Album Notes

Shades of jazz, rock, pop and funk with pulsing grooves, a myriad of singers & instrumentalists, and incidental spoken word 'montages'. Lyrics range from the state of the heart to the state of the world, with a sense of irony, poetry, spirituality, storytelling and humor.

"...a songwriter of exceptional talent and perception. I expect him to make a serious impact on the pop charts or on Broadway..." - Charles M. Young, Executive Editor, Musician Magazine

"...a uniquely gifted composer. His songs are powerful, perceptive, even provocative... a sensitive and intelligent performer. This is music everyone should hear." - Mike Stoller, Songwriter/Producer, Leiber & Stoller

"...articulate, clear-thinking... with something to say... the U2-school-of-conviction... songs with sincerity... excellent singers [with] great tonal quality and not a bum note among them." - The Music Paper

"Look out, Whitney Houston." - Toronto Star (on singer Wendy Boulding)

"Sophisticated"
- Betty Comden & Adolph Green, Librettists (on LET IT GO)

"Ambitious"
- Gary Katz, Producer for Steely Dan (on VER BAL O SIS)

"Awesome... really great, hooky melodies." - Amy Lennard, Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist

"Great stuff! Remarkable quality and consistency for mastering material from so many sessions and situations." - Jonathan Keezing, Guitarist/Songwriter, Passion Records

"STAND UP has such quiet power, I keep expecting it to be snatched up as a banner by all the world's dispossessed. This anthem for the mentally ill may be the most concise and convincing evidence of Adam's consummate gift as a songwriter. Listen to the way he sets up the simple grace of the song proper with the desperate, defiant harmonies in the intro and bridge. Simple, solid and wide open, WALLS START FALLING is as inspirational and supportive as a writer or singer could ever hope for. I think more singers we know have asked to do this song than any other." - Peter Stoller, Producer/Singer/Songwriter

"VER BAL O SIS is a terrific piece... I'm astounded at how tuneful it strikes my ear, even though it seems to be jumping modally all over the place - much like human speech does, I notice. The melody intervals are always unexpected, but they work and 'resolve' in ear-stretching ways. Obviously this is a well-trained sensibility at work." - KP

"Cool stuff. OUR PERFECT LOVE reminds me of 'Rikki Don't Lose That Number' and 'Katy Lied' (Steely Dan) at the same time." - Afterthem

"Smart pop" - TM

CREDITS:

Compilation produced, remixed and mostly arranged and performed by Adam Levin, and engineered and mastered by Jay Mark. Additional mastering by The SoundLab.

Thanks to Wendy Boulding, Peter Stoller, David Brooks, Danny Obadia and Allison Adler for additional arranging, producing and/or performing.

Songs written by Adam Levin, with collaborative material by Wendy Boulding, David Brooks and Peter Stoller.