Customer Reviews

Land of Souvenirs

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I've always been a sucker for the old Joni Mitchell school of acute observation, unflinching honesty, and careful writing in songs, and Patti Witten, in Land of Souvenirs, has put out an album full, beginning-to-end, of all three. Her singing is nicely understated and unaffected, her guitar work nothing short of masterful, and her melodies are unfailingly memorable, interesting, and catchy, even when they're gracing a less-than-cheery lyric. She has an unmistakable musical sensibility that takes pleasing roads less travelled enough to make her a stand-out in the world of smart folk-pop. All this, and she can rock, too! Producer and multi stringed-instrumentalist Rich DePaulo's contribution is in the "it just doesn't come any better" class, and a nice collection of other fine Ithaca-area musicians rounds out the effort to make it one of the best from Upstate New York in recent memory. (Reviewer: Tom Sieling)

When I put on Patti Witten's cd Land of Souvenirs, I knew I was in for a wonderful listening experience. I knew I was in for a treat, because I've heard Patti's music before and her lyrics immediately drew me in. However I was not prepared to feel rooted to the spot where I was standing - struck still by the immediacy, the urgency of the first track "Whispers". From that moment I knew I wanted to hear the secrets that this track implied - the personal stories that would reveal themselves in the rest of the cd. I was not disappointed. "Walk A Mile" with it's Joni Mitchell like vocal, and "Land of Souvenirs" with it's great descriptions are just two of the tracks that I enjoyed instantly. You will too. Next listen will be "Prairie Doll." Keep it up Patti!

The real souvenirs here are Patti's words and melodies. She's a master of emotional poetry and folds it so easily into the kind of everyday imagery that makes you wonder, "Now why didn't I think of that?" You'll find yourself humming "Blue Blanket" for hours after it stops playing. "Change of Heart Church Choir" is so dang clever and makes you look twice at the condition of the soul on your sleeve. Patti herself explains the theme of this collection of songs best with the line"...to celebrate returnings and leavings and beginnings and the end..." from "Second Longest Day Of The Year." The production is fabulous. Take this record home!