Customer Reviews

Two

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This excellent follow up to "Saturday Morning Sweet Shoppe" offers more delightlful melodies and colorful production.
But Andrea's songs are much more than production numbers. "Bursting Through The Clouds" is both timely and timeless with lyrics like -

"Come pick me off the floor and tell me it gets better
My thoughts are chained and fettered to dark prophecies
Vultures in the sky and battleships at sea
I wanna have it back the way it use to be...
...I wanna see the sun bursting through the clouds"

The juxtaposition of fanciful style production and sober sometimes somber lyric content coupled with rivoting,
emotional melodies is a hallmark of Andrea's music and make for very special music that deserves a much wider audience.
However, the beautiful ballad "Higher", the lovely 6/8 tune "Bye Bye" and "You Broke The Spell" show an emotionally honest
Andrea free from cleverness and quirk and they are just wonderful songs immediately accessible to the masses...

The sarchastic cynicism of "Gettin' To Know You" is great...

" I felt the whipping chains, the belt, the switch, the canes
Hot scissors in my mouth, no blood left in my veins
Now I'm So glad I'm getting to know you..."

But "Make The World Go Round" is deliciously ironic and one of my very favorites on the CD.

"Draw a line and blur the line and dare me not to cross the line...
Love, make the world go round (all sing in praise of love, yeah)

Ok, trust me, all the songs are excellent, original and engaging exponents of a truly gifted artist...and I do mean artist.

Recent reviewer Marvin Van Pelt (related to Lucy, perhaps?) is apparently one bitter, unhappy guy. He's from Texas, as is Andrea Perry - did she jilt him in high school? We'll never know. At any rate, I'm at a loss to understand what's wrong with esteeming Paul McCartney, Brian Wilson, and Burt Bacharach as your forebears. This is a lovely record, with sometimes dark lyrical concerns wrapped in a deceptively chipper, spun-sugar cocoon of catchy melodies and immaculate presentation. As a musician, Perry isn't dazzling - but instrumental virtuosity and great pop are usually antithetical concepts; as a producer, she shines, and so does this record.

The songs found on Perry's "TWO" and previous album "Saturday Morning Sweet Shoppe" are so far above the norm and so full of heart, I would dare call them perfect - No half baked rants. No ego projection. No self-deception. I find most interesting, Ms. Perry's lyrical content, consider the title "I think of Nothing". Zen stuff, Indeed. Her vocals play counterpoint and set the stage without wasting time. At the expense of prose, perhaps but far more poetic and honest in coming from the heart than purely from the head. A cleverly chosen time signature jolts you from pre-conception and leaves you alone with the music. In The Now as the Taoists say, completely empty, but full of possibility and in this case, open to the simple but universal experience of learning the hard way. The aforementioned comment may seem insulting to your typical ego-driven lyricist - which it would, but Andrea Perry has no interest in philosophizing or playing the authority on any given subject. Her stories are told from experience to a close friend, you, the listener. What makes this album most engaging (or...affective, literally) is the fact that her technical skills in playing multiple instruments is rivaled only by her seemingly pitch-perfect and passionate vocals and harmonies. Couple this with the undeniable fact that she provides a rollercoaster of real, interpersonal triumph and tragedy, fully communicated and empathetic, and you have one unforgettable album.

Almost a concept piece if not disclosed as such, it presents the temporary nature of so many relationships and the hope that follows a failure. Something all who have a soul can identify with. One can almost fall in love simply listening to her journey, although it is VERBOTEN that you project the message onto the messenger, capisca? Ms. Perry also seems to be preoccupied with state of the art sonic clarity, as are most musicians fortunate enough to both understand the need for good engineering and know how to get it done. Listening to "Higher" layered in such devout and objective digital love, makes me wonder if Ms. Perry is a person at all, and not some Muse with a Masters Degree in Engineering and the 3x3inch limited CD release of Oranges and Lemons. Her songs, or rather her honestly felt projections and knowledge of what songs can be are so fun and free that only a miser with a grain of sand for a heart could fail to see the charm.

