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Enjoy a couple of Chris Collier tunes and check out theflypod.com's new media podcast interview with Chris Collier on Gary Puckett's show called the Mix on February 7, 2007 |
Cincinnati
Post
Thursday,
March 16, 2006
CLUBS
- by Rick Bird
Chris Collier's
'Over Twenty'
sums up a spirited career
Veteran singer-songgwriter Chris Collier has released "Over 20," her first CD release since 1998. She makes up for lost time with an exquisite 21-cut double CD that is a tantalizing career retrospective of this fine poet and singer.
It is as accomplished and satisfying a local release in memory, featuring Collier's introspective, accessible lyrics, her pleading, lilting voice, and a jam session of some of the areas best musicians and singers.
Collier said the title refers to the "over 20 songs, over 20 years of songwriting, over 20 local friends and musicians on it. We're all over 20 and it gets better every year."
Collier released three well-received CDs in the '90s and was the darling of the local music awards circuit for her writing. She put her music career on the back burner when she became a teacher at age 41, now with four years in the profession at Clark Montessori. Collier reaches back to the songs she wrote in the early '80s and up to a couple years ago, often with a melancholy and wistful take on life, love and regrets.
It's an inspired and amazingly connected musical and songwriting experience that "reminds us life is a journey, not a destiantion," as aptly put by Joey Victor, a 15-year old student of Collier's that she asked to write the liner notes.
While Collier is of the folk spirit, this is hardly a gal and her guitar. In a project that hearkens to Sheryl Crow's "Tuesday Night Music Club," Collier recorded every Tuesday for more than a year, inviting her musical friends to participate in the project. The result is a local all-star lineup with such players as Steve Sigsbee, Spencer Funk, Greg Mahan, Brandt Smith, Jan Dieh, Kevin Eagan, Larry Feldner and some of the area's finest female singers harmonizing wtih Collier, such as Elaine Diehl, Pam Temple, Tracy Walker and Dixie Karas.
Collier said the problem with inviting her friends was she also had to "boss them around," acting as her own producer.
"I was always a songwriter who played guitar to support it," Collier said. "When I was working with these really talented people, I was really worried about how to talk to them to get what I wanted. I was overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of every musician who came in."
The richly textured musical effort ranges from traditional folk to country-tinged pop, jazzy stylings, and a tremendously soulful blues tune with Collier joined by Walker and Karas.
Collier thought hard about the self-indulgent aspect of a local musician releasing a double disc. It may be a rare case where this works. There is a sense of musical discovery on every cut and thematically one can appreciate an artist rediscovering a solid body of her own songs and breathing fresh life into them.
Chris Collier will perform at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Starbucks in Hyde Park Plaza and 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Monmouth Theatre, 636 Monmouth St., Newpor, appearin gwith Betsy Lippitt as part of this mont's Women at the Monmouth Music Series.
On April 23, Collier will bring together many of the musicians who appear on the project for an official CD release gig at York Street Cafe in Newport (www.chriscollier.com).
GLBT
NEWS April 2006
Q Reviews
Music
Chris Collier’s “Over Twenty”
By Scott Neison
I’ve not seen Chris Collier perform live in a very long time.
It’s this distance from her live music, which I used to catch
quite often, that caused me to think upon first listen to Over Twenty
that Chris had rerecorded some of her earlier work. As it turns out,
these are songs I had previously heard live, now beautifully recorded
for me to listen to when I desire.
As I begin to listen to this double CD set for the third time, one thing
remains constant about Chris’ music. It’s infectious and
addictive. On first listen I thought, “Yep, that’s Chris.”
On second listen, I thought, “Chris, my dear friend.” Now
as I listen once again, I find I’m part of her inner circle.
The sense of getting to know Chris intimately while listening to her
music is a charm that has never faded from her first CD, There for Dreaming,
to this new release. The music is so comfortable, the lyrics gentle
and personal. Listening to Over Twenty, it’s clear to me her music
must remain on my deserted island list. With Chris’ music, I would
never feel deserted.
I’m familiar with many of the 21 songs on this new CD. Live favorites
such as “Can’t Let Go,” “weather’s Admitted
Spring,” and “Clock Song” are wonderfully present.
Other old favorites are given special treatment. The piano on the song
“What Were You Thinking?” turns this great song into a classic.
It is unbelievably, but not surprisingly, gorgeous. “Something
About You” includes guest vocals from Tracy Walker and Dixie Karas.
This version is an incredible collaboration of talent.
