Read the full review at www.indiemonkey.com
The songs are a little bit country and a larger portion of rock. Think Tom Petty, Dylan (Senior and Junior), Johnny Cash, Bruce Springsteen and The Jayhawks and you will have a sense of the style Mr Israel is blending.
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Energetic, intuitive roots rock band that hits all the right places.
The Cultivators play a tight, roots rock that has influences like the Eagles, Graham Parker, and Tom Petty. Dan Israel's vocals are a strong presence for the band to get behind and let loose with an energetic edge and intuitive band interplay. "All Alone" starts things off with sizzling rhythmic punch, while other songs play with bluegrass/rockabilly twang with a modern rock, uptempo feel. For fans of the genre, this one definitely hits all the right places with welcome emotion and talented performances that lend to oft-repeated listens. Very highly recommended. Passers by the gajoob listening room asked about this one, it's that good.
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"Damn, what a record...in fact, perhaps the most suprising, and welcome,
singer-songwriter find since Tim Easton's Special 20."
- Dan Moser, No Depression magazine, March-April 2001
"At the moment, I can't recall a more honest recording...Dan Who? is a
revelation not because it's about Israel's failings, but because it's
about his feelings - a rare achievement in songwriting these
days...Well, somebody buy a billboard, hire a blimp and give this guy
his due already. His name is Dan Israel, one of the mad ones, one of
the strugglers, and he just made the record of his life."
- Jim Walsh, St. Paul Pioneer Press (St. Paul, MN), giving Dan Who? 4
out of 4 stars
"A quite stunning piece of work...Dan Who? is a work of art which
deserves to be heard. Make sure you're one of the people who do."
- Stuart Hamilton, Zeitgeist E-Zine (Scotland, UK)
"Dan Israel should be heard...he easily has the talent to be a big
star...pay attention to him."
- Steve Jacobetz, music-critic.com (Madison, Wisc.)
"Perhaps the finest singer-songwriter outing of the year...acoustic
alt-country at its best...sheer lyrical brilliance."
- Jason Smith, the Alt-Country Page e-zine (Buffalo, MN)
"Dan Who? has honestly left this writer (as it will just about any
listener) hitting the "Repeat" button, if not begging for more. Israel
gives off a great troubadour-like performance, and this CD shows off
some great examples of the talent that he is as a songwriter."
- Matt Merta, Great Lakes Twang review page (Michigan)
"Mr. Israel, you keep cranking out albums in this vein that are this
good, and you're going to be single-handedly responsible for a rebirth
of interest in folk music."
- Christopher Thelen, dailyvault.com music review page (Illinois)
"I like the album (Dan Who?) a lot...there should always be room for a
record with just a guy and a guitar singing intelligent melodic songs.
Dan Israel has succeeded in that."
- Warren Owen, Altcountrytab.com review page (UK)
"Dan Who? instantly crystallizes the heart of the Cultivators' appeal:
well-crafted songs, smartly buffeted with hooks and showcased around
high-calibre players. The clarity of Israel's vision, his insightful
gift of observation, his wry sense of humour and the balance of optimism
to melancholy lift this release above and beyond the typical,
angst-ridden self-exorcism."
- Eric Thom, Exclaim! Magazine (Toronto, Canada)
"(Israel) is one of the songwriters that is brillian in his own right
but yet to be discovered. It is a true folk album as he is singing
about his life and telling stories about good times and bad times. If
you are a true fan of singer/songwriter material, you will love "Dan
Who?""
- Dennis Scanland, Music Emissions e-zine (Alberta, Canada)
"Presented simply and without musical frills, Israel's songs demonstrate
his talent for infectious melody and clever, concise lyrics delivered in
a vocal style not unlike Tom Petty. The record is distinguished by its
diversity."
- Mike Aydelott, RoundSound music reviews e-zine (California)
"The whole record is absolutely stunning."
- Tom Hallett, Pulse of the Twin Cities magazine (Minneapolis, MN)
"Songwriter of the Year - Dan Israel"
- Jacques Spiry, DJ with nationally syndicated radio show in France
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