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 Genre: Pop Rock
Sounds Like: Gwen
Stefani/Natalie Merchant
Technical Grade:
8
Production/Musicianship Grade: 9
Commercial
Value: 9
Overall Talent Level: 10
Songwriting
Skills: 10
Performance Skill: 10
Best
Songs: Something About You, A Thousand Miles Away, Vanity
Fair, You Loving Me
Weakness: None
CD Review:
This band impressed me long before I even heard their CD; with
their well designed internet press kit (IPK), their professional
but personably written letter asking for a review, and the
suggestion that I listen to the CD while driving. I did just that
while commuting from Oakland to Fremont. I thought my long
distance journey was going to begin when I got on the freeway, but
it really began when I put on their CD. The first element of this
band that commands your attention is the intense, emotive,
hypnotic vocal performances of their lead vocalist, Nanyana, (also
the name of the band) which instantly elevates them above so many
other bands in this genre.
Her bandmates do an excellent
job of making this a collaborative effort by providing her with
strong backing vocals and a multi-textured, musical canvas that
she skillfully uses to paint dazzling stories with pure emotion
and clever lyrics as her tools. When is the last time you heard
someone use the word discombobulate in a song? In "You Loving Me
Forever" she writes..."This world is full of so much commotion, so
much going on it discombobulates my concentration..." With lyrics
like that it was very easy to maintain my concentration on the
creative and musical potency of this band which was punctuated by
the swinging jazz section in the same song that came out of no
where.
As a reviewer/critic, it was challenging to find
much to criticize about Nanyana, but because I have worked
intimately with record company executives I know that some of them
might say things such as: The songs need to be "produced" more.
Meaning that they could sound a little less musical, with a little
less "jamming" - which would also make them shorter. They may also
hear that they don't have "edge." Meaning that they are not
controversial enough to market to a young hip-hop rock oriented
youth fan base that likes a high dosage of profanity in their
lyrics.
Advice: Don't change a thing! You have done
a masterful job of playing within the tight parameters of the
commerical, radio-friendly time frame (four minutes) and still
being true to your roots as performers. If you guys persevere, you
will all have big mansions "east of the sun and west of the moon."
http://www.nanyana.com/
If you would like to ask Gian Fiero a question, you can write
to gfc@musesmail.com.
Please indicate the column you're inquiring about in the subject
matter of your e-mail.
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