At 24 years old, Orianthi has already experienced what most aspiring musicians only dream of. She's opened for her hero (STEVE VAI), backed an Idol (CARRIE UNDERWOOD), traded solos with a legend (CARLOS SANTANA) and shared... more » the stage with the King of Pop (MICHAEL JACKSON). What's left to conquer? The world stage, for one, and this guitar wunderkind has her sights clearly set on the road ahead. After a performance with CARRIE UNDERWOOD on stage at the 2009 Grammy Awards the blogosphere was buzzing with news of this little-known guitar prodigy. It prompted MICHAEL JACKSON to call with an offer for her to be his guitarist for his dates at the O2 Arena in London. When offered the gig in MICHAEL JACKSON'S live band, Orianthi joined a prestigious line of guitar players including EDDIE VAN HALEN, SANTANA, SLASH, STEVE STEVANS, JENNIFER BATTEN and LARRY CARLTON. Sadly the tour was not to be and music lost an icon. "Working with Michael was a life-changing experience," Orianthi reflects, "One I will never forget." Her story starts in Adelaide on the southern tip of Australia where, at the age of six, Orianthi began taking an interest in her dad's record collection. "Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Cream, Santana. he was into guitar players that are real songwriters," she boasts. Growing up in the 80s, a decade remembered for its many guitar greats, Orianthi also listened to a lot of Whitesnake, Van Halen and Def Leppard. Her father, who used to be a player in a Greek band, also kept plenty of instruments around the house, and it didn't take long before Orianthi strummed her first chord. Mastering the six-string came naturally. "When I was 11, Carlos Santana came to play Adelaide and that show really affected me," she recounts. "I begged my dad to get me a second hand electric guitar so I could be like Carlos, and that was it, no more acoustic. After that, I would buy all of Carlos' videos - on VHS! - which I kept rewinding to try and learn his solos. I totally wore out the tapes." Some seven years later when Carlos Santana passed through Adelaide again, Carlos' brother arranged a sound-check meeting between the guitar god and his young disciple after hearing some of her music. A sound check jam evolved into an invitation to join him on stage where Orianthi played for about 35 minutes and took a solo in front of a hometown crowd. Performances, tours and guest appearances with STEVE VAI, ZZ TOP and PRINCE have kept Orianthi busy up to this point. But guitar is far from Orianthi's only means of expression. Before she received the call from the King of Pop, Orianthi had already been hard at work on her upcoming album, Believe, on which she sings, writes and leads her own band. Working with Geffen Records Chairman and A&R veteran Ron Fair and producer Howard Benson (All American Rejects, Daughtry, My Chemical Romance, Three Days Grace) her fierceness of character has made its way to songs that will simply knock the socks off of any boy in the rock star schoolyard. Orianthi packs modern girl-power punch into every turn of phrase, but it's the shredding that takes her brand of rock to an entirely new level. Songs like "Suffocated" and "Think Like A Man" are anthemic rock tracks recalling at time Evanescence, Avril Lavigne, Paramore and even a less-music row more-sunset strip Taylor Swift. First single "According To You" is a catchy tale of an ungrateful boyfriend with a killer guitar solo. The result: a thunderous, hook and riff driven debut that sounds larger than life. If, for a moment, you've thought the music world could use another taste of The Runaways' Joan Jett, let us introduce you to Orianthi.« less
At 24 years old, Orianthi has already experienced what most aspiring musicians only dream of. She's opened for her hero (STEVE VAI), backed an Idol (CARRIE UNDERWOOD), traded solos with a legend (CARLOS SANTANA) and shared the stage with the King of Pop (MICHAEL JACKSON). What's left to conquer? The world stage, for one, and this guitar wunderkind has her sights clearly set on the road ahead. After a performance with CARRIE UNDERWOOD on stage at the 2009 Grammy Awards the blogosphere was buzzing with news of this little-known guitar prodigy. It prompted MICHAEL JACKSON to call with an offer for her to be his guitarist for his dates at the O2 Arena in London. When offered the gig in MICHAEL JACKSON'S live band, Orianthi joined a prestigious line of guitar players including EDDIE VAN HALEN, SANTANA, SLASH, STEVE STEVANS, JENNIFER BATTEN and LARRY CARLTON. Sadly the tour was not to be and music lost an icon. "Working with Michael was a life-changing experience," Orianthi reflects, "One I will never forget." Her story starts in Adelaide on the southern tip of Australia where, at