Search - Greg Holden :: Word in Edgeways

Who's Greg Holden?

R.P.M. | 09/28/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Greg Holden's debut LP album is a collage of b-sides, older songs and some newer. He started his "Living Room Series" on YouTube while living in Lancashire deciding to drop the electric 6 string and amp and go it solo acoustic and alone. That was one of the first of many brave and somewhat daring moves Holden would make since 2007 and his determination to be a true, earnest singer-songwriter in the mold of those great folk stars that ran the NYC music scene during the 60s and 70s. Oddly for someone who seems like such an unknown that he even sells t-shirts with the print "Who's Greg Holden", he has had over 850,000 views of his "In the Living Room" series of videos of him talking and playing songs literally from his living room. These have been the worldwide 'Featured Spotlight Artist' and had 3 of his videos Featured on the YouTube Home Page.



But this isn't about YouTube, this is about what comes next.



In early 2008 Greg was invited to record new material with U2/David Gray producer Richard "Biff" Stannard. This all came just a few months after recording his debut EP, `Run, Don't Walk' (now available on iTunes), with producer Nunzio Signore at The Crib Studios in New York City. Greg returned from New York for a second time after completing his first full-length Album A Word In Edgeways. This album is a glance at what the future holds for someone whose music reminds me of Nick Drake, Jeff Buckley, Brett Dennen, Ben Harper in his early years on 'Welcome to the Cruel World' and Ryan Adams post Whiskeytown type music. With sincere and poetically smooth lyrics like



"Lost, confused, unseen and used

Dangerously fighting for nothing to lose

My progress is calling, its noticed I'm falling

It's time for a change, it's time for a move...



...Sometimes its hard to think my time here has ended

It troubles me to think about who I've offended

But I can't live my life,

In the interest of those,

Holding me back when I'm stood on my toes...



...Better to make your mistakes

Than to live without knowing its

Better to fall on your face than to stay on your feet as long as you tried."



Those lyrics can be heard off of "The Art of Falling", the 2nd track on this album one of many gems that words alone simply do not do justice because of his, "soulful, melodically beautiful, incredibly genuine" sound according to LastFM.



What makes him special is not just his unique heart fog type vocals akin to fellow UK mate Damien Rice (Ireland) or popular New England singer-songwriter Ray LaMontagne, but it is that Greg Holden also brings that folk rock mentality to the table that comes in living it and not just reading about it. You find this dedication to music in artists like a young Bob Dylan before the electric tones, like the afore mentioned Jeff Buckley in his acoustic days as heard on those early album and like NY city musician Dave Van Ronk the "Mayor of MacDougal Street". You find quickly that he is no poser.



Holden also carries that sense of New York City being not just a town in which one passes through, but in one that grabs you by the scruff of your neck, makes sure to awaken your riddled phantasms and shakes them loose and opens your eyes. Holden's music on each album gives you a bit more insight, a bit more color and a bit more of himself akin to the aforementioned singer-songwriters of today and yesteryear.



I believe that fate, kismet, karma or whatever you call it occurred for Holden when the ever growing popular musical star Ingrid Michaelson decided to take the advice of a friend and venture out one night to hear Holden perform. It was one show and she was sold.



Ironically, that seems to be how it works with Holden, one show and people are sold.



I know for myself as I was sifting through literally hundreds of emails from publicists, managers, promoters and record label execs almost pimping out their artists like K-Mart blue light special with practically soulless emails that it really is hit or miss on finding music beyond the known acts. Fortunately for me I took a chance and listened to this "Greg Holden" character who the release said sold all of his things to move from the UK to NYC to buy a worker visa for 3 years. The music was instantly catchy, but not in pop star, dance sort of way, but rather in a unique combination of James Taylor smooth British vocals mentioned above with a Dylanesque lyrical intensity that didn't have to scream, slam the same 3 power chords and wish for Hell, Fire, Brimstone, Armageddon and Hate against women to make its point.



