LISA FRASER: Midday Songs

Lisa Fraser

Midday Songs

© 2005 Abish Music LLC (659057995120)

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Meet brilliant new artist Lisa Fraser. One part Ani Difranco. Two parts Emily Saliers. Three parts Eva Cassidy.

notes

"As a reviewer I listen to many CDs every month, and very few make it into my regular collection. This one makes it, and in a big way. Lisa is everything you want out of a singer/songwriter, and a little more. . . . What gets me most excited is that if she has this much musical integrity at this age we are seeing the birth of a superstar."
Dennis Halsey, bestfemalemusicians.com

"A major talent. The vocal and guitar bounce and weave in an intricate, frenetic and eccentric style that is magnificent and powerful . . . [and] echoes that of some of Ani DiFranco's work."
Eric Endres, www.ldsmusicnews.com

"The woman epitomizes the independent spirit . . . You cannot pass up the opportunity to discover some of the best and brightest talent the genre offers today".
Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck, MusicSites.net, Talentstar.net and Indie-Music.com

"This is one of the most refreshing sounds I have heard all year. Lisa Fraser's soulful voice lends a soothing quality to her heartfelt songs. Listening to the CD I am reminded of Norah Jones - in the way that Lisa sings beautifully without the vocal acrobats found so often today. She just sings. Midday Songs is an upbeat, soothing, quiet ride through emotion. A must-add to your collection."
Girl Posse, October 2003

"Her full-bodied tone surrounds you like a dive into a swimming hole where the water feels thicker than water. "Midday Songs" is accessible, deceptively unique, surprisingly unique, almost completely unique."
Minor 7th - David Kleiner (Jan/Feb 04 Issue)

Rich, sultry, and enticing; three words that characterize the voice of Lisa Fraser, a 24-year-old singer/songwriter destined to turn heads with the release of her elegant debut album, MIDDAY SONGS (Abish Music).

Born in Provo, Utah, Fraser was inspired to create music from an early age. "I remember as a kid telling my mom I was going to be a singer when I grew up," she says. In her teen years she began to sing in various groups and write songs. She's proficient in both guitar and piano. At the age of 19 she gave her first solo public performance, at a Brigham Young University Acoustic Jam. In July 2000, she embarked on a year-and-a-half hiatus from music to volunteer in Alberta for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In early 2002 she returned from the Great White North to rekindle her loyal following in her native Utah and the surrounding region. In summer 2002 she competed in the Salt Lake City Battle of the Bands sponsored by Utah's premier Alternative Rock station, KENZ 107.5. Despite playing without a backing band, Fraser's scintillating solo performance earned 3rd prize out of a whopping 180 bands. Over the next four years Lisa Fraser created a buzz through eagerly attended performances and an 8-song demo CD.

In 2000 Fraser's mature, personal style was quick to catch the attention of Drex Davis (Abish Music). The ensuing collaborative efforts culminated in the release of MIDDAY SONGS in June 2003. The 13-song debut record was recorded and mixed by Mike Coleman, from renowned Orangewood Studios in Mesa, Arizona, and is already garnering exemplary reviews. The song "Mr. Builder" will be featured in the movie "The Work and the Story."

Fraser writes intensely personal lyrics. From the autobiographical tale of her triumph over resistance in "Keep Walkin'," to the ironically personal angst-ridden beauties of "Overloaded" to the bittersweet breakup of "Stepped Out," Fraser reaches out with hope, triumph, deity, identity, family, pain, balance, and integrity. Her guitar tickles and meanders, her voice enthralls. The overarching theme embedded in all her music is that of redemption -- the possibility, and ultimate certainty, of salvation.

While her sound merges folk intimacy, rock hooks, searing vocals, and oh-so-intimate lyrics, she has her own make-you-weep/make-you-cheer songwriting style. Fraser has honed her personal, effervescent vocal style with an eye towards mergeing folk intimacy with the edginess of rock. Her influences are apparent: she carries the stylish intimacy of Eva Cassidy, the melodoc storytelling of Paul Simon, and the sultriness of Norah Jones. Though these disparate touchstones give an indication of Fraser's sources of inspiration and synthesis, all agree that she is wholly unique.

Lisa Fraser exudes a maturity that belies her youth. She's approaching her art with an integrity that she says she has learned from watching and reading about others -- namely Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, Fredrick Douglas, and the early Christians and Muslims who were persecuted for their beliefs. "I'm at the point in my life where I'm really impressed by people with integrity, no matter what the religion or cause. Those are the people that flat-out get my respect. Unknown people who dare to stand up for things."

Fraser will be performing throughout the intermountain west region in support of MIDDAY SONGS. She is committed to reach increasingly more discerning listeners who have been waiting for songs like hers to come along. Though her live shows are heavily attended by college-age people and people who enjoy intimate, contemporary folk performances, she appeals to a wide variety of listeners. "My goal now is to keep writing, to get better and better, more clever and inventive musically, and make some really good music." She primarily performs solo, singing her original songs while accompanying herself on guitar.