the age of six, Orianthi began taking an interest in her dad's record collection. "Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Cream, Santana. he was into guitar players that are real songwriters," she boasts. Growing up in the 80s, a decade remembered for its many guitar greats, Orianthi also listened to a lot of Whitesnake, Van Halen and Def Leppard. Her father, who used to be a player in a Greek band, also kept plenty of instruments around the house, and it didn't take long before Orianthi strummed her first chord. Mastering the six-string came naturally. "When I was 11, Carlos Santana came to play Adelaide and that show really affected me," she recounts. "I begged my dad to get me a second hand electric guitar so I could be like Carlos, and that was it, no more acoustic. After that, I would buy all of Carlos' videos - on VHS! - which I kept rewinding to try and learn his solos. I totally wore out the tapes." Some seven years later when Carlos Santana passed through Adelaide again, Carlos' brother arranged a sound-check meeting between the guitar god and his young disciple after hearing some of her music. A sound check jam evolved into an invitation to join him on stage where Orianthi played for about 35 minutes and took a solo in front of a hometown crowd. Performances, tours and guest appearances with STEVE VAI, ZZ TOP and PRINCE have kept Orianthi busy up to this point. But guitar is far from Orianthi's only means of expression. Before she received the call from the King of Pop, Orianthi had already been hard at work on her upcoming album, Believe, on which she sings, writes and leads her own band. Working with Geffen Records Chairman and A&R veteran Ron Fair and producer Howard Benson (All American Rejects, Daughtry, My Chemical Romance, Three Days Grace) her fierceness of character has made its way to songs that will simply knock the socks off of any boy in the rock star schoolyard. Orianthi packs modern girl-power punch into every turn of phrase, but it's the shredding that takes her brand of rock to an entirely new level. Songs like "Suffocated" and "Think Like A Man" are anthemic rock tracks recalling at time Evanescence, Avril Lavigne, Paramore and even a less-music row more-sunset strip Taylor Swift. First single "According To You" is a catchy tale of an ungrateful boyfriend with a killer guitar solo. The result: a thunderous, hook and riff driven debut that sounds larger than life. If, for a moment, you've thought the music world could use another taste of The Runaways' Joan Jett, let us introduce you to Orianthi.
"I've read through some of these reviews - both good and bad. It's my belief that if reviews are strictly based on high personal expectations, or comparisons to unlike genres from where the product actually fits, they are not helpful (at least to me). This is not a blues cd, nor does it try to be. It's not Clapton, Santana or the like. It is a pop album.
I cannot review Orianthi's pontential talent or previous exhibitions of her talent. I can, however, say that this pop music album is good. Her vocals are really good. How often do you encounter a truly gifted instrumentalist with a really pleasing voice? Sometimes, at best.
The song selections are "catchy." I am a middle-aged adult who really likes a broad spectrum of music. I can't say that there is any innovation in the lyrics or melodies, but I can either listen to or have this music "playing the background" and enjoy it equally.
Of course, her guitar playing abilities are amazing. Knowing that it is the vocalist who is actually the guitarist as well is what, I feel, sets this pop album apart from the rest that have been mentioned in other reviews, i.e. Kelly Clarkson, Carrie Underwood.
For what this is - a popular music album, with the intent probably being more profitability rather than critical acclaim - it's really good.
"
Pop with an edge
Michael Kusmierz | Buffalo NY | 11/24/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Ok, yes this is basically a pop album, albeit one that rocks. A few reviewers seem to have a problem with that. The thing about Orianthi's pop is that just underneath is some real scorching guitar work. It's been noted that she should have released a guitar instrumental or a harder album. For right now I think she did exactly the right thing for her career. She wants to be heard and also be known as a guitarist. I think if she would have realeased just an instrumental album, she wouldn't have been able to reach a very wide audience. She's got the chops to do anything she wants, but first she's got to get the audience, and I think this root will do that. Everyone forgets that Eric Clapton, Carlos Santana, even Eddie Van Halen have put out a lot of "pop" songs. It gets you heard.