Luckily, that's the only bad news- the delusional AM radio retiree social set who hate Crash Test Dummies because they have a stupid name and weren't around back when they were cool in high school, will hate this music! The type that think Todd Rundgren, Burt Bacharach and Gilbert O'Sullivan are timeless, just because their first kiss was had while listening to Hello It's Me, will reject Andrea's highly polished production values, digital finesse and tasteful mixing (despite the fact that they know Todd extravagantly engineered the XTC masterpiece Skylarking.) Those whose musical lexicon range from Eric Carmen to Air Supply will find Andrea Perry's albums the work of a sham artiste. This is the same sort of iconoclastic reaction that your typical 70's wedding band, never-weres might feel towards real talent and real heart with the time to do something about it.

The Simple secret is that Andrea's music is beautiful because it comes from Andrea, a one-of-a-kind Renaissance Ma'am, wise well beyond her years. And you can't fake that. In a rational world, they'd play "Gettin' to Know You" from all the street corners and the real people would tap their toes, feel real hope and not take themselves so damn seriously.

Besides, you've spent more on garbage that you've already forgotten you have.

OK, John Lennon and George Harrison had a time machine. They went to the future and nabbed a DNA sample from Andrea Perry. Then they took their parents further into the future and had that DNA implanted into their DNA so that when they returned everything back to its place and they were born, they would have some of what Andrea's got, Pure Musical Genius.

Andrea Perry continues to deliver brilliant songwriting and sweet sentiments in witty and smooth music. "Two" explores a deeper look into the mind of an emotional savant who seems to be able to catalog every thought and feeling ever experienced by humans, at least in the way she sees it all!

Another sweet turn on the road of a brilliant path!

I LOVE this CD! I remember when I first heard the song "Simple" from her first release SATURDAY MORNING SWEET SHOPPE I knew I would be a longtime fan for good! I got the CD right away and I felt a sort of childhood bonding with this person throughout each song! And her voice is seductive as well as teeth clenching cute!
Her newest release TWO has been circulating through the hands of a lot of my friends who wont give me my CD back!
Back to the review now! The newest CD TWO. Her songs here are catchy and sticky sweet-yum! More on the mellow side of sunny day dreaming-with some dark balances!
The production and vibe is in pure form...very genuine. This whole Andrea Perry ride is a fun one!
Please check out the songs "Bursting Through The Clouds" and "Oh No, The Day is Dawning" to hear what I mean!

If you are a pop explorer and you have traveled the globe via the net, and you "STILL" have not heard of Andrea Perry --well, today's yer lucky day! When I first heard her debut CD I nearly went into shock (ok, that's some major praise I know ...but how else can I descibe a jubilant glee to the 10th power?).
I was floored to read on -how she wrote,recorded,and played nearly every instrument "and" sang these songs with a vocal style I hadnt heard in the industry yet! Good GOD I was thrilled ...
Well, a few years have passed and finally a new CD arrives (yeh).

Typically a pop newbie would shoot the wad on the first Cd, yet my level of appreciation and standard for this girl was pretty damn high, and of course I expected the new Cd to at least be on par with the first one(which is still hard to do) ---to my delight, after the first 15 seconds of "Bursting Through The Clouds" --- I was beaming! And, being a pop writer too --I was also jealous that she had "done it again" with her second outing.
And so effort less it would seem ... There are so many rich and wonderful melodies played to pop perfection, well ...it's amazing really.

The bottom line is -WOW. Fantastic Cd, especially if you like XTC, Beatles and Jellyfish (as I sure do). Andrea has more talent than most pop folk will ever have, and her vocal sound is so fresh and new ...I love it!

Get this Cd, you wont be dissapointed ---I promise!

Scott McPherson/Tiny Volcano

The songs found on Perry's "TWO" and previous album "Saturday Morning Sweet Shoppe" are so far above the norm and so full of heart, I would dare call them perfect - No half baked rants. No ego projection. No self-deception. I find most interesting, Ms. Perry's lyrical content, consider the title "I think of Nothing". Zen stuff, Indeed. Her vocals play counterpoint and set the stage without wasting time. At the expense of prose, perhaps but far more poetic and honest in coming from the heart than purely from the head. A cleverly chosen time signature jolts you from pre-conception and leaves you alone with the music. In The Now as the Taoists say, completely empty, but full of possibility and in this case, open to the simple but universal experience of learning the hard way. The aforementioned comment may seem insulting to your typical ego-driven lyricist - which it would, but Andrea Perry has no interest in philosophizing or playing the authority on any given subject. Her stories are told from experience to a close friend, you, the listener. What makes this album most engaging (or...affective, literally) is the fact that her technical skills in playing multiple instruments is rivaled only by her seemingly pitch-perfect and passionate vocals and harmonies. Couple this with the undeniable fact that she provides a rollercoaster of real, interpersonal triumph and tragedy, fully communicated and empathetic, and you have one unforgettable album.

