Search - Cindy Kallet :: Cindy Kallet 2

Simply the best guitarist/singer in the world

shade_jon | 02/23/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This tape is divine, including the lyrics, the instrumentation and the vocals. Cindy is simply the best. And this is the least of her albums! Try finding "Working on Wings to Fly" and "Dreaming Down a Quiet Line". It would be nice if Amazon carried them ... maybe someday soon?Cindy is part of a collection of fabulous folsingers on the Folk Legacy title, which includes Gordon Bok and Bill Staines. They are wonderful too, but are more old-time. I find it diffciult to even conjure up anything similar to her, but perhaps Richard Thompson comes to mind (alhough, where Richard is mostly somber and depressing, Cindy is spirited and wistful.)The world is most unfortunate that music is not her full time profession (she is a soccer mom in Maine!).Buy it, you will NOT regret it."

NO 'SOPHOMORE SLUMP' HERE, THANKYOUVERYMUCH

Larry L. Looney | Austin, Texas USA | 09/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Cindy Kallet's second album (originally released in 1983) should have allayed any fears those listeners unfamiliar with her work might have had that she was a 'one-record wonder'. The songs on this album are every bit as imaginative, artful and accessible as those on her wonderful first recording, WORKING ON WINGS TO FLY. Not only that, but, over the years, those who had been blessed to know her work have come to know album after album of fine songwriting from this talented artist -- her releases are a bit far apart to suit me, but they certainly make up quantity with quality.The songs here -- like most of her recordings -- deal with personal as well as universal issues. All of the tracks are originals, with the exception of 'Marblehead Neck' (by Steven Green) -- and Cindy, with the able help of long-time and worth co-conspirators Ellen Epstein and Michael Cicone, make it sound like it comes straight out of her heart and her life. There are three instrumentals among the selections here -- guitarists, eat your collective hearts out -- that showcase Cindy's formidable instrumental talents.The standout tunes for me (and I love them all, don't be deceived) are 'Listen, I think the rain's come' (a powerful yet subdued opener), 'When I was now', 'Time came down' (a stunning and moving a capella arrangement of a song about making right but difficult choices), 'I don't have to...' and 'Come away to sea'. I'm repeatedly entranced by the instrumentals, but I have to say that 'Mystic aureole' is my favorite of the three.If you've never heard Cindy's work, this album and WORKING ON WINGS TO FLY are a good place to start. DREAMING DOWN A QUIET LINE and THIS WAY HOME are harder to find (I'll bet you can do it if you try...) but well worth the effort. She also has a great duet album with Maine singer-songwriter Gordon Bok, appropriately entitled NEIGHBORS, which is a gem. I've introduced a lot of friends to Cindy's music -- and I've never found anyone who wasn't impressed with her work. It's honest songwriting, and from the heart -- and her vocal and instrumental talents only magnify the effect."