August 2004 - Rocker Dave Berg pins #1 single with "Somebody". Despite his alternative rocker roots, his song "Somebody" was released by Reba and reached #1 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles & Tracks Chart and #35 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. "Somebody" becomes Reba's 22nd #1, breaking the record for longest span of #1 hits by a female country performer. Dave co-wrote "Somebody" with Sam and Annie Tate.
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PURE MUSIC REVIEW
SURFACE * Dave Berg
When a lot of CDs arrive every month, you review a half dozen, and they inevitably pile up. Everywhere, in every room. Unfortunately, some of those stacks contain treasures like this record, and it may take a while before you realize it. Before you realize that this record you've looked at a lot but not yet played is something great.
The first impression is that it's a gorgeous sounding record. The artist produced, he and Gary Burnette, a session guitarist extraordinaire with many production credits to his name as well. Their particular wall of sound resonates in my ears like the voice of experience, pulling you into the middle of the sound. The way I hear it, a big soft bottom end rules. And there's a very alluring vocal that is mixed just a little further back, so that you are actively listening to it, instead of the voice being something you can't get away from when you're trying to zero in on other sounds on the record. It's hard to describe, but it makes my ears get involved, it's a good thing.
Berg is a great writer for Warner Chappell Music here in Nashville, and has had cuts with country artists like Ty Herndon, and edgier artists like the Warren Brothers and Meredith Brooks. But his records are pop records--very catchy, satisfying melodies with titles like "Coffee with Jesus" and "The Frowning Girl," and a tale of doomed incompatibility, "Leno Over Letterman." Dave's lyrics are superlative.
I've seen the man play a time or two in town, and always thought he was really good, but he'd be doing pop songs on acoustic guitar, which only does them a certain justice. The record shows how great his music really is. Berg and Burnette retain the services of many of Nashville's finest, and they get a sound I'm not used to hearing on any, even my favorite, Nashville records. A lot of that is Dave's writing and his excellent voice, but the rest is how the elements are put together, the production values involved. Well, hear it for yourself, on the Listen page. I'm gonna listen again, cause I'm digging it, and I'm learning something.
We dig Dave Berg big time, and Surface ought to be in your collection. Buy it here. * FG
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Review in JAN FEB 2004 issue of Performing Songwriter Magazine!
Dave Berg
Surface
Produced by Gary Burnette and Dave Berg
As Dave Berg hones his work with every release, and with every cut by the likes of Meredith Brooks, the Warren Brothers and Ty Herndon, it becomes more and more apparent that we have a serious talent on our hands. A staff writer for Warner/Chappell by day and performer by night, Berg has crafted two studied, impressive releases. His first, Three Perfect Days, hit No. 1 on Aware Records' online outlet, and Surface shows signs of outdoing even that.
Berg's grasp of the great American pop vernacular is dazzling. He's plainspoken but thought-provoking, and his lyrics, for all their quirky twists, are serious business. "Leno Over Letterman" explores the demise of a relationship with tongue in cheek, but hits the intricacies of love dead-on. "Coffee With Jesus," "The Frowning Girl" and "Sunshine" reveal deep-thinking songcraft couched in glorious pop. This guy's gonna be around for a long, long time. -CS
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After moving from Portland, Oregon to Nashville, he became a fresh and welcome addition to the Music City Community, serving as a staff writer for Starstruck Writer's Group and Warner Chappell Music. His songs have been cut by Meredith Brooks, the Warren Brothers. Dave has collaborated with a wide array of talented songwriters, among them Gary Louris of the Jayhawks and some of Music City's most well respected songwriters such as Mark Sanders, Sam and Annie Tate, Rivers Rutherford, Troy Verges, Angelo (Kings of Leon) and Georgia Middleman. Dave has been able to find the balance between his day job as a staff songwriter and his solo artist career. He carefully and solely crafted thirteen brand new songs for his new album, Surface.
After fronting several rock bands, Dave released his first solo project, Three Perfect Days, in September 1999, which he co-produced with Gary Burnette (Wes Cunningham/Warner Bros., Big Kenny/Hollywood Records, Rose Falcone/Capitol Records). The album was mixed by Grammy nominee Shane Wilson (Owsley - Giant Records). "Three Perfect Days" received rave reviews and was a #1 Best Seller at the Aware Records online store within the first week. Because of his unique musical perspective, Dave's songwriting has been honored by the Portland Music Association as a winner of their annual songwriting competition. Dave was also announced the winner of the prestigious Alesis Corporation National Songwriting Competition.
Dave collaborates once again with Gary Burnette and Shane Wilson on his new project, Surface, which he recorded in Nashville at Omni and Roswell East Studios. Surface was co-produced by Gary Burnette and Dave Berg, mixed by Wilson, and mastered at County Q Productions by Tom Endres. While the influence of his hometown of Portland, Oregon is clearly evident in his music, Dave transcends the raw sounds and passionate performances regularly associated with alternative rock acts. His original and emotionally turbulent songs often combine soaring melodies with honest examinations of relationships and self-awareness.
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