming Indie artists and support a good cause in the process, New Arrivals Vol. 4 - Artists Against Youth Homelessness comes highly recommended.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about the New Arrivals Series at www.newarrivalscd.com.  For more information about The National Network For Youth, head over to www.nn4youth.org.  New Arrivals Vol. 4 - Artists Against Youth Homelessness drops on June 7, 2011.  Keep checking your favorite retailer for availability.

The Wildy's World Top 60 Albums/EPs of 2010

We're back!  I hope you all had a great Christmas, Hannukah, Winter Solstice of whatever else you may celebrate.  And of course, Happy Kwanzaa!  It's time for the Wildy's World Top-60 albums or EPs of 2010.  This list is compiled from albums reviewed on Wildy's World during 2010 and may occasionally include an album from late 2009 as well. This is a proprietary list, meaning it's generated entirely by me.  You may disagree with some of the choices or the placement, and I invite respectful discussions of opinions in response to the postings.  Anything rude or unintelligent will be zapped ASAP. 

Today we have numbers 60-41.  Click on the album name to link back to the original Wildy's World review.  Original reviews include artwork and links to artist sites and purchase points.  Without further adieu...

60. Anna Kaelin – Anna Kaelin

59. Hugh Morrison – Robert Burns Rocks

58. Colin Gilmore – Goodnight Lane

57. Sufjan Stevens – All Delighted People

56. Rooney – Eureka

55. Joy Ike – Rumors

54. Anna Coogan – The Nocturnal Among Us

53. Jon Troast – Living Room

52. Dropkick Murphys – Live On Lansdowne, Boston MA

51. Waking Ugly – Waking Ugly

50. Jason D. Williams – Killer Instinct

49. Billion Dollar Babies - Die For Diamonds

48. James Hurley – Tempest In A Teacup

47. Corinne Bailey Rae – The Sea

46. Original Cast Recording – Ordinary Days

45. Maidens IV – Celtic Fire

44. Rachael Sage – Delancey St.

43. Never Shout Never – Harmony

42. Gangsta Grass – Lightning On The Strings, Thunder On The Mic

41. Chip Taylor & Carrie Rodriguez – The New Bye & Bye

We'll be back tomorrow with numbers 40-31.  See you then!

Bess Rogers - Bess Rogers Presents: Bess Rogers

Bess Rogers - Bess Rogers Presents: Bess Rogers
2010, Hubbub!

A few years back Ingrid Michaelson saw years of hard work turn into overnight success because of social media. Somewhere along that path Michaelson had need for a lead guitarist. Through friends she found out about Brooklyn guitarist Bess Rogers. Rogers has been on the road with Michaelson ever since. You might call this series of events serendipity. Rogers loves all styles of music, playing almost everything under the sun. Aside from a solo career and playing lead for Michaelson she is also currently the front woman of The Flux Capacitors and plays guitar and keyboards for the electro-prog outfit The Age Of Rockets. Rogers is well known in Indie circles for her instrumental work, her songwriting and her voice, but name recognition has largely eluded her outside of distinct musical circles. That all changes on September 21, 2010, when Rogers releases Bess Rogers Presents: Bess Rogers. While just a 5-song EP, Bess Rogers Presents: Bess Rogers is the sort of musical calling card that moves an artist up the ladder of notoriety by leaps and bounds. Accordingly, Bess Rogers is the Wildy's World Artist of the Month for September, 2010.

Bess Rogers runs in a circle of musicians who trade musical styles like kids used to trade baseball cards. This melting pot of musical styles helps to explain the distinct pop sensibility that Rogers embeds in each song. But Rogers doesn't just make you want to dance; you'll find yourself getting deep into the lyrical pool that Rogers creates as well, as she spins melodies with a voice that's party every-woman and part angel. Comparisons to Regina Spektor and Juliana Hatfield abound, but there are elements of Ani DiFranco and Rachel Sage in Rogers' musical DNA as well. Rogers opens with "Come Home", an incredibly catchy number that in a perfect world would light up the pop charts for weeks on end. Rogers has penned a chorus that you'll be singing along with the very first time you hear it, and delivers the vocals with such an unaffected air that you can't help but instantly like her. It's a brilliant bit of songwriting. "What We Want" plays around the edges of greener grasses with the ultimate realization that all is well. It's another catchy tune with a great melody, even if Rogers does rely a bit heavily on repetition in the chorus.

