Search - Denison Witmer :: Of Joy & Sorrow

Of Joy & Sorrow
Denison Witmer
Of Joy & Sorrow
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock
 
  •  Track Listings (10) - Disc #1

Here is Of Joy & Sorrow, the new album from Philadelphia PA singer / songwriter Denison Witmer. Following up The '80s EP, released earlier this year, Witmer's second full-length finds him continuing in a time-honored t...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Denison Witmer
Title: Of Joy & Sorrow
Members Wishing: 2
Total Copies: 0
Label: Burnt Toast Vinyl
Original Release Date: 9/25/2001
Release Date: 9/25/2001
Genres: Alternative Rock, Pop, Rock
Styles: Singer-Songwriters, Indie & Lo-Fi
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 656605919928

Synopsis

Album Description
Here is Of Joy & Sorrow, the new album from Philadelphia PA singer / songwriter Denison Witmer. Following up The '80s EP, released earlier this year, Witmer's second full-length finds him continuing in a time-honored tradition delivering strong, introspective confessionals without a hint of cynicism or pretension. While Witmer's music is rooted in the folk tradition, and while fans have been drawn to his strong vocal style and impeccable taste for simple guitar work, Of Joy & Sorrow demonstrates that Witmer's ear bends far beyond genre lines. Here are ten honest songs with all the makings of great pop tunes, without loosing an ounce of the conviction that has always been Witmer's greatest hook. Album openers "Forgiven" and "Stations" set the tone for the entire record with a solid rhythmic backbone of bass, drums and organ carrying Witmer's soothing guitar and intimate vocals to match. Sprinkled into the collection are stripped down guitar-and-vocal only songs like "Rise and Fall" and "Reaching" which work to keep the focus throughout on what Of Joy & Sorrow is built upon: Beautiful songs, simple and convincing arrangements with a heart-felt, honest lyrical delivery. Of Joy and Sorrow was recorded during various trips to Seattle WA with a bit of work from home in Pennsylvania. Witmer paired up with Blake Wescott (Sarah Shannon, The Vogue, Saltine, etc), Jordan Walton (Damien Jurado) and Don Peris (The Innocence Mission) as engineers with help on instrumentation and backing vocals from Don, Blake, Karen Peris (The Innocence Mission), Benjamin Brubaker (ex-Pedro the Lion), and Daniel French (Ran Away to Sea). The results come together and make Witmer's new record stand out as his best to date. Of Joy & Sorrow is an enhanced CD-ROM featuring bonus interactive content with photos, lyrics and two live videos including a cover version of Men at Work's "I Can See it in Your Eyes"

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CD Reviews

How did he manage to pull it off?
Lawrence Keane | Everett, MA United States | 03/20/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)

"okay, denison has gone and done it. i have been hooked on safe away for a few years now and it is one of the discs i use to help me to slip away to that sparse, gentle place where i can emotionallly idle down and rest. when he picked up the pace with this new release, (adding drums and harmonies, etc) i thought it would spoil that feel and make him much less emotionaly accessible. actually, i am now hooked even more on this cd. patty griffin pulled it off when her first, acoustic and minimal first cd gave way to her fuller, more rocking second release and she drew me right in. now denison has gone and made a WONDERFUL cd. okay, it's certainly not "rocking", but it has a bit more of a pace than safe away. if there's any justice in the world, Denison's efforts will bear much fruit and his continuing success will enable him to practice (and share) his craft freely. Rock on, Denison!"