CD Review: Kira Fontana - The Inner Revolution

Kira Fontana - The Inner Revolution
2007, Spark The Fire Records

Kira Fontana journeyed from her San Francisco Bay roots to the Eastman School of Music and later Yale graduate school to perfect the art of composition. Somewhere along that path she realized that the essence and being of composition is not in the structures and rules of composition but within the heart of the composer. The catharsis of that discovery is Still, the third track on The Inner Revolution. The Inner Revolution is Fontana's debut album, and it places her firmly in the same ballpark as composers such as Tori Amos, Sinead O'Connor and Kate Bush.

Fontana's songwriting is intense and personal - akin to reading a musical diary. Fontana is neither apologetic nor regretful in telling her stories. The Inner Revolution works because the songwriter is looking into her own eyes as she speaks, and telling tales from the only place that truth resides. Home gives the impression of time slipping around the listener, like a remembrance that is part yesterday and part today. Bloom is a disturbingly beautiful ballad that sounds a little bit like Evanescence without the heavy guitars. The aforementioned Still is the most straightforward ballad on the album, with a quiet beauty that accentuates Fontana's sensuous alto.

Always is a nearly nine minute musical exploration of Fontana's compositional creativity. This is jam music for the classically inclined and is really quite brilliant. Interlude was somewhat lost on me, as it sounds more like a writing exercise than a song. It would make pleasant background music but really didn't have anything to say to me musically. Love is a classic pop/rock ballad. Kira Fontana has a breezy voice here that is hopeful and vulnerable all at once. The album closes with Spark The Fire, a plaintive acoustic guitar ballad that is initially reminiscent of Sarah McLachlan but later devolves into effects-laden exploration.

The Inner Revolution is an extremely intriguing album. Fontana is an artist in the truest sense of the word, as such, sometimes her musical choices may seem a little out of place. This is just Fontana being true to herself as a musician rather than writing for pop glory. While we might not always get the choices, the bravery to make those choices instead of falling prey to an easy pop hook is what music is all about. The Inner Revolution is an excellent introduction to Kira Fontana, from whom I have no doubt there will be much more to hear in the future.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Kira Fontana at http://www.kirafontana.com/. You can purchase a copy of The Inner Revolution at http://cdbaby.com/cd/kirafontana, or on Amazon.com.

CD Review: Arden Of Eden - Love Street

Arden Of Even - Love Street
2008, Arden Music

Mary Arden Collins has been making music for some time on her own. In 2008 she formed Arden of Eden with musical partner Mark Gorman. The duo moved cross country from Rhode Island to Los Angeles in order to broaden their musical horizons. Incorporating drummer Jay Bellerose of drums (Robert Plant, Allison Krauss, Beck), they found the mix that created Love Street, due September 23, 2008.

Love Street saunters from the musically mundane to the sonically brilliant. Someday is a beautiful melody enhanced with gorgeous harmonies and full orchestration. It is easily the most beautiful four-and-a-half minutes on Love Street. Listeners also get a treat in hearing the inestimable Keb' Mo' sit in on Mississippi. Collins brings a scratchy-sweet sound reminiscent of early Rebecca Martin on this slow blues tune. Other highlights include the straight forward rocker, Free, the 1980's sounding Strangers, Better and Powerless. Powerless opens with a plaintive cello that is joined by some sweet acoustic guitar work. The only distraction here is that the additional percussion actually detracts what has the potential to be a still, quiet musical miracle.

Arden Of Eden has already had music featured on Joan Of Arcadia and Criminal Minds, as well as the films The Thing About My Folks and Solstice. Mary Arden Collins has a voice that lends itself to obsessive listening, and the material here is lush and beautiful. Love Street is definitely worth checking out.

Rating: 4.0 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Arden Of Eden at www.myspace.com/ardenofeden. Love Street will be released September 23, 2008. Keep checking Arden Of Eden's MySpace page for ordering information!

Review: Jazz Junk - Demo 2008

Jazz Junk - Demo
2008, Jazz Junk

Pasadena’s Jazz Junk comes across as rather tongue-in-cheek on their demo. Loser is either an attempt to be funny or a mean-spirited rant. It fails the humor test and instead of charming comes across as just a bit crass, lyrically. That being said, Emily Burns’ vocals are outstanding and the musical arrangement is tight. Neglect was pleasant but not terrible memorable, sounding more like a jam progression than a song. Is One Woman Ever Good Enough? returns to the smart, tight arrangements noted on Loser. This song also comes across as somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but is a little more successful as an ironic viewpoint. This is my favorite song on the disc and sounds like something that could be part of a musical. The demo CD closes out with Voices, the most rock-oriented tune on the demo. This is a track with commercial potential, although the mix needs to cleaned up just a bit.

