Album Name: Silver
Artist: Maggi, Pierce and E.J.
Year/Label: 2005 / Independent
Review by Amy Lotsberg Producer of Collected Sounds
Why have I not heard of this band before?
If you have you’re probably read that they “Maggi, Pierce And E.J., live, breathe, eat, drink and fart music”; which makes me laugh.
I looked them up on CDBaby and find that they have several CDs, this being their sixth! The other are all named after colors as well (white, red, blue, gold, etc).
They have a great concept there. I have no idea if they’re previous releases are assembled the same way, but here’s what they did here:
The CD is really three CDs. They are labeled Morgan, Mittag, and Nacht (Morning, Midday, and Night in German). The Morgen or, Morning CD is your more mellow folky stuff. Mittag contains some more upbeat pop while Nacht simply rocks out. A great concept and a genius way of showing of your bands diversity. I’m mucho impressed!
Not to mention the fact that this band is expertly skilled at all the tempos, genres and styles and that they attempt.
The Morgan CD is filled with lovely folk songs. Generally just voice and guitar, but with a few other instruments as well. Maggi has one of those voices I could listen to all day. It almost sounds like she has a touch of a cold. A sound that is so appealing to me. Much like the voice of Anna-Lynne Williams from Trespassers William. “Big Falls, WI” is one highlight that has such a catchy sound you will be humming it long after you’ve turned off the stereo. This disc is part Paul Simon, part Joan Baez, and fully fantastic.
Which takes us to Mittag: We open with “Kennison” which is about as perfect a pop song as you could wish for.
“Music of the Sea” is also great. It has a bit of a 70s sound to it. Upbeat tempo, catchy melody and sweet harmonies.
The last track (untitled and unlisted on my copy, CDBaby lists it as the Scarf Song) is hilarious. It begins as a recording of a phone call from someone just simply giddy about seeing someone wearing a scarf that was given to someone who wore it on TV. Then breaks into a very cute song about the scarf and the person wearing it and ends with more of the recorded message.
The Nacht CD is a bit harder, but still has its soft moments. The range here is from punk to funk to new wave. “706” even has a late-Beatles sound to it…at least the first part.
I’d be hard pressed to even choose a disc that I like best let alone a best song, but I will say that I am partial to: “Michael”, “Kennison” “String of Pearls”…and “The Scarf Song” makes me smile every time.
This is a fantastic recording and I’d dare say there’s something for everyone here. For someone like me who likes many styles and genres, there’s a lot to love.
Posted on September 14, 2005
Track Listing
Listen to track samples
1. Whale Song
2. Michael
3. Melt Away
4. Castle Walls
5. Lies Behind the Sun
6. Big Falls, WI
Mittag:
7. Kennison
8. Music of the Sea
9. A Moment
10. Snowed In With You
11. Sea of Green
12. Ezra’s Stove
13. Scarf Song
Nacht:
14. Yipee-i-a
15. One Hand
16. Pocahontas, IL
17. Inseine
18. String of Pearls
19. 706
[Maggi, Pierce and E.J. Official Site]
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