Born two days after Christmas, Adrienne Pierce has always had a personal affinity for the holiday season. Her six song EP "Winter" is a musical love letter to this special time of year. Recorded primarily in a cabin on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, this is a holiday release with both classic appeal and indie charm to spare. The four original Christmas songs are diverse in style but unified in theme and DIY approach . Adrienne is proud to have "Winter" available at Borders stores across the United States and on iTunes this November.
The EP starts with the soulful bounce of "All That We Want". Inspired by the sounds of Motown Christmas records of the 60s, the lyrics encourage listeners to "send love if that's all you have to send...spend time if that's all you have to spend". Next, the crisp strum of acoustic guitars and distant bells make "Raise Our Voices Up" and its evocative personification of inanimate Christmas objects all the more poignant.
Produced by and co-written with Sarah Mclachlan/Alanis Morissette keyboardist Vincent Jones, "Making Angels" injects a jolt of cheer with it's electro sheen and popping bass line. "Joy is Within Reach" is a more contemplative ode to remembering what is important during the oft over commercialized holiday season. "No need to deck the halls, forget the malls, let's go caroling," it urges against a backdrop of lush harmonies and instrumentation.
Pierce also has reverence for the ghost of Christmas past as evidenced by the two covers present. First is her dreamy interpretation of Vince Guaraldi's Peanuts staple, "Christmas Time is Here". In the singer's capable hands, the classic "Put a Little Love In Your Heart" becomes a rootsy sing along complete with accordion and glockenspiel.
Adrienne has released two well received full length albums (Faultline and Small Fires) and her songs have been featured on many major television shows such Grey's Anatomy, the Hills, Army Wives, Veronica Mars, Dirt and more. With the November release of "Winter" Adrienne Pierce is poised to expand her fan base even further.
"Pierce’s songs are likely to appeal to a wide audience, sounding as if written at an intersection between a Sheryl Crow greatest hits record and the melodic melancholy of Aimee Mann." Aarik Danielsen, Popmatters
REVIEWS FOR WINTER:
"The Vancouver native, who’s mastered the art of getting her songs on TV shows, delivers four poppy and upbeat originals. But the real treat here is her totally adorable, almost childlike version of Jackie DeShannon’s “Put a Little Love in Your Heart”.
Sarah Rowland - The Georgia Straight
"It is fitting that Adrienne Pierce was born the day prior to Christmas Eve, as her new EP Winter invokes the happier side of the snowy season. Rather than embarking upon a tirade against materialism, Pierce makes her point by sweetly singing about the non commercial traditions of Christmas. The opening track, "All That We Want" is an ode to baking Christmas cookies, while "Raise Our Voices Up" and "Joy is Within Reach" celebrate the simple pleasures of building snowmen, stringing lights and caroling.
Containing four original songs and two covers, Winter is an endearing accolade to the innocence of childhood and the comfort of continuing to believe in magic; subject matter alluded to on fourth track "Making Angels." Although the 1968 classic, "Put a Little Love in Your Heart" has been covered multiple times before, Pierce's reinterpretation coalesces with the rest of the album so well, the song could be her own. Aside from being much too short, if there was one blip on this otherwise stellar offering, it is the cover of Peanuts classic "Christmas Time Is Here," which is delightfully charming and quirky for the first few listens, but becomes a bit tiresome when the disc is on constant play—a reality for a release this enjoyable. Resonating with good cheer, this celebration of snowflakes and ruddy cheeked wholesomeness will be playing well into spring thaw.
Melissa Smith - Discorder Magazine
This is one time when a worn out cliché truly applies, if you have not heard Adrienne Pierce's music, you have no idea what you are missing. What you are missing, is one of the most gifted songwriters in the music industry today.”
---Joe Montague, Riveting Riffs Magazine
“I recently received your Winter EP and I think it is nothing short of brilliant. Your song, "All That We Want" has already been added to our rotation. Quite frankly, it is the best music I have heard in some time.”
---Art Polimeno, Program Director ChristmasRadio.com
Read more...