And what about songs I hadn’t heard before. Standouts include
“Cousin Ann” and “Solo Lonely.” The banjo on
“Back to You” is remarkable. Pam Temple’s backing
vocals and the musicality of “The Ride” make it so beautiful
and touching, every note perfectly crafted. “Swoosh” is
a just pinnacle of song-writing! “Try Laughing” is perhaps
my favorite track. Ryan Adcock and Chris’ voices were made to
be together.
Chris really hits her stride singing a duet with Chris Haubner. He and
Chris a re simply magical together on the song “Where.”
“Focus on This” is perhaps the most interesting song on
this new CD for me. Chris frighteningly captures distress, yet the song
ends with the artist dealing with whatever she is dealt with a positive
outlook that keeps her strong.
Songs on Over Twenty span Chris’ incredible songwriting career
from 1982 to present. Nine of the songs were written before or during
the release of Chris’ first CD in 1992. Incredibly these songs
didn’t make the cut. Chris’ songs are all heart. It’s
rare to find an artist so comfortable sharing this much emotion. I guess
that’s why once one becomes a Chris Collier fan they stay one
for life. This personal collection is easily Chris’s best work
to date.
Chris Collier will perform on Sunday, April 23 at York Street Café
in Newport. For info on upcoming performances, visit www.chriscollier.com
For another great review on Chris Collier's Over Twenty release, check out the following Link:
City
Beat - Spill It - April 19, 2006 issue
Disc 'N' Dat
By Larry Nager
CHRIS COLLIER
Song Gallery
Grig Records; * * * 1/2
$15.98 CD
Singer-songwriter Chris Collier has released
her second CD and it's a winner, a confident showcase for her songwriting,
her quirkily compelling voice and a sizable array of local backup musicians.
The nine songs range from the fairly straightforward
love song, "My Love is Secure," to "Galaxie 500,"
in which she wrestles the car song back from the male rock establishment.
It's one of the disc's best songs, a portrait
of a young woman who "saw the world from that Galaxie 500. . .
in that $40 car she would go to every corner of Ohio.
Karen Addie of the Graveblankets adds
expressive violin to that track. "Love Without Much Reason"
is a grungy folk-rocker that features electric guitarist Steve Sigsbee
doing his best Neil Young.
Like most local CDs, Song Gallery
was a financial struggle to complete, but Ms. Collier came up with the
unique solution of obtaining sponsors for each song.
It was money well-spent.
Fresh and heartfelt, this is as good a singer-songwriter project as any of the major labels have managed to recently produce.
Spill It
By Mike Breen
Recent Releases
The new CD from singer/songwriter Chris Collier, Further, is highly recommended for fans of sprite and gorgeous Folk songs. The 11 tracks, all penned by Collier, are sophisticated and introspective, heavy on the Folk with tinges of Country. Collier is a fantastic songwriter, writing whistful and tuneful melodies that haunt and soothe. And she makes it all sound so effortless. Pick up a copy of Further and you shan't be disappointed.
Spill It
By Mike Breen
CD Release Gigs
A couple of very different CD release
parties are in the clubs this coming Friday.
Over at Newport's York St. Café on Friday,
talented singer/songwriter Chris Collier will be celebrating her impressive
new disc, Song Gallery. The record is the follow-up to her debut
, the acoustic, minimal Further.
This time out, Collier fleshes out the
tracks with a full band, making the songs more fully realized while
retaining the heart and essence so capably displayed on her previous
effort. While a little folksy, the textural nature of the disc coupled with
her captivating vocals and a top-notch collection of backing musicians
(notably violinist Karen Addie, drummer Jeff Monroe and guitarist Steve
Sigsbee) helps Song Gallery transcend easy categorization. Essentially,
the album is a rootsy, organic journey that, if you're a fan of acts
like the Indigo Girls and Dar Williams or even Gillian Welch and Sarah
McLachlan, you won't want to end.
Collier's well-written musings are certainly on par with the bigger Adult Alternative acts that garner national attention. She's absolutely deserving of similar acclaim.
Scene & Heard
Edited by Amy McDonald
Local singer/songwriter Chris Collier has just released a follow-up CD to her sold-out debut album There For Dreamin'. The new CD, Further, is a stripped-down, cohesive collection of gorgeous country-vocalized folk songs. The best cut: the somber yet lovely song "Who You Turned Out To Be," has a drifting, sensual melody benefited by a deep and tranquil trombone line. Highly recommended the CD is available at Borders Books and Music and Crazy Ladies Bookstore.
Fitton Arts Center Review from July 2000 Performance
Locals Only - City Beat article June 2001
Cincinnati.com - article August 31, 2001