Rogers writes without filters on "Good Enough", an exploration of turning yourself inside out to capture someone you'll never have. The contemplative, peaceful nature of the song hides a deep-seated anger and frustration that finally explodes in a dark, cloudy guitar exposition in the song's closing moments. Rogers doesn't need to go over the top to get her message across here, relying on subtle shifts in attitude and aspect and bare hints of irony and anger that lead to an explosion that is both less and more than you might expect. "Favorite Day" is a punk/folk/pop anthem in the form of a love song. Rogers reminisces about the moment when a relationship moved from fun to real for her. It's a tremendous exposition of the moment that catchy but affectionate and full of reverie. Rogers started out with brilliant pop, and closes with brilliance of another kind. "All In Good Fun" explores the emotional shrapnel of a relationship where she was left high and dry. It's a tremendous moment of vulnerability, written in raw emotional turns from someone who is perhaps at peace with what happened but still trying to clean up the mess it left behind. "All In Good Fun" may not have the pure pop feel to it that "Come Home" possesses, but it's an amazing song that could survive the snares of pop radio purgatory and win spins based on popular demand.

Songwriting can be likened to the process of creating gem stones. Each stone has its own characteristics based on the elements involved and the pressures applied to the process. Songwriting relies on basic elements as well (notes, words, rhythms), and the pressures applied are a combination of musical experience and exposure, personal experience, emotional makeup, etc. It seems likely that Rogers' vast musical experiences and competencies create an unusual creative tension in her songwriting process, and the emotional honesty of her songwriting rounds the rough edges that every gem is born with. Some songwriters create quartz; some create opals. On Bess Rogers Presents: Bess Rogers, Rogers creates diamonds. Bess Rogers Presents: Bess Rogers is a Wildy's World Certified Desert Island Disc.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Bess Rogers at http://www.bessrogers.com/ or www.myspace.com/bessrogers.  Bess Rogers Presents: Bess Rogers drops on September 21, 2010 and is available from Amazon.com as a CD or Download.

M Bird - Over The Bones

MBird - Over The Bones
2009, Birdsmith Productions

MBird is singer/songwriter Meagan Birdsall. While something of a musical jack-of-all trades (Jump Jazz, Broadway, Pop, Folk), MBird has lived an interested and sometimes crazy life. While a student at the Boston Conservatory of Music, MBird was recruited by a Broadway Production Company and major record label. Finishing that phase of her life, Bird moved to Kansas City and embraced the local Jump Jazz scene, becoming a highly acclaimed performer in that genre. Diagnosed with a rare disease that would have fused her jazz closed and choked off her wind-pipe, Bird survived with the help of the Kansas City music community. In her recovery, Bird picked up a guitar and began to write highly personal songs in the folk/pop realm. Those efforts resulted in MBird’s latest album, Over The Bones.

Over The Bones opens with "Train Song", a roots-laden pop tune that's a fun listen. MBird displays a charm here that's uncanny, putting the listener immediately at ease. "Over The Bones" displays the full depth and color of Bird's smooth Alto voice, on a song that sounds like it should become a classic. Bird's vocal performance here is top notch, and the pedal steel part is exquisitely done. "Over My Head" is a declaration of love, giving up all control to what she feels and asking him to do the same. It's an auspicious pop/rock tune that seems like it would only take the right break to turn it into a big hit. Bird shows off her story-teller skills on "Blues And The Highway", blending country, folk and rock around a story of a one-sided love.

Bird shows a brighter side with the charming love song "One Kiss". Bird's songwriting is incredibly nuanced and well-spoken, showing a maturity and depth as an artist that would seem to be beyond her years. The run continues with the intellectual 'come on' song "I See Your Mind". This one starts slow but you'll warm to it quickly. "Porch Swing" is a catchy, dark-yet-hopeful tune that features impressive vocal harmonies exacted by Bird herself. This song is a likely fan favorite. Bird closes with "This Bridge (Boat Song)", a song of goodbye to a relationship that will never work. Bird details all that's gone into the relationship in imagery both apparent and deep, but makes it clear that she's given it all she has. The tune is a stark soliloquy that you won't be able to ignore.