The thing I like is that an Album like this one can bring good guitar back into the mainstream. So what if it's being done by a 24 year old Aussie girl, who likes a great pop hook. To me it's her playing that matters. and man, can she play. Yeah the songs are a bit reminiscent of other current girl pop rock, but the huge difference is her guitar work is front and center, even with the pop veneer. Give it a listen, and think about where a talent like Orianthi's is going to go. This album will get her noticed and who knows what's next.
"
Amazing from start to finnish.
Dejan Dozic | Malmoe, Sweden | 11/16/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Well I dunno if those who gave her two stars were listening to the same CD as I did.
I thought the complete CD delivered a true talented guitarr player that also has a great voice.
And that delivers on each track to the fullest.
Beeing in the music buisness for over 3 decades I've never encountered a new artist to deliver
an album with such force and high quality music and lyrics on each track.
Tracks are all delivering a variation that makes the CD pleasant to listen from start to end
and without a dull moment. I highly recommend this album.
If I had a radio station I would play each track for 11 days as powerplay on the radiostation.
Better then this is hard to find.
I wish Orianthi the best of luck and I think soon she will be playing with the big guns in the
rock industry as a guest artist.
Some example Bon Jovi, Aerosmith to name a few.
PS. This is the first one I've heard of her... I dunno of her earlier works. DS"
What's not to like?!
S. Pao | New York, NY | 11/18/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Yeah, so...seriously, what's not to like? The girl can sing, play the guitar, play the bass. Most of all, she can put it all together well.
Yeah, look, some if not most of the songs may seem too 'pop' for some ppl, but we just have to put the musician's intent in mind when reviewing. pop may be her focus in this album, but as she has said, there is something for everyone. namely, an instrumental track, a bluesy track, some ballad tracks, etc. she wanted to appeal to a wider audience in her sophomore album, is that so bad? that doesn't means she won't go in a narrower direction next time. if she does, then great, that shows her versatility. if she doesn't, then maybe she found a way to improve on her 'pop' songs. but in any event, this album is very well done and is very much in keeping with what she was trying to accomplish. so yes, thumbs up for me!"
Ori
Steven Swan | Illinois | 12/17/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"To really appreciate how great Orianthi is, you have to check out a wide array of videos perhaps on YouTube (where I watched a bunch). Witnessing what she is capable of and the sounds out of her guitar...and she's a decent vocalist too for that matter, put me at ease that she is the real deal.
This CD to me can be perceived in a variety of ways, some may say she is just another cookie cutter artist doing commercial pop rock that is oversaturated as it is, that she is being molded into something she is way above. If you judge it by the title track and the According To You single maybe it is, but it does have a edgy rock sound to it for the most part also in places...maybe she was swayed astray a bit for a majority of the CD and it's sounds, but you have to admire her versatility as an artist to create yet another dimension to her catalog. On the surface it seems a bit more polished in places than the "Violet Journey" CD, to me she has already given us plenty of signs that she is in no way one dimensional.
That all being said, there is alot to like here, "According To You" is the catchy single with a bit more guitar than the average pop rocker, not really into female artists who do songs like these overall, so I can't tell you what other songs are on those types of albums, but I would assume none of them can handle the guitar like Orianthi, and don't have a bunch of hard rockers mixed into syruppy ballads.
What I like about the Cd is the up tempo rockers for the most part...you've got "What's It Gonna Be" which reminds me of a young Lita Ford; and there's the intrumental "Highly Strung" which if you know Steve Vai's work, you can imagine how good this is.
Other favs include "Think Like A Man", "Bad News", "Suffocated", and can't leave out what I believe she said was the first song she wrote after arriving in the States from Australia in "Feels Like Home" which is a beautiful song that starts slow, and developes nicely, has a nice solo...pretty sure this falls under the "not many other of her contemps are gonna do this....this good.
The song "God Only Knows" is a very good vocal effort I think and a nice song also.
To me there is a difference here that as said you get the real deal doing what many female artists can do only. When many female artists doing similar type music can only stand out front and sing only, how many can handle the guitar, play lead, crank out a quick fill, then launch effortlessly into a paint on the wall melting solo if necessary too?...not (m)any I bet. Orianthi does this as well as anybody, and switch gears to blues rock, or just shred (see her song for Steve Vai)...you name it the sky is the limit to what she may be able to do and accomplish.
Perhaps we need to embrace this talented young woman, and not overlook what is perceived as generic commercial pop rock, and realize just who is doing this in this case."