Customer Reviews

Four Songs

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I first heard the song "Orange Sky" while driving home from my office. I almost changed radio stations because it was unfamiliar and too mellow, but there was something about the soft building rhythmic repitition of the song that drew me in. When it ended, I made sure to make note of the name of the artist.

"Alexi Murdoch."

That evening, I visited his website (www.aleximurdoch.com) and watched a 30 minute live performance recorded for KCRW. Wow. I bought this CD immediately.

That was 9 months ago and it has rarely left my CD drawer since. And that is a CD with only 4 songs. They do not grow tired.

My son and I saw Alexi Murdoch live last night in a small club. He performed a good number of new songs (in addition to the 4 on this CD). Hopefully, the new songs will soon be available on a new CD. I can only hope it is as good as this one!

I highly recommend this CD. His music is meditative, his lyrics insightful, the playing top notch, and the entire package is unforgettable.

This is the first recording of a very important new artist.

This four song CD is amazing. I bought it at CDBaby.com where the sound files are a lot longer and I was completely mesmerized. It made many a birthday and christmas gift over the last couple of years.

Where is our full-length Am CD?

Straight from the U.K. this Brit is being touted as having the lyrical prowess of Harry Chapin. He is certainly a talented lyricist, a fact well proven in his song Orange Sky. This is a beautiful song, well crafted lyrically and musically. There are only four cuts on the EP and it is rightfully titled Four Songs. This is music at its best and Mr. Murdoch should soon become an international success. In the U.S we tend to dismiss the lyrical content of our music, but in the U.K great lyricist still exist. Alexi Murdoch is one of them.
Read more about Alexi at http://www.unsignedmusicmag.com

It has been a long time since a singer-songwriter has hit any scene in any of the genre-within-a-genre genres - say it out loud - without one major malfunction.

Fear.

And Alexi just doesn't friggin' have any.

The man wears his heart on his sleave without ever hinting to you that it was ever there - plainly put, he's your Christopher Carraba with a lot less to say. Actually making people feel what you put out is a talent that cannot be taught. It is a blessing that so few have been graced with. The torch has been passed and shared by the likes of Dylan, Marley, Drake, DiFranco, and now Murdoch.

Even with that being said, the simplicity will shock you. The melodies are boring and overused, the chords and progressions are oftenly repeated, and his voice shows little variance. Yet you will listen, and for reasons that might never be explainable by this author, you will find yourself sitting at work humming "my salvation lies in your love." You will remember the line "slowly, slowly I am drifting" and feel peaceful. You'll remind yourself that Alexi's "mind is too strong to carry on," and you'll realize that you can't stop listening.

If nothing more, this EP is so simple it's refreshing.

I know, you don't get it. But, trust me - you will.

-H

Heard "Orange Sky" on KMTT (local Seattle Radio) and both times I heard it it stopped me in my tracks. Saw Alexi live twice and he was great. The songs are beautiful and quiet and simple. Alexi gives you time to listen and reflect on the music. It will take your breath away. I can't wait for the next songs! BUY THIS CD - you will like it.

PS: Some compare Alexi Murdoch to the late British singer-songwriter Nick Drake.

I'm going to only give this EP 4 stars because there's only 4 songs on it, but what an incredible debut. I was in Tower Records yesterday and saw that he had just released his "debut album," my only two problems being "why did it take so long?" and "how come there are 11 songs on it, 3 of which are on his 4 song EP?" What makes this EP wonderful is the combination of beautiful melodies and wonderful lyrics. 'Orange Sky' is the song everyone either knows or has heard on the radion before, but the other three songs are just as strong. It's the kind of music you can listen to on its own, absorbing the lyrics and the music or the type of music you can read a book too. People have compared it to Nick Drake, which is a good comparison, but he may be closer to Badly Drawn Boy or a male version of Fisher. This guy is going to be huge if he puts out music on a more consistent basis. Buy this and enjoy.

I agree with the above review-Murdoch's album is fantastic. "Orange Sky" is an absolutely beautiful, contemplative song. You will really enjoy this work. I can't wait to hear more from this amazingly talented songwriter.

The first time I heard of Alexi Murdoch was in a magazine article in which he said he would not sign to a major label because they would change his music. This instantly sparked my interest, because I agree with him. I found the cd and ordered it and it has been in my cd player ever since. This cd is absolutely amazing. It is a very chill singer/songwriter type of cd. His voice is very soothing and has a hint of the Scottish accent he has. His voice could only be compared to James Taylor, himself a master of this genre of music. The guitar playing is very mellow and fits right in. The highlight for me is the song "Orange Sky". The lyrics are brilliant and the mood is perfect. I would highly recommend this cd to anyone into the singer/songwriter genre. The only dissapointment you will feel at all, is that it is only four songs and not a full length. Rumors on his webpage claim he may be coming out with a new cd sometimes soon, so keep your fingers crossed.

I bought this on a whim from another website, and it has become one of my favorite cds, despite its frustratingly short play time. Mr. Murdoch's full length album is out now, and I will be buying it no questions asked, simply based on these four songs. This album has a very simple sound; it is clean and has just the right amount of polish. Orange sky is the highlight of the album, but I never find myself skipping the preceding songs to reach it.

Words can not describe the beauty of this music.
Let's hope the LA rumors of a full length 'album' are soon to be realized.
btw cdBaby.com gives songfiles 2 minutes in length.
treat your ears to something wonderful.