Glen Coleman - ...Before the Crowd (www.glencoleman.net)
Indie rock is undergoing a folk/singer songwriter
renaissance, which has spawned an interesting
album's worth of songs from Glen Coleman.
"Lampposts" and especially "Mistreated"
feature Richard Thompson- style guitar lines,
and colorful pastels that enhance the music
and lyrics. The ten songs on "...Before
the Crowd" have a free-form feel that
are rich with quietly swirling melodies, that
at times bring to mind a lazy Summer's day,
laying back watch the clouds, without a care
in the world. "Fish" owes as much
to current jam bands as it does to Crosby,
Stills, and Nash, but draws you in with Glen's
refreshing vocal style. Glen infuses his music
with stark melancholy ("Running Through
Rain"), and lost love and lost time ("Wedding
Ring Blues"), but with tongue-in-cheek
humor. ...Before the Crowd is a heartfelt,
fun record. - Phil Rainone
Stacie Rose - Shotgun Daisy (stacierose.com)
Stacie Rose's music has an earthy feel, and
makes for easy listening, although her topics
("Mr. & Mrs. Happily Ever After,"
"Worry Free," "Find Your Way")
could easily be headline news. Simple percussion
and mid-tempo guitars create musical atmospheres
that range from upbeat to slow to mellow,
but all the while
attention-getting. Comparisons to Amiee Mann,
and her explorative vocal style would make
sense. Stacie can throw curves too. From forlorn
on "Hope," to brassy and assertive
on "Black and Blue," she transcends
the traditional singer/songwriter formula,
fleshing out an original, fresh style. - Phil
Rainone
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