Incredible songcraft
author: Melanie Johnson
I say that Charlotte Ryerson is one of the best songwriters I've heard, ever. Her insights and connections have echoes of Barabara Kingsolver's writing, with big truths and big questions put forth in deceptive simplicity. She does all of this in the compact canvas of a three minute song; Charlotte can say in two lines what it takes most people a whole song to say. Actually, most people could not convey the emotion she does; most of us just don't make the connections she makes, and that's the heart of her talent. Listen to "Kill Someone". It seems simple at first, but listen again. I can't even adequately describe what it makes me feel, but it makes me feel: sadness, regret, life, death...I was stunned the first time I heard her play it for me on guitar a few years ago at a songwriting workshop. This version on piano is absolutely haunting.
Charlotte's melodies are beautiful, elegant. Her voice is gorgeous. I've listened to this disc over and over and I'm still enthralled. My favorite tracks are "Yuma Arizona", "Forgive Me", "Kill Someone", and "Slipping Sideways". And I actually got goosebumps the first time I heard "Heart of the Noise". Who else could have written such a joyous, melodic, insightful song about a composer and his famous composition? Who else would even have THOUGHT of writing a song about writing a song? (which happens to be one of my favorite musical pieces of all time. It's a musical litmus test for me: I'm guessing that most songwriters I admire and connect with have "Rhapsody in Blue" somewhere back in their psyches.)
Please get "Moth Around the Moon" and listen. Listen.
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