Customer Reviews

Songs From Take-Off to Landing

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The majority of reviews here are from fans who have caught Garrison Starr live. I had never heard of her until I went to see Steve Earle at the House of Blues in Hollywood this last week. She was the opening act. I was mesmerized by her performance. That is why I can not give this CD 5 stars. There is a definite raw, almost 'punk' attitude to her stage presence and especially her guitar playing. Imagine Emmylou if she'd been influenced by Kieth Richards or the Ramones. Garrison's voice, live, is something to behold. It is at once raw, powerful, beautiful and pitch perfect. This CD, unfortunately, does not represent what I saw that night. There is too much 'studio polish'. The edge has been rubbed smooth. Listen to "Serves me Right" and you will catch a glimpse of what this entire CD should have sounded like.. This track was produced by Steve Earle (who also lends his voice in a subtle background). If Mr. Earle has any influence on her, I hope it will be to maintain her musical integrity and not 'give in' to the industry. She personally signed every copy of this CD that was sold after her performance. She's a class act and deserves to be huge.

With a rare mixture of strength and vulnerability in her music, Garrison Starr's music is more "real" and meaningful than the vast majority of what you hear today from the singer-songwriter club. She's got the same kind of passionate delivery that the Indigo Girls have (without the ruined vocal cords), and her band on Take-Off gives the songs an added punch that's sure to set toes tapping and heads swaying everywhere. At least 7 or 8 different guitarists support Ms. Starr on the album - a different studio combo for nearly every song - but they all play with zeal and skill in equal measures. On "Knucklehead," a cut that really rocks, I could have sworn Garrison was being backed by Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood! (It was Mike Grimes and Ben Peeler.) I first heard her music on one of the "I-10" CDs, and was mightily impressed. Now, with "Take-Off" and its many high points, I've added Garrison Starr to my list of artists to follow in the future.

"Hi, my name is Garrison, and I used to have a cd called 'Eighteen Over Me' which some of you may have heard of...or maybe none of you have heard of."

That is what Garrison Starr said when she took the stage at a show I attended recently. Maybe it was true, considering the crowd was mostly made up of people who had paid to see Cracker, the band she was opening for. But my friends and I knew EXACTLY who Garrison Starr was. And we couldn't have cared less about Cracker.

I have been a fan of Garrison Starr for quite some time now, and I have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of her second album for the past 5 years. I must say, this was well worth the wait, but I certainly hope it's not another 5 years before we hear from her again!

After changing record companies, there was a VERY long time in between Garrison's OUTSTANDING first album, "Eighteen Over Me," and her second release, "Songs From Takeoff to Landing." She did release an EP independently, which was aptly titled, "Something to Hold You Over," and it did just that, as well as whet my appetite for some more Garrison. I rushed out the day the cd was released, and quickly popped it into my player. I came to a conclusion after only one listen: the new album is amazing.

Garrison Starr is not only a tremendous singing talent, but she is an amazingly gifted lyricist. The lyrics on this album are phenomenal, as well as the music itself. Her voice is so unique, and that wonderful little "twang" of an accent makes it all the more appealing. "Big Sky" is the first single off of the album, and it is terrific, but my personal favorites are "Serves Me Right"--a song about a "sketchy relationship," as she put it--and the awesome "Gardenia." Both are amazing lyrical triumphs. Take away the music, and Garrison is a gifted poet.

Garrison is currently touring small clubs as an opener for Cracker, and I had the good fortune to be able to see her perform live. She is even more awesome in person. Her 45-minute set was intense, and she performed almost all of her songs from the new album, which was absolutely fine with me. There were a few people in the disappointingly sparse crowd who were begging to hear "Superhero," but Garrison did not play her "signature" song. And really, there was no need. The new album stands on its own, and has a sound that is unlike her first cd, but just as good in its own right.

Garrison deserves to make it BIG. She is NOT just a one-hit wonder, but rather, she is a very talented performer. Hopefully, she will get the recognition she deserves with this new album. I haven't stopped listening to it since I bought it.

