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Emm Gryner
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Songs Of Love And Death
Dead Daisy Records
Release: 1/18/2005
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Rated:
Review by:
Morley Seaver
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When one thinks of successful indie artists and labels in
Canada, the first that comes to mind is Emm Gryner and
Dead Daisy Records. The Montreal based singer-songwriter
founded her label in 1996 and has released seven records
along with various EPs and singles.
Gryner has gained the respect of many throughout the music
industry. She caught the ear of David Bowie who invited her
to record and subsequently tour with him. She also gained
favour with many artists that she covered in her 2001
release, Girl Versions, featuring songs by Def
Leppard, Ozzy Osbourne, The Clash, Fugazi and Nick
Cave.
Her latest record is Songs Of Love And Death,
a set of songs written by Irish artists. The list includes Thin
Lizzy, Horslips, Ash, The Virgin Prunes, Therapy? and the
Corrs. As usual, the ambitious Gryner handles vocals,
piano, bass, guitar, vibes, keyboards, drum machine
programming, clarinet and also arranged, recorded and
produced. Heck, I'll be she also parked the cars.
This is simply a gorgeous record. Gryner's clear but
impassioned vocals are front and center. The first cut is
"Forget Georgia," an up-tempo foot-stomper that makes you
feel like hitting the highway and rolling down the window.
Possibly the star of this collection is "Running Back," a
slowed down, stripped down version of the Thin Lizzy song.
This is just Emm and a piano - absolutely stunning! It's only
rivalled by The Corrs' "Breathless," a reworked masterpiece
that is massive in its understated grandeur.
"Deck Chairs and Cigarettes," The Thrills' song, is a
glimmering piece that starts off great and gets even better.
The flute added midway just fits it perfectly. Horslips'
"Dearg Doom" and Ash's "Shining Light" are both solid with
the latter giving off a church vibe that will click with even
non-church followers.
Gilbert O'Sullivan's "Nothing Rhymed" is given the bouncy
once over that contrasts with Burton Cummings' more
dramatic version from a few years ago. The Virgin Prune's
"Bau-Dachong" is assisted by a nice banjo courtesy of Kate
McGarrigle (another Montreal resident). "Julie Ocean," by
The Undertones, Therapy?'s "Nowhere," and the traditional
Irish song, "Moorlaugh Shore," round out the set. |
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