Review of "Sessions Down the Shore"
This artist reminds me a lot of early Ani DiFranco. Real early, think, album #1. I love this stuff. It's very raw, voice and guitar, not much else (if anything) and just powerful and cool.
On songs like "Pleasesir" which is still just she and her guitar, she gets crazy rockin'. I guess her website name is a perfect fit, Feisty folk.
Colin has a fantastic voice that can be strong one moment and vulnerable the next.
All the songs are great, but standouts for me are: "Truth",
She does a lot of monkey-ing with rhythms and it gives the songs so much life and energy.
I bet she's amazing live. I can almost feel the energy coming right out of the CD player.
Review of "Sessions Down the Shore"
Colin comes forth on eir “Sessions Down the Shore” with “Idea”, a track that keeps up a bouncy flow even as little adorns the track besides a guitar (with bass accompanying) and vocals. The production is nothing special, but the nuance of Colin’s vocals are captured perfectly. I could completely see a song like “Idea” having a second life on rotation, something that would be made all the more impressive if Colin could have included a live version of this track at the end of the disc. Regardless, ey goes into the second track “Truth” strong, and in a way that will made individuals hopeful for the future. While the bass line in “Idea” was just working alongside the guitar line, by the time that “Truth” starts the bass fills in those moments that the guitar is not playing, bouncing and flittering around.
This allows the overall sound of the disc to be more varied as well as keeps individuals interested in what Colin has to say. Each of the disc’s first two tracks is short enough that Colin can bow out and find a way to impress listeners with an entirely new approach. Thus, by the time that ey gets to “Now I”, ey is at a strong position few artists are able to achieve. The more Latin flow of ”Now I’ is tempered by the blend of Tori Amos and Fiona Apple in the vocals of Colin, but this track is by far the most energetic up to this point on the album. The production is still maintained at that level that does not overshadow the arrangements on the disc but also does not hinder the constructs on “Sessions Down The Shore”. The only weakness that can be heard on “Sessions Down the Shore” has to be the slower tempoed ”Nothin’ Without Your Love”.
While it is true that Colin is trying to recall the slower, older country ballads, there is little on this track to focus on besides the repetitive arrangements and vocals. Still, the bass line is strong and feeds in to the track “Sweater”, which speeds things back up and gets the ship righted. The song mixes the aforementioned Tori Amos-type of vocals (think “Cornflake Girl”) with a more jazz meets Santana type of style. The result is an eclectic success, and Colin moves towards the second half of the disc strong. Pick it up.
Top Tracks: Sweater, Unconditionally
Quarter page Local Flavor Feature: “Full-Throated, Feisty Folk-Rock”
-April 23, 2006
“Promising, young, local songwriter Colin Hogan”
–July 28, 2006
" Art, Music, and Drinks: PFAC Arts Cafe "
...Last Thursday Colin Hogan, who is a singer, songwriter, and musician, played for the captivated audience. Bassist Brian Link accompanied her. Her music was refreshing and she displays a diverse musical repertoire. I recommend checking her out at Granby North Restaurant on April 1...
"Colin-A New Star on the Richmond Music Scene
Horizon"
From the first time I saw Colin perform (at Out of Bounds opening
a Rockitz TV/WRIR radio fund raiser) I could tell she has 'it'.
The 'it' is a fine captivating voice, comparable guitar skills,
wonderfully structured original songs by the scores, and a stage
presence that is natural, relaxed, & fluid. She looks like
she was born to perform on stage.
It could be an inherent gift, but years of experience are likely
an influence also. Trained in piano since age 5, this 21 year
old Randolph Macon music major/NORVA native claims she has been
playing guitar for only five years, but many could be fooled by
how comfortable she seems when playing it. Her main asset, however
is a remarkably clear and versatile voice. It moves easily from
fast paced latin-beat inspired originals, to some of her slower
plaintive bluesy ones, without strain or effort.
After graduation from RMC this coming year I hope she stays in
the area because we will all gain. If you would like to catch
her performing she will be playing Rockitz gigs at Bogart's, the
Un-National Folk Festival, and at Lewis Ginter Gardens through
Jan 4, 2006. She has completed 4 CD's and more info can be found
at www.feistyfolk.com.
"Another standout artist in the lineup was
Colin Hogan, a musician from northern Virginia. She skillfully blended
a soulful acoustic guitar with sassy vocals and a funk-step bass
line to create a danceable sound that induced head bobbing throughout
the venue. Her contributions to "Restoring the Structure"
include "Canvas" and "Hold Me.""
“Colin (Hogan) is a female songwriter from
Virginia who won the hearts of Buffalonians when she came up for
a month to intern at Righteous Babe Records and to demonstrate her
percussive, Latin-inspired guitar work and full, inviting voice.”
“Perusing the list of singer/songwriters Burakowski
and his team have assembled for the Mohawk gig -- including Jax
DeLuca, Rachel Heckl, Colin Hogan, Mark Longolucco, Dan Reitz,
the band Vox Humana, Brian Wheat and the duo Woebegone -- it's
immediately apparent that they have concentrated on a younger
generation of songwriters. I wondered what Burakowski believes
these younger writers are bringing to the table that has perhaps
been missing.
"There are many fantastic songwriters that
have been playing around this area for decades who we love, but
the younger songwriters that we chose for this compilation share
a unique skill -- the ability to pay homage to the rich history
of songwriting, while finding opportunities to incorporate distinctly
modern themes, styles and technology. It's absolutely refreshing
to see young songwriters discover and develop synergy between
a world of music that is solely theirs and one that has been shared
for centuries."
|
