Album Notes

Cindy Kalmenson is an original voice in Nashville weaving deep sentiments with honesty and humor. Inspired and influenced by her favorite artists: Joni Mitchell, Bonnie Raitt, Lucinda Williams, Neil Young, Joan Baez and Emmylou Harris, to name a few, Cindy has developed a unique and heart felt sound very much her own.

Before moving to Nashville in 1996, Cindy lived in Santa Monica and Santa Cruz, Ca. where she taught bilingual education and high school Spanish for 8 years. In addition to being a full time teacher, Cindy performed in many community theater productions. After moving back to her native LA from Santa Cruz to pursue acting, she quickly discovered that she could be on stage every night at the many open mic nights all around the city provided you sing your own songs...so that's when the song writing began...as a way to get back on the stage, this time with guitar in hand. After a couple years playing the coffeehouse circuit in LA, she was ready to put herself to the real test. In 1996 she packed her car and made the move to Nashville determined to record an album of her own songs. Two years later her debut CD, produced by Preston Sullivan and Grammy award winning engineer Brad Hartman is complete and garnering great reviews....see back page.

"Let Me Out Here", on her own Big Gack Records, complete with 12 songs, 11 original, and one in Spanish by Juan Luis Guerra, spans 8 years of song writing and experiences. The magical cast of musicians orchestrated by Sullivan, features Darrell Scott on guitar, mandolin, dobro, accordion and pedal steel. Allison Prestwood and Mark Prentice on bass and Tom Roady on Percussion. Writing straight from the heart and spiced with a sense of humor, her soulful voice and clever songs are expertly complemented by the best of Nashville's musicians. But to see her live you witness the charm of a true artist born to be on stage.


Here's a taste of what they 're saying about Let Me Out Here

Country Music International. "... this is an assured debut with Kalmenson displaying similarities with Lucinda Williams and Nancy Griffith..."
Hugh Gregory 8/98

Nashville's Music Magazine: Blink "Cindy's debut CD successfully reveals a different layer of who she is with each song. Kalmenson's sweet, yet strong vocals reverberate with an underlying intensity throughout. Let Me Out Here displays an overall Americana feel. The title track, "Let Me Out Here" simply oozes with subtle emotion. The intertwining vocals of Kalmenson and Lisa Carver(co- writer) on this song will hit you with a soft -spoken ferocity. The song ends with a one minute instrumental signaling not the end but the beginning of something new and exciting. Based on the CD I would say the Cindy Kalmenson can look forward to the same."
Jamie Bolyard Jan'98

Crossroads Magazine ".... she's got a nice understanding of how to write and perform songs with country hooks that will make you remember them and follow them up with lyrics offering twists of humor and insight enough to make them memorable as well. This is her debut self-produced album-she's one to watch..."
Kerry Dexter July '98

Performing Songwriter Magazine "Let Me Out Here" is a solid offering sure to please fans of Folk and acoustic music..."
Niel Fagan Sept/Oct. '98

Dirty Linen In her debut release singer/songwriter Cindy Kalmenson reveals a sense of humor as well as a sense of perspective. She can handle the evocative blues/ballad style of "Alabama Bliss" and "Oh España" , sustain the funny story song "Rock 'n' Roll hero" and write the catchy hooks of "The Damage Was Done". Kalmenson offers engaging songs with substance beyond their surface- she's an artist to watch.......
Kerry Dexter Dec. '98

The Herald Bulletin, ".... While her music's initial impact might be jaw dropping, the songs have the kind of depth that only repeated listening reveal. The bottom line is this music is enjoyable to hear again and again....."
Rick Teverbaugh Feb '98

Santa Cruz Sentinel ".... Droll and spirited, this former UCSC student and local actress returns to Santa Cruz from Nashville to sing her original songs in a voice that sounds like a cross between Lisa Loeb and Sheryl Crow. ..." Adrienne Rogers Jan'98