And, what makes this even better is that she really is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. The great thing about her playing in a small club on a weeknight was that the crowd wasn't very large, and we were able to actually talk with Garrison for a few minutes after her set. She signed my copy of her EP, and was honestly surprised when we told her that we had come to the show only to see her--we didn't care about Cracker (and we actually left before they even took the stage). She is so sweet and so appreciative of her fans...this is the type of person you can't help but root for and hope that she becomes a MAJOR success. She certainly has the talent for it.

As she wrote on my friend's T-shirt, "Rock on," Garrison.

Songs From Take Off To Landing is Garrison Starr's major follow-up to 97's critically acclaimed Eighteen Over Me. Things were looking good for Starr with spots on the Lilith Fair tour, but like many other female singer/songwriters as soon as the tour was over radio play dried up and the girls were banished to the cutout bin. After walking away from music for a time between her two records, Songs From Take Off To Landing plays more as a journey in confidence than anything else. Starr realizes "Somethin's Gotta Change" in the opening track. By the time she hits the middle of the album's "Raging Fire" she recognizes that her heart has found its beat with brand new bright mornings. She also picks up some iconic friends along her way as Mary Chapin Carpenter and Steve Earle lend their support on the journey. On the penultimate track, "Hardest Part Of Living," Starr begs her lover to "come on, break my heart" because she knows she'll ultimately be stronger because of it. One of the most rocking and assured tracks, "Knucklehead," closes the disc acknowledging "you make me wanna rock / you make me wanna sing" and somehow you know she's referring to herself and her rejuvenated confidence in her craft.

This is a wonderful album for anyone who likes the female singer/songwriter genre, especially the afore-mentioned artists. Garrison Starr puts on a great live show (just saw her this weekend) and her charisma really carries through on this CD.

Plus she's got cool hair :-)

I just saw Garrison Star open for Steve Earle in buffalo, and I must say I was blown away! I had never heard her play or sing a note before, but let me assure you she does both very well. She's the rare combination of a powerful vocalist and a damn good guitar player, and a pretty good songwriter to boot. If you like lucinda williams, or neko case, give Garrison Star a listen. You won't be disappointed.

I had the pleasure of seeing Garrison Starr last week, she was the opening act for Steve Earle. I'll be honest I had never heard of her nor did I really care. My whole evening was focused on seeing Steve Earle live for the first time. All I can say is wow, she was excellent. I bought the cd from her at the show(which she signed), and she is a realy classy lady. I really like this cd, the hooks are incerdible, I find that the songs reel through my head constantly, they are completely infectious. This is comming from someone(myself)who can normally be found listening to the likes of John Hiatt, Gomez, Cowboy Junkies, Idaho, & The Tragically Hip. This makes a great additon to my collection.

I can honestly say this cd has been in my player for weeks now and I have yet to skip over a single song. I also had the opportunity to see Garrison in NYC a few weeks ago and though it didn't seem possible, her live performance was even better! Garrison, can't wait for the next one!

I heard Superhero before anything else by Garrison. Then I was priveledged to see her live and she was amazing. Her voice is powerful yet soft at the same time. Her newest release, Take-Off, is awesome. She rocks then turns around and does a touching ballad, like "Silent Night", which she wrote about her departure from Geffen Records. Mary Chapin Carpenter is also featured on this track and a few others. She even sang with Mary Chapin on Austin City Limits not too long ago. She is definately up and coming. How could she not be? Signed to a major label at 19... Jenn (On air dj -KGPR, Great Falls, MT)

Having seen Garrison open for the Sundays about 5 years ago in Philadelphia, I was instantly hooked on her raw, amazing talent. I bought Eighteen Over Me shortly thereafter and I must have listened to it at least 3-4 times a day. I got the opportunity to see her and meet her at a small venue in Philadelphia; the Tin Angel, about 2 years later. I was eager to hear new work and am so glad to have purchased this new cd. Needless to say, it hasn't left my cd player and I have had it for almost 2 months! It really is easy to fall into the lyrics and into the guitar riffs that she wails on, plus, Steve Earle, and Mary Chapin Carpenter join her. I guess what I am trying to say is...BUY THIS CD!