Customer Reviews

Down Easy

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Went to San Francisco for conference. Ventured to a local bar called Bottom of the Hill on a lark and heard her band the Ruiners. By chance, went to Tim Finn show two days later and her trio opened. Noe Venable is a major league artist without a major label - compelling, original. "Look, luck" is a favorite, but the entire album stands up on repeated listening (I've played the disc about 15 times in past three weeks).

I've seen young people create beauty. It's much more rare to see a young person create poignancy. Noe Venable can bind contradictions in one image so true you don't know if your heart has been broken or given wings.

Twenty Years! Twenty years it takes me to write a few songs that I like! And my friend Joe says of Noe Venable: "Just how many great songs does she HAVE?!?" For the new listener, try the first four songs on 'Down Easy'. 'The Timebirds' and 'Look Love' are as good as you get from little known new artists. Enjoy.
But see her soon. She just opened for Ani D. and you won't be in the front row for long.

Hey, it's clear this kid trained her voice in stage work. But what I love is that she channels that awesome talent into a writing style that clearly indicates she's stretching towards something imagistic and romantic. If you ever get to see her live, she'll blow you away- only a poet could do her presence justice- someday, someone will write a GREAT poem about her- go girlfriend go!

This may be the best way to first experience Noe Venable's remarkable music. The live format underscores the hushed intimacy and gentleness that animates her work. That same intimacy also highlights her artistic courage in unveiling herself so completely.

Noe Venable is a songwriter of the highest caliber, as this collection attests. If you are like me, you will be immediately hooked by the melodic power of "Stolen Thing", "Dear Carolyne", and "Look, Luck", while the rich thematic complexity of songs like "Angelyne" will keep you thinking for weeks or months. My personal favorite is "Dandelion Hills". This song is so moving that I listen to it over and over again, and still it brings tears to my eyes.

I have been utterly enchanted by this will-o-the-wisp, and I will follow wherever her song leads. All five albums I've been able to locate thus far are high on my rotation.