MBird once stared down death and won. On Over The Bones she stares down her own inner struggles, both internal and in the form of the relationship she's chosen to profligate almost entirely of her own efforts. The victory comes at the end when MBird walks away head held high. The process, while messy at times, is highly personal and full of emotion. Over The Bones is steeped in the sort of honesty and poetry that speckles the songs of folks like Rachael Sage, Rosanne Raneri and Marian Call. For MBird, it's a triumph on many fronts.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Mbird at http://www.mbirdmusic.com/. Over The Bones is available as either a CD or Download from CDBaby. Digital versions are also available from Amazon and iTunes.

Abi Robins - For Luck Or Lie

Abi Robbins - For Luck Or Lie
2010, Morningbird Records

Abi Robbins is back with her third album, For Luck Or Lie, on her own Morningbird Records. Like on previous efforts Hey, Sunshine! and A Conversation With Myself, Robbins goes for highly personal subject matter delivered in matter-of-fact lyrical and musical marriages. Her delivery and style may remind you of Rachael Sage, Amy Mann or even Dana Wells, although Robbins may have sacrificed some of her more dynamic style this time around. For Luck Or Lie is essentially a breakup album, or perhaps more about the psychological process that leads to the breakup. Rather than surfing over the light and dark spots of her own psyche, Robbins dwells almost solely in the darker rooms of her memory palace on For Luck Or Lie, examining how one gets into a hopeless relationship and all of the energy that gets wasted trying to save what we've put so much time and effort into.

The result is a litany of frustration in music, tempered at times by hope that Robbins buys into but never truly believes. For Luck Or Lie opens with a song of self-sacrifice, "Buried". This is the starting point of realization, but it comes slowly. "Well Cut Dead Grass" is highly metaphorical, as if Robbins' mind turns slowly to the idea of getting away, introducing the concept in very vague terms that are slow to take root and blossom. Initial doubts are met by resolution, "Soldier" and justification, "The Art Of Forgetting". The steps down begin with "At Least For Now", the first acknowledgement that the end may come. "520325" is the best songwriting on the disc, although the meaning is shrouded deep in numbers that may mean much to Robbins but may be elusive idols to listeners. Stylistically, Robbins sounds a bit like Ron Hawkins here.

"Small Voice" is perhaps the turning point of the album, and as Robbins transitions into "Now You Know", Robbins begins to come to terms with what must happen. It's a song about the misgivings that grow inside misguided love like a cancer and the toll they can take. "Fool" and "Plans" presage the end, while Robbins regains control of her life with "Any More". Robbins uses the musical canvas to paint a grander picture than lyrics alone could tell. The strings are a nice touch, expressing new growth and a freedom from all of the mess that's been running around her brain up until now. "Pray Tell" is the album's epilogue; asking, essentially, "what's next?" It's clear that she still finds value in the person she's just left behind, enough to hope she'll be forgiven for doing what she needed to do. One senses a slippery slope here however; as "Pray Tell" perhaps leaves a crack of hope that something may bloom again one day.

Lyrically, For Luck Or Lie is among Robbins' best work, but the relentless tone of the album can be a bit tough to take. If you're not listening carefully, a few songs may run by you without really distinguishing themselves one from another. The dynamics and tone really don't change much until the last couple of songs, and this may turn off some listeners. It's a solid effort, but perhaps a bit too consistent to really grab your attention.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Abi Robins at http://www.abirobinsmusic.com/ or www.myspace.com/abirobins. For Luck Or Lie is available as either a CD or Download from CDBaby.com.

Christa Gniadek - No One's Dolly

Christa Gniadek - No One's Dolly
2010, Maiden Brain Music Productions

Bostonian Christa Gniadek jumped into the music game officially in March of 2009 with a highly personal EP entitled Alone Or Lying, a personal treatise on the people, places and events that had touched upon her life up to that time. Gniadek returned in January of this year with No One’s Dolly, continuing in the highly personal vein (ala Rachael Sage or Aimee Mann) but with a bit more polish. Gniadek is already working on her next album, also due in 2010, but for now we’ll focus on No One’s Dolly. Gniadek is highly independent, starting her own production company in 2009. Did I mention that Gniadek is all of nineteen years old? Gniadek took classical piano lessons for nearly a decade before picking up a guitar as a high school junior. She hasn’t looked back, writing songs at a prolific rate ever since.