I wonder if we all tried hard enough, worked hard enough and chased our dreams the same way all of these musicians and writers have would the outcome be better? My grandfather used to tell me, "Reach for the stars. While you likely will never catch them, you will go further than you can imagine just by reaching upwards."



This album is a collection of music that leaves you wanting. Songs like the aforementioned 'The Art of Falling', the incredibly deep and heartfelt 'Choking on Concrete', the lovestruck ballad 'Days' and the plugged in 'My Way of Thinking' that gives the listener insight into what Holden was doing before going solo. This is as much a nod to the present as it is a glimpse to the future and his latest EP Sing For The City that is truly a work of art and certainly makes the year's top 10 EP's released if not full albums. For those wondering what can an EP do, look back to the platinum 'Slim Shady' EP by Eminem, the indie hit 'Interpol' by Interpol, the Pixies's 'Come on Pilgrim', this year's 'No One's First, You're Next' by Modest Mouse and the Beatles 'Magical Mystery Tour', just to name a few. Mainly an EP is an artist's way of giving just a drop of their 'vampire' blood and a fan's way of saying we want more, more, more if all goes as planned.



As for this album, 'A Word In Edgeways', it won't make you famous. It won't turn you into Superman and certainly won't make you a ninja (I've tried). However the albums (this one and the EP's listed) will show you Holden's distinct lyrics and the many soft melodies that show off his vocal range and clarity as he is able to twist and turn, spinning on a dime, with a fractionated and harder host of guitar richness. The end result is something unique, a singer-songwriter who aces on both parts of that phrase. Even the greats like Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Phil Ochs and countless others whose songwriting is revered as pure poetry in motion lacked Holden's vocal skills. Not to compare him to those greats just yet, as still a young man with years of New York City experience ahead of him, but to have that thistle in the hat of being vocally gifted is, but another plus for a man who a few years ago was working his a** off in Lancashire, England often mistaken for "Lincolnshire" and a variety of other places.



Greg Holden has a very noticeable ability to capture a listener by mixing the aforementioned 'lovely' with a sly uptick of thirsty vocals and just enough subtle angst to give you reason to ponder. For these precise reasons and the mess enumerated above, I hope you take a chance. You don't have to sell the shirt off your back and move 4k miles like Greg Holden did pursuing a dream, you merely have to trust your instincts when hearing the samples of the songs.



The great thing about Amazon and other sites is for less than a dollar you can buy a song you like. I'd say check out this album, A Word In Edgeways, but also the others such as the original EP Run, Don't Walk and the newest EP Sing For The City that you can actually buy for under 3 bucks?!!



Be sure to keep Mr. Holden on your radar. It has been my experience that once you catch those 'stars', be super careful, they often have a tendency to shoot off fast into the cosmos and beyond.



Anyhow, if you like what is written or even don't like what is written, but have a kinship for the music from Greg Holden then go to his YouTube, LastFm, iTunes, Myspace, Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter sites for the latest news and tour dates with the incomparable Ingrid Michaelson. There is also music, pictures, videos with updates on his "The Not My Living Room Series" (currently at number 22), plenty of material to give you an idea if you are to dropping a few bucks and buying some music - Legally. Also let people know what you think of this album or the others by adding comments, because in this day and age of technology you the people get to decide what is or isn't worthwhile, not critic, commentators, magazines or so-called experts. For the first time in history the biggest leverage asset is word of mouth recommendations more than anything. I hope you enjoy this music.





- R.P.M.





(Post Script :: I have no affiliation with this musician, any musician or record label. I am just a lowly writer who is voicing his opinion with words > war. The remarks in this commentary or any I give come from my personal opinion, not influenced by anything other than my own experiences and thoughts from sounds to sights to quiet...you can catch more at Riddled Phantasms Magazine or as the author known currently as R.P.M. among others on Blogcritics.org)

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