Album Notes

Check out Athena's other albums, "a sly sardonic grin", "Athena Under Attack" and "Stories from the Road", available here on CDBaby.com

ABOUT THE CD
"Stranger Things Have Happened" is Athena's 3rd release and is her quirkiest, liveliest, and wildest CD to date. Featuring a full band of amazing players from Montreal (including internationally renowned concert pianist Francine Kay) and gorgeous string and horn arrangements by Greg Pliska. (Greg has arranged for Carly Simon, Karen Elson, Hem and James Iha of the Smashing Pumpkins). Folk, punk, ska, pop and cabaret combine with exceptional musicianship, creativity and energy. Athena's lyrics are as poignant and radical as ever and her voice is as untamed, vituosic and emotionally expressive as her live shows.


ABOUT ATHENA
Athena Reich is a bilingual Jewish Mennonite originally from Canada, which, once you get to know her, explains a lot. She is currently working on her 5th CD with Emmy/Grammy winning producer Cynthia Daniels. She has shared the stage with Peaches, Jim Carrey & Sarah Mclachlin and toured across North America for 3 years. She is also an actress who recently appeared as part of the 365 Days/Plays Festival at Lincoln Center & The Public Theater, and in the Punk-Rock Musical "Love Sucks" at the New York Musical Theater Festival 2007. Her music is storytelling piano-pop with a theatrical twist. She is constantly pushing boundaries, mocking taboo, and making you pee your pants with laughter.

SELECT PRESS
"Underexposed Intriguing Indie Upstart Athena Reich "
Village Voice 2007

“Athena’s songs take you places only the spirit goes.
She’s wonderful. What a joy”.
Jerry Springer, Air America Radio

"If she doesn’t have you laughing hysterically at the banter, you’ll be sobbing into your sour-apple martini with her brutally honest lyrics and a voice to die for”
HX Magazine

"Musical contortionist and self-described "anarcho-feminist and cabaret-punk pop star," Athena Reich serves up a delightful buffet of bravado and bliss on Stranger Things Have Happened. Theatrical and thrilling, Reich hams it up like a natural born drama queen, but knows how to keep it in check, as is clear from opening track "The Ballad of Chicken Shower." Reich also has a rough and tumble rocker persona which she whips out on "Contra*Dick*Tions" and "Anarchy." In terms of sheer musical variety and enthusiastic performance, Reich rules." - Baltimore OUTloud

"There are a couple of things that make Athena Reich stand out among the wasteland of today's music industry. Those are her look, the structure and content of the songs on this album, and her stunningly impressive voice. Her voice is really what makes the difference between a four ranking and a perfect five ranking on our system. The album itself (Stranger Things Have Happened) is very good. It has the balance of a psychiatric ward as it flows from emotional music to an insane outburst, to some disturbingly funny lyrics, back to emotional music. The album can best be described as a Broadway musical on acid...We here at Thebrandonshow.com give the album a 5/5 and can't wait to hear the next album." TheBrandonShow.com

"Athena Reich is an original artist. Her style is hard to pin down with one label, but that's just fine. On her record we get sensitive ballads, angry punk songs and cabaret pearls. Her voice and approach is refreshingly unique...This album is a striking piece of work." - Luna Kafe, Sweden

"This woman is odd...and I mean that in the best way possible. I mean, with a song title like "The Ballad of Chicken Shower" I guess you don't need me to tell you that. That song is a cute little waltz that actually includes some squawking. Her voice is as unique as her song stylings. It's perfect for the songs, which range from pop to punk to ballads. Many with a cabaret-ish feel." - Collected Sounds Rea

"Stranger Things Have Happened is Reich's quirkiest, liveliest, and most fully integrated project to date. Combining folk, punk, ska, pop, and cabaret, Reich intertwines her exceptional musicianship into gorgeous and innovative melodies." Outsmart Magazine


PLAYERS
Athena Reich: vocals, guitar (tracks 4 & 11)
Greg Pliska: piano
Cordell Hennebury: guitar
Jean Cyr: bass
John Fraboni: drums
Francine Kay: piano (track 7)
Tim Halliday: cello
Madeleine Messier: Violin
Sean Craig: sax
Dave Mossing: trumpet
Bruce Pepper: trombone


CREDITS
Produced by Athena Reich and Greg Pliska.
String and Horn arrangements by Greg Pliska.
Recorded by Paul Johnston at PJ Studios and Hendrick Hassert Studios in Montreal.
Vocals recorded by Mere and Touch at Running Water Lab in Stamford, CT.
Vocals edited by Denise Barbarita in New York.
Piano for "I am Just a Hole" recorded at Manhattan Beach Recording in New York.
Mixed by Gary Maurer at Stratosphere Studios in New York.
Mastered by Rick Rowe at Media Lab in New York.
Manufactured at Play-itProductions.net.
CD design by KneesandToes.org
Photography by Denise Grant, Jesse Harold, Mebeeb.com, and Athena Reich.