Customer Reviews

Break The Spell

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I met Ellis at a folk event. I found her to be a charming and quirky entertainer and couldn't get enough of her so I followed her around to hear her wherever she performed over the three day event. I bought several of her recordings. While the voice is the same and the songs/stories are the same, without actually seeing her perform with her facial expressions, body language, and little giggles, a great deal is lost. Some things are hard to put on a cd. Like Tina Turner, who is so much better in person, Ellis is to be seen and heard, not just heard. I like the CD and listen often, but I wish they were videos.

Folk music is normally not my cup of tea but I do listen to a bit of folk music here and there. One of the few folk artists that I love is local Minneapolis artist (transplanted from Texas) Ellis. I recently discovered Ellis over the summer at a local free music festival. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed her music. Ellis reminded me a bit of Dar Williams. The songs I heard that day can be found on Ellis' latest album BREAK THE SPELL. The only difference is that she has a band backing her up. I recently acquired a copy of BREAK THE SPELL. I am unable to get enough of the cd. The sparse acoustic melodies and playful lyrics makes Ellis a true hidden gem that needs to be unhidden to the general public. While I think all of the songs on the album is fantastic, I really think Ellis' ballads on the cd is something special. I really loved "Words You Said" and "Before You Leave". The acoustic instrumental "Lake Calhoun" is quite pretty. It closes out the cd. The only flaw with this cd is that it is very short and left me wanting more but as I have always said, better to be left wanting more than bored with too much filler. If you can, I recommend seeing Ellis live. She is a lot of fun.

Listening to Ellis' Break the Spell is transporting yourself, discovering yourself, being moved. Each time I listen to this CD I discover something new about myself and something new about Ellis' music. It is rich with story, filled with passion and you won't be disappointed by ordering this cd for yourself, for a friend, for just about anyone. It's worth buying the actual cd instead of just downloading it because the artwork is stunning as well. Go. Shop. Spend. Buy!