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Brian Kramer : Myself and Mine
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Brian Kramer solo; Original uplifting acoustic finger-picking & slide guitar blues for the 21st Century.
Genre: Blues: Acoustic Blues
Release Date: 2010
Myself and Mine
Brian Kramer
Record Label: BKB
  • Buy CD - $14.00
  • Download Album (MP3) - $9.99

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Preview Song Name Time Buy
1. Pocket Watch 5:25 + MP3 $0.99
2. Journey To The Delta 4:21 + MP3 $0.99
3. Introduction # 1 0:50 + MP3 $0.50
4. Touching A Cloud 3:21 + MP3 $0.99
5. Introduction # 2 0:38 + MP3 $0.50
6. Just Scratchin' By 3:27 + MP3 $0.99
7. My Precious Stone 4:44 + MP3 $0.99
8. Love Just Fell Away 3:48 + MP3 $0.99
9. Rainy Day In Amsterdan 3:29 + MP3 $0.99
10. Speak of The Devil 4:21 + MP3 $0.99
11. Would I Do Anything Different 3:52 + MP3 $0.99
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Album Notes

“I must follow up these continual lessons of air, water, earth. I perceive I have no time to lose”
-Walt Whitman; excerpt from Myself and Mine (Leaves of Grass)

This project has been a long time coming…
It always starts with just me and my guitar and friends have been urging me
to lay it all out like this on one recording for years.
Well this has been a very liberating experience and brought me back to the freedom of connecting
to the song, to the strings… to tell the stories and let them stand up on their own.
This collection of songs span over the past few years, some inspired by my travels, some were written just days before recording, some were sketches and I let the studio environment and the moment guide the song for me, trying to keep a certain “immediacy” to the music as if just written moments before the record button was pushed.
I went for the emotional content over the pristine performance. Did very few takes and if it felt right, left it as is. I say this not as an excuse but as an assurance that what I lay before you is as bare as I can possibly get.
-Brian Kramer

“You don’t need to Google Brian Kramer to know most of his life story –it’s all there in his songs and in his emotional and beautifully sung blues.
The result is completely honest and from the heart and in my opinion one of the most personal albums you could ever wish to hear.
His playing here is superb, he is a painter of world-pictures and every song gives you clear and meaningful images that you could almost step inside and inhabit.
…The combination of his playing and his words take you up into the ether and you don’t know if you are gliding, ballooning or just walking on clouds -The sense of freedom is immense. He is wonderful to listen to.
Pure class and a wonderful album.”
-Andy Snipper; Blues Matters Magazine Oct. 2010

"Myself & Mine"
This Cd is not what I expected! Listening to it for the first time I was thinking, What is this? But since then it has been growing both when it comes to music and also lyrics. The CD I'm holding in my hand is both naked and sensitive but also full of maturity and reflection. Brian is a very skillful artist! He plays his guitar superbly and he writes very good lyrics. He has a big heart and he is also generous.

"Pocket Watch" Starts with delicate finger picking which makes the song really swing. It is a timeless story about mistakes people can make, about missfortune, about moving on while time is moving fast.
"Love Just Fell Away" Begins with nice finger picking/slide and rich lyrics. It is about growing appart, about love and betrayal. Everybody can relate to it.
"Touching a Cloud" is a song about freedom but also about how troubles can seem to be smaller when you are up flying among the clouds and how everything is connected.
"Speak Of The Devil" Is a swinging delta-tune that might be inspired by Robert Johnson. Everybody can relate to this song too. This is where Brian's greatness is shown both concerning music and lyrics.
"Just Scratchin' By" About being a taxi driver in New York. About working hard every day and get almost nothing back, about desperation.
"My Precious Stone" Is a song about love, and about being rich inside, in the heart. (Very good lyrics here).
"Journey To The Delta" A real blues tune a la Robert Johnson with impressive guitar playing. This song is really swinging, with fateful lyrics. Brian's voice fits perfectly here.
"Rainy Day in Amsterdam" A slow song, sort of an account of a journey, one could say. Or it is about taking a chance.
"Would I Do Anything Different" It is hard to tell what the future will bring. But what if you had a crysal ball? There is so many questions and so few answers.