Jazz Junk shows a lot of promise. Emily Burns is an extremely talented vocalist, and I look forward to hearing more of her. The band is top-notch as well, and I would expect big things from them in the future. A good producer could really help bring the best out of Jazz Junk. I believe there are a lot of gems to be found here.

Rating: 3 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Jazz Junk at www.myspace.com/jazzjunk. It appears that Jazz Junk have recently released an EP entitled Creatures Of Habit. I do not have any purchase information for this disc, but if message Jazz Junk through their MySpace page I am certain they’ll be happy to hook you up.

CD Review: 200 Lurkers - The Music of 200 Lurkers

200 Lurkers - The Music Of 200 Lurkers
2008, 200 Lurkers

The Music Of 200 Lurkers is very quiet and repressed in the same way that the Cowboy Junkies have always come across. Musically very talented, 200 Lurkers relies on understatement and quiet passages to draw you in closer. The downside being that if you're not listening closely you'll never have a chance to get this Cologne, Germany band. 200 Lurkers write songs that aren't exactly mournful, but don't exactly make you jump for joy either. The Music Of 200 Lurkers is contemplative and intelligent, with mellow, melancholy musical backdrops that will either lull you in or turn you away.

Highlights include The Pilot, Breathing Water, The Little Lighthouse and the live version of Space Walk that closes out the disc. This is an interesting disc, as I can see listening to it in the right mood. It's definitely not something I'd want at the gym or for an active day. I'm afraid if I listened to it at work it might lull me to sleep. But for a rainy afternoon or a quiet evening on the back deck it's perfect. The melodies are quite lovely, in general, and the arrangements are well-constructed and well-played, this is just a little too low key for a lot of situations.

200 Lurkers get high marks for intelligent lyrics, great melodies, and great songwriting. This is definitely a niche disc -- you'll either love it or not fairly quickly into your first listen, but many rewards lie beneath the still surface for those who will listen. The Music of 200 Lurkers is a worthy effort.

Rating: 3.5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about 200 Lurkers at www.200lurkers.com. You can order custom CDs from the 200 Lurkers website. Just check out the streaming audio, e-mail them to arrange payment and they’ll create a custom CD based on the tracks you’ve chosen.

Featured Review: Kati Mac - Poseidon's Son

Kati Mac - Poseidon's Son
2004, Baby Munsta Music 

Kati Mac is a New York City songwriter who makes the rounds of the music business.  She works as a session vocalist for live talent and commercials as well as writing music for television.  Her real love is for writing and performing her own material.  The latest product of that love is Poseidon's Son, 15 tracks of poppy and poignant music. 

Featuring Only Love, the new theme from CBS' The Guiding Light, Poseidon's Son is destined to be a commercial darling.  Only Love gets the full gospel treatment and sounds like a potential #1 single with the right push.  I'll admit it sounds a bit too positive to be a soap opera theme, but what can you do?  It's a tremendous song - who can blame the folks at CBS for licensing it?  Of The Center is a gorgeous melody that sounds seriously familiar in spots.  Kati Mac's voice is exuberant throughout and carries this song in a way many artists could not. 

Poseidon's Son is just Kati Mac and piano, and is starkly beautiful.  Kati Mac gives it the full ballad treatment, running from soulful soprano to sensuous alto as easy as taking a breath.  Don't be surprised if this song gets licensed for some show or movie in the not too distant future.  Ditto I Keep Dreaming, a busy and soulful song full of the remorse of love lost. 

Isyawitme? is a bluesy funk-disco concoction that should be a nightclub hit, and again has an extremely licensable sound.  Other highlights include the gorgeous It's Only Love, the ironic I Heard You Twice The First Time, He Loves Me He Loves Me Not, and Like I Could.  They don't end there.  At 17 tracks, Poseidon's Son is full of musical gems.  At The Edge Of The Pond is a sweet little folk number, and Freaky Deaky is another funk-laced dance tune.

Saving Grace is one of my personal favorites here, a pure country ballad with a beautiful melody that will ring in your ears long after the last musical strands of Poseidon's Son have died away. 