Almost a concept piece if not disclosed as such, it presents the temporary nature of so many relationships and the hope that follows a failure. Something all who have a soul can identify with. One can almost fall in love simply listening to her journey, although it is VERBOTEN that you project the message onto the messenger, capisca? Ms. Perry also seems to be preoccupied with state of the art sonic clarity, as are most musicians fortunate enough to both understand the need for good engineering and know how to get it done. Listening to "Higher" layered in such devout and objective digital love, makes me wonder if Ms. Perry is a person at all, and not some Muse with a Masters Degree in Engineering and the 3x3inch limited CD release of Oranges and Lemons. Her songs, or rather her honestly felt projections and knowledge of what songs can be are so fun and free that only a miser with a grain of sand for a heart could fail to see the charm.

Luckily, that's the only bad news- the delusional AM radio retiree social set who hate Crash Test Dummies because they have a stupid name and weren't around back when they were cool in high school, will hate this music! The type that think Todd Rundgren, Burt Bacharach and Gilbert O'Sullivan are timeless, just because their first kiss was had while listening to Hello It's Me, will reject Andrea's highly polished production values, digital finesse and tasteful mixing (despite the fact that they know Todd extravagantly engineered the XTC masterpiece Skylarking.) Those whose musical lexicon range from Eric Carmen to Air Supply will find Andrea Perry's albums the work of a sham artiste. This is the same sort of iconoclastic reaction that your typical 70's wedding band, never-weres might feel towards real talent and real heart with the time to do something about it.

The Simple secret is that Andrea's music is beautiful because it comes from Andrea, a one-of-a-kind Renaissance Ma'am, wise well beyond her years. And you can't fake that. In a rational world, they'd play "Gettin' to Know You" from all the street corners and the real people would tap their toes, feel real hope and not take themselves so damn seriously.

Besides, you've spent more on garbage that you've already forgotten you have.

The songs found on Perry's "TWO" and previous album "Saturday Morning Sweet Shoppe" are so far above the norm and so full of heart, I would dare call them perfect - No half baked rants. No ego projection. No self-deception. I find most interesting, Ms. Perry's lyrical content, consider the title "I think of Nothing". Zen stuff, Indeed. Her vocals play counterpoint and set the stage without wasting time. At the expense of prose, perhaps but far more poetic and honest in coming from the heart than purely from the head. A cleverly chosen time signature jolts you from pre-conception and leaves you alone with the music. In The Now as the Taoists say, completely empty, but full of possibility and in this case, open to the simple but universal experience of learning the hard way. The aforementioned comment may seem insulting to your typical ego-driven lyricist - which it would, but Andrea Perry has no interest in philosophizing or playing the authority on any given subject. Her stories are told from experience to a close friend, you, the listener. What makes this album most engaging (or...affective, literally) is the fact that her technical skills in playing multiple instruments is rivaled only by her seemingly pitch-perfect and passionate vocals and harmonies. Couple this with the undeniable fact that she provides a rollercoaster of real, interpersonal triumph and tragedy, fully communicated and empathetic, and you have one unforgettable album.

Almost a concept piece if not disclosed as such, it presents the temporary nature of so many relationships and the hope that follows a failure. Something all who have a soul can identify with. One can almost fall in love simply listening to her journey, although it is VERBOTEN to project the message onto the messenger, capisca? Ms. Perry also seems to be preoccupied with state of the art sonic clarity, as are most musicians fortunate enough to both understand the need for good engineering and know how to get it done. Listening to "Higher" layered in such devout and objective digital love, makes me wonder if Ms. Perry is a person at all, and not some Muse with a Masters Degree in Engineering and the 3x3inch limited CD release of Oranges and Lemons. Her songs, or rather her honestly felt projections and knowledge of what songs can be are so fun and free that only a miser with a grain of sand for a heart could fail to see the charm.