This CD is not what I expected...that is what I wrote in the introduction...It is far better, In fact it is excellent!
-Bluesdog; Reviewing The Blues

"Your new C.D. is just beautiful ~ songs straight from the heart, without any doubt. I love your solo acoustic stuff and the acoustic blues slide on there really is some of the best i've heard in my 40 years of listening to slide guitar.....but "Touching A Cloud" just blows me away - one of the most lovely 'tales within a song' I've ever heard & yet another track on permanent play on the C.D. player!!! "
-Ian McWee/Diamond Bottlenecks

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REVIEWS

Brian Kramer - Myself And Mine Review
author: Shashona McCall
                            
Brian Kramer - Myself and Mine Review

www.briankramerblues.com 
www.myspace.com/briankramerblues 
www.facebook.com/pages/Brian-Kramer-Blues/7612846401 
www.reverbnation.com/briankramerblues
                             

Location: Stockholm Sweden
Genre: Acoustic Blues
Myself and Mine Album released: 2010
Record Label: BKB
Brian Kramer - National Steel Resonator Guitar & Bottleneck Slide Guitar, Vocals

Myself and Mine Track List:
  1 - Pocket Watch
  2 - Delta Journey
  3 - Introduction #1
  4 - Touching A Cloud
  5 - Introduction #2
  6 - Just Scratching By
  7 - Precious Stone
  8 - Love Just Fell Away
  9 - Rainy Day In Amsterdam
10 - Speak Of The Devil
11 - Would I Do Anything Different

Brian Kramer is an accomplished musician who has worked with the best of the best. He cut his teeth with the likes of Junior Wells, Eric Bibb, Larry Johnson and Mick Taylor. When this man releases an album, excitement quickly follows. "Myself and Mine" is a fine example of why this man is the best around.  His astounding finger picking techniques are apparent. He has honed his skills on his precious National Steel Resonator and Bottleneck Steel Guitars and has left audiences in jaw dropping awe.

Brian Kramer's commitment is to a "pure" acoustic blues style with the treasured "Kramer Twist".   His
songwriting abilities do not go unnoticed. He writes from personal experience on life and emotion. He digs deep within himself, sharing personal insights. "Myself and Mine" has all the qualities one comes to expect from this exceptional musician and more.

Brian has graciously given us 11 tracks in this brilliant album. He sets in motion a groove that is hypnotic and additive. Each track has a different feel and a different story. One thing is for sure, you will not have the urge to skip any track. This is a well written, produced, mastered and recorded album. The kind you keep in your good stack of albums. Brian Kramer has nailed the instrumentation throughout the entire album.  This album is every musicians dream and every listeners pleasure.

The 3 tracks I have set aside are:

1 . Pocket Watch  -  This track is about Grandpa's Pocket Watch from 1869. Brian weaves a story that draws the listeners in and holds them captive. His expertise on guitar is astounding. Brian Kramer's smooth vocal seals it together, making this song a keeper.

2 . Delta Journey  -  Lord, Brian Kramer hits it hard with Delta Journey. This is a gritty delta blues ditty that will have you grooving in your chair. His superb vocal style is rich and strong, taking you deep into the delta. You know the kind I'm talking about. The kind you close your eyes and sway your head to. Brian Kramer shows his exceptional guitar finger picking style and leaves us breathless.

*** Introduction # 1 & 2 gives us a personal glimpse into Brian Kramer that leaves us feeling we connected with this wonderful artist.

3 . Would I Do Anything Different  - This track touched me personally. It is a well written lyric, presented by Brian Kramer accompanied by his best friend, his National Steel Resonator. It is insightful and thought provoking. Simply exceptional.

I have to say, for the record, this has been one of the most difficult albums I have reviewed, to single out 3 tracks. My respect for this man's ability is unequalled. He is a gifted musician, songwriter and vocalist. He does this style of music proud. You will soon be swept into the Kramer zone with this brilliant album "Myself and Mine". The remarkable thing about Brian Kramer's generous gifts, is that once you hear the first track, you are a fan for life. Only once in a very blue moon, does someone come along with Brian Kramer's unique musical abilities and grace. This humble man comes from a place of honesty, genuine ability and generosity.  If you have not had the occasion to hear "Myself and Mine", do so today. You will definitely be thanking me tomorrow.  http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/bkramer4

                                                                         And That's Just How I See It
                                                                                 Shashona McCall
                                                                                   Indie Showcase
                                                                         www.indieshowcase.net

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