Kati Mac has a talent for writing hooky pop songs with memorable lyrics and strong melodies that have a way of sticking in your head.  Add to this her silky, soulful voice and you have a recipe for great things.  Expect to hear many of her songs on primetime television, and expect to buy the album anyway because despite her commercial appeal, Kati Mac is a little bit deeper than your typical pop fluff.  Don't be entirely surprised if Poseidon's Son catapults Kati Mac into the national consciousness.  All she needs is the right break and this album could sell millions. 

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Kati Mac at www.katimac.com, where you can purchase a copy of Poseidon’s Son or any of her other three CDs.  You can also download single songs through her site.

Featured Review: Ingrid Olava - Juliet's Wishes

Ingrid Olava - Juliet's Wishes
2008, EMI Records 

Norway's Ingrid Olava runs the gamut from starkly beautiful piano ballads and lushly orchestrated aural landscapes on Juliet's Wishes, her debut album.  There is serious classical training in Ms. Olava's resume, and it bleeds over into the song construction in what may turn out to be a break out album. 

Juliet's Wishes opens with Stars, a sparse yet lovely song that introduces you to her gorgeous alto voice and amazing sense of melody.  The song is full of a quiet yearning that is unresolved and unrepentant.  Headlines is one of several songs here that will make you think of early Tori Amos material.  Back To Love is one of several favorites here, a rueful song about running away from love. 

The song William made me do a double-take.  Olava sounds so much like Canadian chanteuse Sarah Slean on this song its frightening.  This is more of a freeform poem sung with a musical background, similar in form to a recitative in an opera.  The title track, Juliet's Wishes is another favorite here, and will draw comparisons once again to Slean.  And definitely do not skip Slippery, the closing track.  It has the feel of dusk on a fall day when puddles are ringed with ice crystals and you can smell the first snow coming.   

Ingrid Olava appears to have a talent for finding hope within sadness and light within darkness.  Her music is intensely personal and beautiful.  Juliet's Wishes is a heart-wrenchingly beautiful exposition into the mind of Ingrid Olava. (Like an enemy waiting to strike / heartache remembers my name).  It’s not an upbeat album, and you won't dance to it, but my guess is it will occupy your cd/record/mp3 player for some time to come. 

Rating: 5 Stars (Out of 5)

You can learn more about Ingrid Olava at www.myspace.com/ingridolava.  Any of the sites I could locate that appear to be selling the CD are either in Norwegian or Japanese.  This is a major label release in Norway, and so you should be able to order it through your local Borders or Barnes and Noble (maybe).  If anyone finds a good source for this disc please let me know, and we’ll update this information accordingly. 

CONTEST: Beware Fashionable Women

Ladies and Germs, it’s a Wildy’s World EXCLUSIVE!

How would you like to win a signed copy of Beware Fashionable Women’s self-titled debut album (See review here)?  Besides the fact that it’s free, it will be signed by the band, and there’s probably some extra DNA material on there you can use to grow your own version of the band if you are so inclined! (We at Wildy’s World do not condone the practice of cloning bands).

“But Wildy, how do I win?” you ask.  Right-O!  What follows is a list of questions that you must answer and submit to Beware Fashionable Women by messaging them on their MySpace page! (This will require you “friend-ing” them first).  Beware Fashionable Women’s personnel will take time off from planning world domination to review each answer individually.  The respondent with the most correct answers will win an autographed copy of Beware Fashionable Women, and the ardent admiration of all their friends and neighbors.  What’s more, the band will even mail it to you for free!

All responses must be received through Beware Fashionable Women’s MySpace page no later than Friday August 29th at Midnight, Eastern Standard Daylight Savings Time-ish.  This offer void where prohibited.

The questions:

1. What was the name of the first album by The Violent Femmes?

2. What was the name of the original drummer for the Beatles?

3. Who wrote the song “Hallelujah” (as performed by Jeff Buckley and Rufus Wainwright?

4. How many people were in Ben Folds Five?

5. In what year did the Beach Boys originally release Pet Sounds?

Bonus Question:

True Or False: Beware Fashionable Women is your new favorite band.

And for our Canadian neighbors to the North…

2+2=?

Best of luck to everyone!  And no worries, Beware Fashionable Women friends everyone on MySpace.  Except Me.  They’re still mad because I didn’t give them 5.5 stars out of 5.  