Search - Eliza Gilkyson :: Redemption Road

Songbird

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 04/19/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is an amazingly consistent and beautiful recording. Eliza Gilkyson's music is melodic and often haunting. "Pools of Eden" opens as a midtempo track, "The soul belongs to no one & some things are never known." My favorite track on the CD is the sexy "Unless You Want Me." Eliza combines a distinctive melody borne by acoustic guitar and piano with a playful allure, "Don't take your clothes off or bare your soft skin, unless you want me now." "Our Time" is another distinctive melody with a beautiful chorus, "I hope you make it through; I'll be watching for you in the shadow of our time." "Sleeping" combines a sputtering rhythm with a haunting melody while Gilkyson's vocals ache with feeling, "Through open windows I love to watch you sleeping." "Rose of Sharon" is a pretty folk tune, "I shall not stir him from his bed while he does so embrace me." "Solitary Singer" is a soft tune with acoustic guitar; and the "Road Not Taken" is a peppy tune that'll have you tapping your toes. "Prayer 2000" cowritten with Mark Andes is as gorgeous as it is inspirational, "Thank you for my true love's face & our lives and love consume ... Thank you for the things that don't go wrong & the hopes that don't give up." "Her Melancholy Muse" is a slow music box tune followed by the beautiful instrumental "Through A Glass Darkly" where the piano sounds like a harpsichord that floats lightly and builds gracefully. "River of Gold" is another acoustic guitar song where the stark arrangement allows Eliza's voice to float angelically like a songbird. The CD concludes with the title track, a slow tune with a pretty melody, "I don't care if I'm alone; I've got a dream of my own." The commercial market is so fast and fluid that a CD that's 5 years old may strike some as antiquated; that's sad especially when the music is as consistently good as it is on "Redemption Road.""

A complete recording.. "not one song and some fillers"

Lee Armstrong | 12/25/1998

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From the first song, I got the feeling this was going to be special .. and it was. Eliza sings, she does not try to entertain. The words are perfect for the melody that carries them, she does not force the lyric or try to be clever...she dosn't need to.. because the song are so well written. The production is well done, in part I am sure to the fantastic players Eliza can bring to the musical table. Mark Andes bass and vocals (as always)are just what you want and just when you need it. (Funny how that works with Mark..Canned Heat, Spirit, Jo Jo Gunne, Firefall,Heart..just to name a few. Matt Andes does some keen slide work on his trusty National and combines with Eliza's brother for a awesome marriage of guitars on Road not Taken. Treat yourself..it's great story telling,singing and playing...and excuse me.. I found the recording to have a romantic quality that goes great with a good bottle of Cabernet...Jewel would do well to listen to this one after her one demensional last effort. Sincerely, Rod Ensminger"

Absolutely Gorgeous

Live to Ride | Florence, KY United States | 08/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I heard the Song Rose of Sharon on the radio and had to buy this album. It's flawless. I intend to buy all her other albums now."