-30-

reviews

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  • author: Minor 7th Webzine

    It's quirky, tuneful, spiritual, and just a little sexy. It's universal, personal, conversational, and inscrutable. To do justice to "Midday Songs," I have to reinvent my use of language. That's exactly what Lisa Fraser does in the opening cut, "Mr. Builder." Its lyrics fall somewhere along a continuum from scat to John Lennon's "In His Own Write." But check out the lyrics on her website (lisafraser.com). You'll find every word of her sense-filled gobbledygook -though gobbledygook can't make sense by definition-lines like "Subitylime cathedral oh shedrill to die hothot." Opening with "Mr. Builder" puts Fraser's oh-so-easy-to-take eccentric-pill-to-swallow right in your face. It also showcases her idiosyncratic guitar style. It's percussive and often driven by insistent bass thumping contrasted with some quick, clean runs in the treble. (Fraser plays all the instruments on the CD, so listen carefully for the guitar duet that closes "Lean Into Heaven.") Placing "Overloaded" second serves to show Fraser's range. Here's a chorus you can sing. Here's singer/songwriter self-disclosure, the musings of a seeker whose "good old answers / Would never again be good enough." Have I mentioned the voice? Sure, Fraser has a smoky whisper effective for cooing that his goodnight kiss "is my favorite part" ("City Street Song"). But there's much more. Her full-bodied tone surrounds you like a dive into a swimming hole where the water feels thicker than water. Fraser's vocal power is highlighted throughout but especially in "Lonely Child," "Deliverer," and the lovely little capper, "Such a Day." Fraser goes so many places and reaches so far, there is bound to be some unevenness, as in the "Heart and Soul" riff behind "I See a Time." Don't worry, all is forgiven by the time she belts out the last chorus. One must never modify "unique," but Fraser makes me do it. "Midday Songs" is accessible, deceptively unique, surprisingly unique, almost completely unique.

  • Not a good CD.. OUTSTANDING!!
    author: Frank

    I Googled Lisa... And came across this CD, I must say I have been listening to the website over and over for hours. The folksy stuff is not normally my thing, but I know I will try to find the CD for sale somewhere on the web and put it into strong rotation...

  • Why I can't stop listening...
    author: Dustin Hall

    ...because it's simply beautiful.

  • YOU... AMAZE me!
    author: Marco Lopes (marcolopes@netc.pt)

    Writing about Lisa Fraser is quite simple! If "JUDE" was a woman, he would be Lisa! (and why not the other way around?). This girl has spunk! She has the depth, insight and intensity to commit to words our ordinary life’s, making them surprisingly interesting! Lisa's guitar work is REMARKABLE throughout the entire LP. Refreshing, astonishing and unpredictable is the way to describe her technique. Melted with a voice that puts Alanis to Shame (well... almost! :-), she is a breed of her own. She grabs all my attention with such sheer musical power & simplicity. And the best, she can be contagious anywhere she wants! It's just her voice and her guitar. Ain’t that something? I think it is. Lisa... YOU... AMAZE ME! ;-)

  • This CD is a must have-love it.
    author: Michele

    This CD is a must have-love it. I think everyone would love this music and her voice is amazing!

  • LOVED IT! So upbeat!
    author: Rachel C

    This is an awesome CD. Lisa has the most beautiful voice and her music and lyrics are just as beautiful. What a wonderful talent!

  • I love the City Street Song
    author: Jess

    I love the wording in the City Street Song. Its filled with sentiment and fun. I think we all want to find a guy who is "Smoothe...Cool...and his eyes are a mans".

  • Great listening music
    author: Debra

    I look forward eagarly to hearing more from Lisa.

  • epitomizes the independent spirit
    author: Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

    The woman epitomizes the independent spirit . . . You cannot pass up the opportunity to discover some of the best and brightest talent the genre offers today

  • almost completely unique
    author: David Kleiner Minor 7th

    Her full-bodied tone surrounds you like a dive into a swimming hole where the water feels thicker than water. "Midday Songs" is accessible, deceptively unique, surprisingly unique, almost completely unique

  • A must-add to your collection
    author: Girl Posse

    This is one of the most refreshing sounds I have heard all year. Lisa Fraser's soulful voice lends a soothing quality to her heartfelt songs. Listening to the CD I am reminded of Norah Jones - in the way that Lisa sings beautifully without the vocal acrobats found so often today. She just sings. Midday Songs is an upbeat, soothing, quiet ride through emotion. A must-add to your collection.

  • we are seeing the birth of a superstar
    author: Dennis Halsey

    As a reviewer I listen to many CDs every month, and very few make it into my regular collection. This one makes it, and in a big way. Lisa is everything you want out of a singer/songwriter, and a little more. . . . What gets me most excited is that if she has this much musical integrity at this age we are seeing the birth of a superstar.

  • You're an angel--an angel straight from heaven!
    author: Grant Olsen

    This album is almost as hot as Lisa! Her voice is as beautiful as an angel. She is so incredibly hot that it leaves you desperate for more. Lisa, we want another album!

  • You're an angel--an angel straight from heaven!
    author: Grant Olsen

    This album is almost as hot as Lisa! Her voice is as beautiful as an angel. She is so incredibly hot that it leaves you desperate for more. Lisa, we want another album!

  • This is a CD you must buy!
    author: Murray Ceff

    If this is Lisa's first CD, I cannot wait to hear what she comes up with next! These songs rank with the best of the singer/songwriters I have heard in my thirty odd years of listening to Cat Stevens, James Taylor, Joni Mitchell etc. Just great guitar playing, beautiful strong and uniquely identifiable voice and songs that demand your attention. She deserves all the accolades she gets for this wonderful work.

  • Wait till the troops get a load of this!!!!
    author: Ronald Reagan

    Nancy and I are so pleased with this CD -- it makes me proud to be an American.

  • author: Simon Robinson

    Amusing, profound, moving, rocking!, a roller-coaster of emotions. This CD is why music exists!!

  • IT ROCKS!!!!!!!!!
    author: Emily Wright

    this CD is great! it has such an awesome mix about it. you can get the slow nice relaxing music to the fast upbeat good stuff! IT ROCKS :)

  • Lisa, we love it. Grandma and Grandpa Fraser
    author: Joanne Fraser

    I am impressed with the words and music on this cd.

  • swank, jazzy, soulful sounds and simple, poignent lyrics.
    author: Midday Songs

    Wonderful Music; blend of broadway strength and energy, and a quiet, deep, jazzy mood brought together by Lisa's folk guitar.

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