Category: Recordings

My Oyster has already been on air! I am very impressed with what I have heard

I liked that song A Little Extra, it was really cool. I’m going to play some more stuff from it next week.

Thanks for the rapid delivery of the disc. I really enjoyed it. There was hardly anything on it that sucked! Seriously, I was very impressed by the mix of styles and the great production values. Little Rock is my favorite! Additionally, my son (now 12) has latched on to the thing, and I haven’t seen it since my first couple of listenings! To me, that means you’ve got a winner! Bravo!

I hadn’t made the time to tell you this before, but I wanted to let you know that I’m *really* enjoying your album. I have it here at work and listen to it frequently. I *love* The Story of Heaven, Bright In Your Ways (touching), and my possible favorite Little Rock Don’t Break. You shared Never Shatter You with me some years ago and I still enjoy it immensely. The jazz feel of Drifting Away is nice also. In general it’s great fun and I wish you the best success.

I’m going to order 10 cds and give them to all my friends. Also, I wore your tee shirt all over Hong Kong recently, and you are now world famous. (I have noodle stains all over the shirt, but all the Hong Kong noodle joints love you).

Your CD has already made it into our son’s archive of great music, and I believe was premiered at a middle school dance a couple of months ago. I will have my agents contact yours for royalty arrangements!

I’ve been putting this off until I had a solid hour or two to really give you the feedback your endeavor merits. I definitely hear the Jellyfish influence. Your ambition is inspiring. I love the fact that you tackle such complicated songs and diverse genres and styles. I like Crazy Old Man. This is one of the better tracks. My Oyster: Banjo is cool. Bright in Your Ways: This is very pretty. I wouldn’t change a thing. Take Some Time: I like the plucking and bass. Janette’s harmonies are awesome and well-placed. Her singing about the “sugar-plumb fairies sticky when you dry” is awesome. Did I mention how excellent all your musicians are? A Little Extra is your hit single and that’s a given. It’s very catchy and all the little cool parts move the whole song and contribute it to it being one piece. The bass kicks (butt). A definite gem. Never Shatter You: No one could ever say that your music is not rich enough. Drifting Away: Piano is very nice. Your diverse instrumentations are really challenging and cool. The Story of Heaven: Good thing I used to listen to lots of 70’s art rock. The Fountain of Salamacis has nothing on this. This would be a great multi-media program because so much is going on – listen to that organ! The mixing on the voices is pretty cool. In the Doorway: Cool harpsichord – it’s always cool when someone other than Tori Amos uses one! Wow, I just read the lyrics. That’s intense. That’s courageous of you to write about your dad. It’s really compelling. Our Town: This is a pretty song too. Haunting like that reviewer said. I like the flute. For Janette: How could I critique the song you used to propose to your wife (even if it is one of the best songs on the album)? All your strengths are permanent: ear for hooks, rich instrumentation, complex song structuring, variety, cool voice, cool wife’s voice. I can’t wait to hear you live!

I have listened to it back and forth numerous times, in fact dozens of times. I have played it for Tony, my country singer friend, and George, my rockabilly guitar hurling friend, and to a few others who know the local music biz. Both said that your CD was excellent, especially in terms of production, musicianship, lyrics and originality. Tony said that he heard Freddy Mercury-esque elements in the lyrics. George said he thought some of it could have been intended for rock-opera, or perhaps musicals (Never Shatter You). Tony pointed to elements not unlike Sergeant Pepper/Beatles. Your writing, from what I hear and see (jacket), is playful, intelligent, articulate and it is obvious to me (being fixated on language use) that you would have spent a lot of time working on choice of words. The subject matter touches on a number of issues which I believe are worthwhile and current (Chernobyl, racism, militarism/war, etc.), sincere and heartfelt (the ubiquitous *profound* I am afraid to use, but I hope you know my meaning), upbeat (the song with Janette for instance) and intelligent musically (Share My Soul rounds in Without You, voice separations and arrangement in Bright in Your Ways). I also see the talent both in your voice (Heaven) and playing (Our Town). I guess from this, you know you have a “Nook in the North.” Bravo!

Our Town is an epic — it takes you through lots.

Songs I really dig: The Story of Heaven, In the Doorway (“A strange relief that it was over”… you break my heart). Songs I hate: None (what good am I?) I actually like them all!