Reviews
Wendy
Colonna
"Right Where I Belong"
2006 Independently Released
Score = 8
This CD starts with the track “Easy,” which gets your attention from
the get-go. The first part is the odd rhythm supplied by drummer Eldridge
Goins. At first I thought it was wrong, or I heard it wrong- but then
I backed it up and realized that it was very right. It might catch you
off guard, but it grows on you and fits the song perfectly. That’s the
hallmark of a great drummer, he lets the song pull the rhythm from him,
rather than just forcing a rhythm he already knows into the song. “Easy”
is a haunting and peculiar song that grows on you and becomes addictive.
And if you’re a singer songwriter like Wendy is, it’s best to just knock
the ball out of the park on the first track. That being said, imagine
the beautiful Louisiana songstress as she walks the bases- like so many
clubs in Austin- to home plate.
The fourth track “Coffee Today” is on par with Carole King’s “So far
Away.” It relates to the feelings of loneliness sometimes brought on
by a simple event, like stopping by for coffee. It has a rainy Sunday
feeling about it, that rare moment on the sofa when the world stops
and a bittersweet feeling washes over you, and you realize the day won’t
last forever.
“Does it Satisfy” shines with the help of local trumpet hero Ephraim
Owens. Wendy shows a great deal of promise as a songwriter and lyricist.
She has a knack for riding the line between joy and despair, euphoria
and melancholy. As a vocalist she is sultry, passionate and very consistent.
Her time spend with close personal friend Guy Forsyth has been a great
influence. (Or perhaps, Wendy has been a great influence on Guy?)
The “A” list of Austin talent along for
the ride includes Forsyth, Carolyn Wonderland, Warren Hood, Cole el
Saleh, Leslie Mccurdy, Su Walenta, Wayne
Sutton, and Ephraim Owens. Rounding it out and adding his personal stamp
of quality is producer Stephen Doster, who in my opinion can do no wrong.
Guy
Forsyth
"Love Songs: For & Against"
2005
Nimble Records
Score = 9
Hallelujah! The new and long awaited album from Guy Forsyth is finally
here! It’s been 5 years since he released “Steak,” which was before
the 9/11 event that changed everyone’s way of thinking about life and
what to be “for and against.” That’s an important thing to keep in mind
with this artist, who is all too aware of the world we live in.
Before I get started, let’s do a simple rundown of exactly what we’re
dealing with here, incase you just moved to planet Earth. Guy Forsyth
is a powerful vocalist who learned how to project his voice by busking
on 6th street, and then by fronting the Asylum Street Spankers who were
all acoustic and microphone free at the time. He’s a fantastic guitar
player, focusing on slide resonator style Delta blues. He also happens
to be one of Austin’s premiere blues harp players that could easily
share a stage with James Cotton or Kim Wilson. A triple threat? Wait-
there’s more! Aside from being a talented vocalist and multi-instrumentalist,
he’s a truly inspired songwriter. He’s also one of the few people in
Austin to master the musical saw. Add all that together, and you have
a rare jewel in Austin’s jewel filled crown.
“Love Songs” starts out strong with “Long Time” which is a hard hitting
spoken word rambling blues tune containing such lines as “Everyone wants
to pull off the crime of the century- steal 200 gazillion dollars and
get away with it. We Americans are freedom loving people and nothing
says freedom like getting away with it.” The truth hurts, and Guy knows
there’s plenty of pain going around these days. Then my favorite line:
“I wonder how the rest of the world sees us, like a drunk 15 year old
waving a gun in their faces.” We all hope that’s not true, while knowing
it probably is. Powerful thought provoking lyrics that are extremely
relevant.
Few even on a national level can compete, and yet for some reason he
remains OUR best kept secret. Forsyth comes off as a patriotic American
simply venting his frustrations about our recent mistakes more than
anything else. After all, when you love something, you expect it to
be the best it can be.
As a whole, this CD stands up well against anything he’s ever done.
My favorite track of all is called “105.” It rivals my previous favorite
Forsyth tune from 1996’s “Needlegun” called “Hometown Boy.” Full of
imagery, sweat and tears- and relevant as all get-out.
Guy’s well chosen help includes backing vocals by the immensely talented
Carolyn Wonderland, Wendy Colonna, and Pam Miller. Percussion by the
gifted New York artist Su Walenta. Recorded and mixed by Mark
Addison at his scenic Aerie Studio right here in Atown (Austin Texas),
Mark also supplies guitars and keys aside from moral support.
I saw Su Walenta last night at Makor (in
NYC) and really enjoyed what she does. I love drums whether they be
marching band or ritualistic for celebration or prayer or all the whispers
and shouts in between. But the drumming is only one part of her presence
on stage. She has an energy that seems very grounding and lifting at
once. I spent a good part of my long train ride back home pondering
the similarity of spirit present in drummers and ???? I can't pinpoint
the next noun .. possibly yoga instructers?? which sounds so silly but
all of life seems to me to have been a quest for fulfilling that which
makes ones own spirit radiate it's evidence. Accupuncture does that
for me, yoga does that for me, but only temporarily. There are those,
and I would place Su in this category, who seem to have found some sychronicity
in spirit and everyday life and better handle the balance. It seems
to me these individuals manifest a spiritual glow for lack of a better
description, and always make me wonder if a different path taken would
have enabled me to glow like that. Anyway, it was good to listen and
watch and feel and be reminded that life in NYC can be more ..... ~Nancy