No One's Dolly opens with "Awake", where Gniadek shows a songwriting sensibility familiar to fans of Hope Sandoval. "Awake" isn't depressed or even melancholy, but is thoroughly at ease. "Sweetheart" is a powerful (yet low-key) declaration of self-assurance. The song is highly tuneful with real energy contrasted by an easy-going approach and speaks to the comfort and strength the lyrics imply. This is great songwriting. "Lonely Girl" is an amusing tune from someone who is very cynical about relationships; sparkling with wit and intelligence and the premise that the narrator is difficult to love. Gniadek raises the bar here with a highly personal story in song married to a melody that will recur to you throughout the day.

"Cold Daydream" is sleepy, as you might expect, but hardly listless. "Cold Daydream" floats past you, taking you along for a ride with perhaps the prettiest melody on the album. Melancholy does assert itself on "After All", but it's wrapped in such beauty you might miss the pre-text. Gniadek is at her most pensive here, and listeners will be drawn in. The wheel turns on "Stronghold" as Gniadek explores the sudden flush of love that often takes us by surprise. It's a gorgeous tune offered with a low-key delivery that results in a powerfully emotive listening experience. "Like You Do" is a sweet, plain love song that may border on being a bit too low-key given the subject matter, but Gniadek brings the song to life with emotions that are both powerful and subtle. Gniadek picks an apt closer in "Who's To Say", a song all about letting go. A minimalist arrangement highlights the sweet melody as Gniadek sends listeners on their way.

Christa Gniadek surprises with No One's Dolly. On first blush you might dismiss her low-key style, but if you listen closely there is a great deal of life in the still waters of Gniadek's muse. No One's Dolly may not be Gniadek's debut, but it will certainly serve as a worthy introduction to a young artist whose only going to get better. Christa Gniadek will charm you if you let her.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Christa Gniadek at http://www.maidenbrainmusic.com/ or www.myspace.com/christagniadek. No One's Dolly is available as a CD or Download from Amazon.com. Digital copies are also available via iTunes.

Audra Connolly - Dear Friend

Audra Connolly - Dear Friend
2009, Hole Heart Records

Boise, Idaho’s Audra Connolly grew up in a household where the arts and nature mixed in wondrous ways. Read through Connolly’s stream of consciousness biography and you begin to get the picture of a sophisticated mind that still enjoys the simple things in life. Connolly writes music straight from the heart, with an authorial voice that’s more like an old friend pouring her heart out. Her voice is in kind, full of the richness and texture of emotion and her personality. Connolly’s voice rings true on her debut album, Dear Friend.

The songs on Dear Friend are very well written, with a wonderfully deep level of communication going on. If Connolly misses at all on Dear Friend, it’s where her songs get so deeply personal that the only real audience is the person the song was written for. Every song here is carefully crafted and full of Connolly’s heart, full of lyrically complex prose laden with imagery. Dear Friend kicks off with “Eternal Youth”, a delightful rocker about self-determination. There’s a happy, carefree vibe to the song that’s unmistakable. You’ll fall quickly for Connolly’s voice and style, and “Eternal Youth” is the perfect opener. “Blue Eyes” and “Friendship” have something of an easy going air, but Connolly’s heart bulls through on “Givin’ It All Away”. Connolly’s declaration of love in song in what appears to be a complicated situations; this is not your typical syrupy love song, but a deeply nuanced and mature love at love in the true light of day.

“Loudly Rings” is a thing of beauty, immersed deeply in Audra Connolly’s perceptions. Connolly finds magic on “Diversions”, an exploration of romantic diversions (presumably) in her life. The song is a series of vignettes about people who might have been wonderful for her but didn’t work out for one reason or another. Over the course of the song you get the picture of someone who perhaps enjoys the chase more than the catch. “Thinking Of You” is a regretful number where Connolly ruminates on falling for someone and the complications it will bring. Connolly doesn’t want to fall in love because of the complications it will bring to her life, but can’t get a certain someone out of her mind. You’ll think she’s losing the battle, but she probably lost it before she even wrote the song. “Meet You There” is highly emotional, detailing the deep love for a friend who’s become much more. This is the most highly personal song on the album, written in the language Connolly speaks with the person she’s most herself with. Connolly closes with “Love Unconditional”, an epilogue for all the songs that came before that is both more “typical” of a love song and yet somehow the only fitting conclusion to the process documented here.

