All Rise

Inara George

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 25, 2005)
• Original Release Date: January 25, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Everloving
• ASIN: B000784WHM
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #45,013 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

On this debut, Inara's skills are at once obvious; her delivery relaxed and confident. She's been steadily working in the LA music scene, playing in bands, and lending her voice to numerous musical projects/film scores (Van Dyke Parks, Idlewild, Danny Elfman, Michael Andrews, Jackson Browne, Phillip Littel). Inara teamed with producer/guitarist/composer Michael Andrews to record "All Rise." Andrews is best known as the score composer of the cult hit "Donnie Darko" but others know him as Elgin Park, the clutch boogaloo/funk guitarist in the Greyboy Allstars. Inara's songs are like little poetic Polaroids, fleeting glimpses into one woman's examination of the world around her. Others are more like impressionist paintings, as though she's just noticed a view and decided to paint it. The production is spare yet lush, elegantly underscoring the presiding moods as they turn. The sound seems to defy context, gracefully blending the nostalgic and the contemporary, the organic and the synthesized into an immensely palatable, and wholly consistent, soundscape all its own. Contributing musicians include Greg Kurstin (Beck, Ben Harper), Greyboy Allstar bassist Chris Stillwell, and former Cake drummer Pete McNeal.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nostalgic-Bittersweet-Quirksome-Inara, June 1, 2005

By	Nicola Mattos (San Francisco girl transplanted to New York...) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Inara George is a surprise when you first hear her. I first heard a track of Inara's on KCRW when my partner and I were out in the car. We had just turned on the radio and were caught in the middle of the song, and looked at one another, "Who the heck was that?". We noted the time, and later looked up KCRW's playlist on their website to find out it was Inara George. At the time a CD was unavailable and no one seemed to know who she was.
Patience is definitely a virture, because we finally heard it announced that Inara would play Pioneertown Palace, relatively close to our home-we were estatic!
The show was a success and I was surprised yet again when listening to that long-sought after CD, how untampered with her voice sounds. This CD is highly recommended, Fools in Love is my favorite, an ironic and sweetly sentimental abyss that everyone falls into. Each song is a treat, slowly savored and you will find yourself playing a few over and over again. Inara George is faintly reminiscent of gentler times, with less angst ridden drive, but just as pure and meaningful as one would expect from a soft-spoken lyricist and musician such as she. You are strongly reminded of a mix of Imogen Heap and Harriet Wheeler.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars All Rise for IG!, June 24, 2005

By	L. H. Lohnes (Overthere, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I discovered Merrick quite by accident when they opened a show for Cousteau. I was totally blown away and purchased both CD's right there from IG. Merrick certainly was not mainstream but over time they were getting some decent airplay and the local shows were getting more crowded. The music was a bit "outside" for many I suppose, but something changed. The last two times I saw them they were playing some new songs and I thought to myself "If these girls get a good producer and a label with some belief they could really take off" The tunes were almost pop songs although still contained the intricate melodies and vocal calisthenics that made them unique, they were really getting polished. Then they decided to call it a day. It's a shame that the tunes will never be released.
Inara George's "All Rise!" does not contain much of the Merrick quirkiness or more ethereal feel, but instead gives the listener a solid more straightforward folk/pop/chanteuse/jazz thing. With "All Rise!" Inara George has found the producer (Mike Andrews) and label (Everloving) that completely delivers her vision. Every song on this record shimmers with her beautiful voice, intricate melodies and often dark and sometimes brutal lyrics (see Turn Off/On which is as honest and cuts to the quick with the best of Elvis Costello or Graham Parsons).

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mood music for a change, June 8, 2005

By	M. Mui "bugco" (NY, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Had gone to see the Cowboy Junkies and was pleasantly surprised by one Inara George. If I wasn't really listening I would have thought I was listening to Mazzy Star or Frente, but this has depths in different directions. Picked up the album immediately and haven't been disappointed yet - each song you can listen to for the melody or for the lyrics.