The Year in Reviews

I hope everyone had a safe new year, a reflective MLK Day, uh...an optimistic Groundhog Day (though it apparently didn't do a lot of good for New York, as illustrated by the 2-3 feet of snow that got dumped on them this past weekend), and a romantic-or-at-least-not-too-spite-filled Valentine's Day.

Lots of good press rolling in these days...the bleedin bleedins staged the CD release party for their long-awaited debut CD, Life Without Computers, in Boston on January 27th. The CD has already garnered quite a bit of well-deserved praise, both here in the States and in the Emerald Isle (Ireland, for you yanks):

These kings of the catchy chorus mix power pop with alt-rock, without hiding other influences as varied as U2 and the Strokes. ... Affable, danceable, and emotional, and with tunes that stick around, Life Without Computers has plenty of heart.
- Linda Laban, The Boston Globe, 1/27/06

[Lead singer Mike] Coen carries the hooks with an intoxicating tenor and the requisite swagger, and the orchestration throughout the album is terrific, hurtling the songs forward in a dense fabric of pulsing instrumentation...
- Jason Holloway, Dissolver Magazine, November 2005

The Bleedin' Bleedins deliver rock songs purposefully, directly and with authority. ... a solid debut release that should garner widespread and well-deserved accolades for [the band]. ... Producers Will Robertson and David Franz have effectively harnessed the band's talented collaborative writing skills and channeled them into a balanced freshman offering.
- Tim Deal, The Wire, 2/1/06

The bleedins are gearing up for their second Irish tour in a year, for which they'll depart in a couple of weeks.

Tim Williams' Tales of Digression has also been well received 'cross the pond, as evidenced by packed houses on his recent UK tour and reviews like these:

A debut album of gravity and depth which belies the youth of its creator, Tales of Digression showcases a man at home with his talent. ...Complemented by the sparse instrumentation, [Williams'] vocal style is intense and raw when conveying emotions and lifts on the more upbeat tracks, though the whole album is a quiet affair which rewards the careful listener rather than the casual one.
- Jenny Alder, Americana UK, 12/13/05

"My Brooklyn" is gorgeous, in a beautifully understated way ... a breathy romanticism, and exquisite use of space. Everything has a warm and dreamy quality, akin to watching the world from underwater.
- James Millen, Felix

Tim is rapidly becoming a fixture in the New York singer/songwriter scene, and made quite an impression in his CMJ Music Showcase performance last September.

More news coming, so stay tuned...