Melodic Sensibility and Lyrical Honesty Equals Strong Album
Brian Snyder | New York, NY | 04/26/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"As a huge fan of David Gray, I was pleasantly surprised when I heard this new singer/songwriter for the first time. There were definite David Gray influences, but it wasn't a carbon-copy. So, I wasn't too shocked to find out that Pernell's debut CD was Mixed by Tim Bradshaw, David Gray's keyboardist! On Severn Way, Tim contributed by playing Keyboards, Lead Guitar, Bass & even programming those addictive David Gray'esque drum loops. OK, as wonderful as all of that may be, it would have been a useless cover if the songs couldn't carry their own weight. The truth is, Pernell has done a wonderful job of expressing his honest emotions on this album, and in a way that's very accessible. You find yourself thinking, "Hey, I've been there. Wait, I've been there, too. Hey, is this me singing?" Pernell's done an incredible job of being true to himself and his audience through his lyrics on Severn Way. My favorite song on the album is "Next." Not only does it have an overly addictive melody, but it tackles a question we all encounter when we get to a certain point in a relationship. In the words of Pernell, "...when I speak do you hear me? Is this your favorite song. This one..." It's that pivotal moment when you're not sure if you mean as much to someone as you thought you did. It's brilliant. "Next," covers a lot of ground, but that one idea really stuck out in my mind. Another great song is "Midnight Detroit." In this song, Pernell is alone in a hotel room thinking about his distant love. She's far away, but she still lives inside of him. Instead of it being melancholy, this song's chorus resounds a relieving sigh of, "...it's alright. It's ok. 'Cause I see your face on every page..." And when Pernell sings, "...you're so special, can't you see..." in "Madeline," you feel like he's talking about you. You find yourself saying, "hey, I AM special." The prosody is excellent. The only constructive criticism that I would have for Pernell is that in a couple of the songs, the lyrics can become a bit abstract or cryptic. But, overall, the message comes across in a very poignent & honest way. If I were Pernell Disney, I would be very excited to have created such a strong debut album. I know incredible artists who's debut albums have been hemispheres worse. Congratulations on a job well done.Brian"
Every time I listen it gets better
Karen | Reston, VA USA | 05/05/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It is rare that I add new music to my limited collection, but this CD has been in daily rotation since I stumbled upon this new artist. "Severn Way" is a introspective, debut album from a talented musician. Pernell Disney has the ability to write lyrics that everyone who has ever been loved, rejected, and moved on can relate to. If you have ever thought that you would be single for the rest of your life and had convinced yourself that you were OK with that, you have to hear "Alone." "I don't really notice being alone. I do it everyday." If I had to pick a favorite, that would be it. Disney is the kind of artist who isn't afraid to go out on a limb with his music. He opens himself up and lets the listener look inside... it's refreshing.I had the opportunity to see Pernell Disney perform live (he's a local artist) and was pleasantly surprised. I loved the CD but his live show was even better. If you ever have the chance to see him... take it."
Well Worth a listen
Karen | 06/04/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Really good record. Everything just seems to gel just right. It's one of those where you want to hear it again once it's over." I'm from Hollywood" is a real highpoint. Cool loops, cool playing, cool songs and a cool voice. Well worth investigating."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1