Luckily, that's the only bad news- the delusional AM radio retiree social set who hate Crash Test Dummies because they have a stupid name and weren't around back when they were cool in high school, will hate this music! The type that think Todd Rundgren, Burt Bacharach and Gilbert O'Sullivan are timeless, just because their first kiss was had while listening to Hello It's Me, will reject Andrea's highly polished production values, digital finesse and tasteful mixing (despite the fact that they know Todd extravagantly engineered the XTC masterpiece Skylarking.) Those whose musical lexicon range from Eric Carmen to Air Supply will find Andrea Perry's albums the work of a sham artiste. This is the same sort of iconoclastic reaction that your typical 70's wedding band, never-weres might feel towards real talent and real heart with the time to do something about it.

The Simple secret is that Andrea's music is beautiful because it comes from Andrea, a one-of-a-kind Renaissance Ma'am, wise well beyond her years. And you can't fake that. In a rational world, they'd play "Gettin' to Know You" from all the street corners and the real people would tap their toes, feel real hope and not take themselves so damn seriously.

Besides, you've spent more on garbage that you've already forgotten you have.

I don't often write reviews -even of records i love- but I am inspired by Andrea Perry's refreshing CD, "Two". Perry's music is nourishment for the soul. "Two" is packed with enaging lyrics, unique melodies, and clever arrangements of well-crafted songs. I once heard the term "musical shaman". This certainly applies; Perry's vantage point is deep and true, full of compassion, insight and humor. With the grace of a master painter, she blends light and dark and leads the listener through a maze of many worlds...joy, sorrow, inspiration, whimsy, introspection, laughter...and truth.
"Two" (the follow up to her excellent debut "Saturday Morning Sweet Shoppe") reveals Perry's growth and refinement. From the opening track (Bursting through the Clouds) all the way through, "Two" is a work of art. There isn't enough room to properly credit Perry's songwriting ability, but suffice it to say she is my musical hero. Changing moods, instruments, and tempos on a dime, Perry offers the listener a multi-faceted experience that increases with each listen. Never heavy-handed, Perry is a songsmith of the most rare kind. She covers plenty of ground without tiring you out, takes you higher without making you light-headed, and sings you home with words and music that feels familiar upon the very first listen. It's difficult to select my favorite songs from "Two". Right now I'm listening to "Higher", track 10. This song brings much comfort; it is packed with love.
Listening to this music, I feel like I walked into a church where angels groove, and devils wear matching purple robes, offering fresh baked cookies to the entire congregation.
Andrea Perry is a tremendously gifted artist, and "Two" is a must for anyone's CD collection.

The jingles found on Perry's "TWO" and previous album "Saturday Morning Sweet Shoppe", I would dare call ditties - however the half baked fragments here are not endearing enough to be called such - are as interesting as Ms. Perry's lyrical content, key title: "I think of Nothing". Indeed. The aforementioned comment may seem insulting to a songwriter- which it would, but Andrea Perry has no interest in content. What makes this album more frustraing ( or...boring really) is the fact that her technical skills in playing by which she seems more inclined to show off are limited to 3 or 4 licks that you hear repeatedly. Couple these handicaps with the fact that she simply has nothing to say, and you have one forgettable album. Ms. Perry also seems to be preoccupied with state of the art sonic clarity, as most technicians who are not musicians are. Listening to "ba ba blacksheep" layered in such clinical and sanatized slickness, makes me wonder if Ms. Perry is a person at all, and not some computer generated figment. Her songs,or rather her ideas of what songs are, sound like a person afflcted with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder scrubbing a grain of sand.
But there is good news- the tragically hip indie social set who got beat up a lot in high school and think of Paul McCartney's, Burt Bacharach's and Brian wilson's work as their grandfther's music and whose musical lexicon range from Beck to Bestie Boys will find Andrea Perry's albums the work of a Shamanique. The same sort of Hero- worship that your typical Suburban high school cheerleader feels about "American Idol".

-MVP