Category: Recordings

Ok, so here it is: my favorites (with commentary): 1.Without You (just a really good pop tune, with that killer middle section you always look forward to); 2. Story Of Heaven (clever lyrics, creative use of melody, rock guitar, and the Yes-ish chorus); 3.Little Rock Don’t Break (three weeks ago I would not have chosen this one, but I like it more as I listen to it — good storytelling, use of sound, guitar, aggressive but not harsh to ear). Other honorable mentions include Drifting Away, In The Doorway, Take Some Time… By the way, Track 13 is a big hit with the ladies across the hall.

This &%@&$$* is great! I put it right in my car cassette player after I saw you, and I listened to the first few songs and said “This is great ^$@*#!#!!” Your vocal range is incredible.. Anyway, I just wanted to call and tell you I appreciate it, and thank you for your music.

The lyrics! were truly wonderful — in the light of current music, really remarkable. Powerful images and adept phrasing enhance the thoughtful and provoking messages. I especially liked Little Rock Don’t Break, Never Shatter You, In The Doorway, and Our Town. There wasn’t one I did not like.

You have a great voice, like Freddie Mercury. Have you heard of Gentle Giant? It also reminds me of them.

I am VERY IMPRESSED! You are so talented. Do people ever tell you that you sound like Michael Feinstein? I mean that as a compliment because I love how he sings all of the old Gershwin songs. I loved your proposal song(!) and even more the sentiment behind it. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall witnessing your romantic proposal

I was listening to some tracks off My Oyster a bunch of times last week and it occurred to me that you could write a damn good musical. Have you ever considered writing for musical theater? Your musical styles are compatible for a musical theater format (and I don’t mean that as an insult.) You can successfully write for orchestration and a number of different vocalists. You have shown that you can write songs expressing a range of emotions! Your songs are thick and rich, both musically and lyrically! It’s taken me a long time to get a handle on your music (8 months!) because it’s so dense. I also hear Cory Cullinan in the music… I hear you inside the music, and I can’t imagine writing much music with that personal intensity without feeling drained. Perhaps for you it’s a source of inspiration.

It sounds like Queen.

This thing is cool. I’m really impressed by the instrumentation. The variety of song types is great, too! The main achievement, though, is the depth of lyrics and subject material: top-notch. On the whole, it reminds me a lot of a couple of albums by the group Jellyfish. Do you know them? You need to check them out! Stuff like Jellyfish (and My Oyster as well) has so much stuff in there that one keeps discovering new things if one has the ear to listen deeper.

Saw the CD in the bookstore and just listened to it (bought it also), and wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed it. You should be really proud — it’s wonderfully creative and very enjoyable to listen to! Your piano playing sounds great. You are quite a singer as well — all in all a very impressive result. My congratulations to you.

Fascinating! In short, your CD is fascinating! I listened to it from stem to stern, and I loved it! Very eclectic! The vocal stuff is just outstanding — MAN! Your arranging is just phenomenal, as is your writing! I do enjoy it very much.