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A Brooklyn Gem From
Lisa! |
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The only thing that this album has in
common with our other reviewed album this month is that they both have 13
tracks. There the similarity ends. This is a gem, a beautiful collection
of poetic, melodic tracks from Lez Zeppelin's bass-player,
Lisa Brigantino.
However, if you want to hear Lisa
playing bass, this isn't the album for you because Lisa only plays
bass on two of the tracks, 'Left Side Of The
Street' and
'I Choose Life A Different Way'. But
wait...
The arrangements, by Lisa and her husband Tomi
Millioto, are mostly sparse and organic, allowing the beauty of Lisa's
voice and lyrics to shine through. |
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| Many of the tracks feature Lisa on
acoustic guitar, with secondary vocals by her sister Lori and
school-friend Susan Haefner, one of the best examples of how
beautifully their voices blend is the jazzy
'Can't Get You Out Of My Mind'.
There's a '60s feel to 'Holding On For
Something' would slot in comfortably on a Mamas & Papas album
or a later Beatles album with beautiful harmonies from Lori and Susan.
On the more up-tempo tracks, Tomi Millioto plays
tasteful, sympathetic electric guitar. Listen to the atmospheric
guitar intro on 'I Will'. Chris Murphy
plays bodhrán on 'O Sister' and
jingle-bells on 'One More Day'.
The bluesy
'Blue Jeans' features just Lisa on vocals and electric guitar.
Unusual, perhaps a tambourine or some percussion from Chris would have
enhanced it but, imagine handing a guitar to Lisa at your party and
'switching her on'! The title-track 'A Brooklyn
Night' is a beautiful folksy ballad with country overtones.
It's one of those CDs that you'll want to listen to over and over
again. I heard echoes of Joni Mitchell, Sheryl Crow, Alison Kraus,
Mama Cass Elliott with a sprinkle of Janis Joplin thrown in for
flavour! Lisa has a beautiful way of bending her notes when she sings.
Some people say that the human voice is the most beautiful instrument
of all but also the most difficult to master. Listen to Lisa and
you'll see what I mean.
The CD is well-presented in a jewel-case with a 4-page insert
featuring photos by Victoria Garza. All songs were written by Lisa and
the complete project was produced, arranged, recorded and mixed
in-house by Lisa and Tomi.
'A Brooklyn Night' can be ordered online
from Lisa's website for $15.00
and at that price, it's a steal! I suggest that you place your order
today, you won't be disappointed. |
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Lani Ford Can Do Better! |
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One of the few positive things I can say
about this 13-track self-released CD album is that it's got a sticker on
the shrink-wrapping saying "Explicit Lyrics". At least they spared some
unsuspecting parent from leaving this lying around in a house where kids
could listen to it.
There should be another sticker on it saying "Explicit Crap" because "The
Curse" by STARK (featuring BassGirl
Lani Ford) is pretty awful. Having
listened to all 13 tracks, I had to wonder if the guitarist Dylan Grewen
realises that there are actually more than four majors and one minor and
that an overdrive/distortion pedal doesn't automatically turn an ugly
duckling into a swan. The intros are totally predictable and boring with
no effort being made to play something other than distorted over-driven
(usually open) chords. |
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To be fair to
Lani Ford, her voice sounds great, to
me, a cross between Debbie Harry, Chrissie Hynde and Wynona Judd. Her
bass-playing is strong throughout but only succeeds in highlighting
the deficiencies of her guitarist. Lani's lyrics though, ain't poetry,
and that's probably an understatement! Here are some extracts from her
lyrics (because some children may access this web magazine, I
have disguised some of the words).
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Without me there beside you
Without me s*****g your c**k
Without me on the table
With my l**s spread apart
(from Track 2 - Look At Me)
Stan was a good lay,
What I wouldn't give
For Randy's p***s today...
I did it with a girl once, Julie
But she only went down on me
Coz I know I don't eat p***y.
(from Track 3 - Slut)
I'm trying hard not to ma*****ate,
Cuz if I do you'll have to wait.
(from Track 10 - New Leaf) |
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Drumming by Greg Schiff is solid throughout
though the overall sound of the band is lacking in depth and they
could certainly do with a second guitarist or a keyboards player. I
assume the band are far better live than they sound on this album.
The CD is very-well packaged, cellophane-wrapped in a jewel-case, with
a vibrant illustration on the front by Alan Rand. It can be bought at
Bathtubmusic.com, cdbaby.com, womanrock.com and iTunes.com.
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Amy & Joe's Unique Clatter! |
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Clatter is a two-piece rock band from
Missouri, USA made up of the crimson-haired Amy Humphrey (bass and vocals)
and Joe Hayes (drums and percussion). Who else appears on their CD
'Blinded By Vision'? Em... no one else, just Amy and Joe! So, how does a
two-piece band produce an 11-track album that doesn't sound boring?
For a start, Amy is an incredible
bassist. Employing varied effects such as wah-wah, flanger, delay and
chorus, she squeezes amazing orchestral-like sounds from her instrument.
Add to that a pure, musical, soulful voice and imaginative lyrics and
you're listening to something unique. |
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Drummer/percussionist Joe is equally innovative, creating catchy
rhythms, driving beats and atmospheric intros and fills on his
instruments. It was almost an impossible task without instruments like
guitars, keyboards and horns to avoid a "sameness" on all the tracks
but they have had a good shot at achieving this. Tempos change
throughout, even within tracks and the vocals vary also with
double-tracking and effects being used liberally. Listen out for the
megaphone effect on 'Black Karma'. Joe
and Amy's lyrics are strong and poetic, though I detect a train of
negativity and pessimism running through some of the songs. Here are
some extracts:
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"Another storm is brewing
A ripple in the atmosphere
You're happy in fair weather
It's cloudy and you disappear"
(from 'Just Like You')
"Taken in by sincerity
Draw me in like a moth to a flame
Spiral 'round the eddy
I feel the plunge as you pull the chain"
(from 'Plunge')
"So life is an ocean of waves and calm,
I can tell you are scared by the heat of your palm
Trickle down through your illustrious bones
Chivalry died when you hung up the phone"
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Produced by Clatter and Christopher Rowe, the CD is
beautifully packaged in a strong 8-page Digipack with all photography
and design by Amy and Joe. It's on the Chicken
House Records label and is available from CDBaby.com for
$12.50. Highly recommended by this reviewer. |
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If your
band has recently released and album (no demos please!), email
editor(at)bassgirls.com
and we will let you know where to send it for review. |
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Back to this months Face The Music |
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