Dear Friend is an album about falling in love with your best friend. It is deeply personal, self-focused and self-aware without sounding self-centered. Connolly displays a deep, intense personality woven through songs of intricate emotion and imagery, as if Dear Friend is a musical diary and Connolly has invited us all to get to know her heart. Dear Friend is a gift for the taking. You’ll be charmed by her personal delivery and intricate detail in telling the story of how a heart that perhaps feared love fell into it unwittingly, fought it and lost. In the end Connolly won, and with Dear Friend, so will you.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Audra Connolly at http://www.audraconnolly.com/ or www.myspace.com/audraconnollysongs. Dear Friend is available as either a CD or Download through Amazon.com. Digital copies are also available from iTunes.

Rachael Sage - Delancey Street

Rachael Sage - Delancey Street
2010, MPress Records

Rachael Sage has always been something of a renaissance woman. She was good enough of a dancer in junior high to gain entrance to the School Of American Ballet in junior high. Switching to acting, Sage studied at Stanford University and the Actors Studio MFA program. In spite of all of this, it’s music that has always allowed Sage to shine brightest. Sage has built her career as an Indie artist, releasing all eight of her albums to date on her own MPress Records. Sage’s ninth, Delancey Street, is due on May 4, 2010, may be her most personal work to date, and her best.

Delancey Street opens with “Hope’s Outpost”, a quiet admonishment full of power and grace. The song is a thing of beauty written not so much from anger as from quiet disbelief about watching the one person you could count on walk away. “There Is Passion” marks the autumn of a relationship, when things just aren’t as they once were even if love still survives. The song is full of longing for a return of the warmth of spring and mournful over where it has gone. On “Brave Mistake”, Sage explores love as a dance, using strong imagery to portray not so much the pleasure and plain but the twists and turns that we all fall into. Sage sees the pattern as a way of working things out, allowing us to see when things work out right clearly (“He was at home in every line of her face. It was like ice breaking…”).

“Everything Was Red” is a highly personal account of the difficulties of being the family black sheep and being a good sister; full of a hope for things to be as they should be, Sage acknowledges how difficult it is to put the past aside, even if the past is of her own creation. This highly honest and human perspective is raw and powerful, and beautiful in its angst. Any of you out there looking to try to make it in the music business should listen to Sage’s “Big Star”, a musical treatise on what it takes to make it, particularly for a female artist. It’s a very perky take on the wondrous feeling of the pursuit of stardom that takes into account the darker sides of that pursuit. “Wasn’t It You” finds Sage exploring the rich history of a relationship where all may not be perfect, but her lyrics are still steeped in immense love.

Sage’s cover of Hall & Oates’ “Rich Girl” is both amusing and surprising; a gentle diversion in the midst of a rich emotional tapestry. Sage undertakes a bit of escapism in “Meet Me In Vegas”, inviting another to come along. It’s a scintillating moment of vulnerability. If you’re looking for a prime example of Sage’s lyrical brilliance, make sure to check out “How I Got By”. Sage sparkles with lines like “I’ve seen the moon sigh for mercy, I’ve seen solitude break down like some old forgotten junkie I’ve been wandering this town” and “Sometimes it’s hard to ameliorate imaginary sin when you’re still stuck inside the distance between nothing and everything.”

“Back To Earth” is deeply introspective, a gorgeous song of regret over a relationship mistake that Sage wishes she could take back. On “Arrow” Sage takes a look around at her life only to realize that she is happy, and questions all of those who have told her over the years that she must suffer for her art. On “Delancey Street”, Sage references a friendship past in a song full of an ill-defined emotion that isn’t exactly regret but touches on its lonely shores. Sage closes things out with a cover of Irene Cara’s “Fame” in an elegant cover that takes the exuberance of the original and fills it with a more mature emotion as seen from the other side of fame.

Time and happiness may have softened the edges a bit on Rachael Sage, but it’s inarguable that Sage is creating some of the richest art of her career right now. Delancey Street is musically complete and rich with personal emotion and insight. It’s a brilliant album from an artist who has always danced around the edges brilliance and has now moved fully into its light. One can’t predict where Delancey Street will stand in relation to Sage’s future work twenty years from now, but for the time being it is a peak; like watching the arc of creation as it continues to rise. Delancey Street is a Wildy’s World Certified Desert Island Disc. Don’t miss it.

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

Learn more about Rachael Sage at http://www.rachaelsage.com/ or www.myspace.com/rachaelsage. Delancey Street drops on May 4, 2010. You can pre-order the album from Aamazon.com as either a CD or Download.