Mike Andrews
Hand On String
© 2006 Elgonix (634479230516)
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"4 STARS...GORGEOUS." - SPIN MAGAZINE...SOLO DEBUT from the SCORE COMPOSER of DONNIE DARKO and ME AND YOU AND EVERYONE WE KNOW aka ELGIN PARK of THE GREYBOY ALLSTARS
tracks
- 1 Something Already Happened Again
- 2 Tracings
- 3 Just a Thought
- 4 Orange Meet Lemon
- 5 See Me Plain
- 6 Sweeping Cleaning and Organizing
- 7 Love is Tired
- 8 Hand On String
- 9 Hello Lemon
- 10 Through the Fog
- 11 Before the Echo
- 12 Something Already Happened
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Mike Andrews' Hand On String reviewed....
from ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY
Mike Andrews, who created the magical score for Donnie Darko, delivers a poetic first solo album that proves he doesn't need another's narrative to produce inspired work. The story he tells is of the precariousness of relationships, illustrating it with diaphanous vocals, off-kilter arrangements, good old-fashioned musicianship (he plays most of the instruments), and charming eccentricity — two Hand on String songs reference citrus (''Hello Lemon,'' ''Orange Meet Lemon''). It takes nerve to step out from behind the scenes, but in this case, the effort was most fruitful. Grade: A-
from SPIN MAGAZINE
Mike Andrews is best known for composing the scores of cult film Donnie Darko and cult TV show Freaks and Geeks. But on his gorgeous pop debut, the California multi-instrumentalist establishes his own dark romanticism, whispering through a fog of guitar effects (you'd swear he was playing a harpsichord and Mellotron). His melancholy mood pieces are designed to keep you awake longer than any midnight movie. 4 STARS!
"...Hand on String is a melodic, melancholy collection reminiscent of artists like Nick Drake and Smog...." -LA Weekly
"...a skilled ear for composition and mood, diverse instrumentation, gentle delivery, and subtle variety...'Tracings' will haunt your very core with its beautiful slide guitar...." - Tiny Mix Tapes
" ...a beautifully orchestrated, hauntingly played album of intricate music...." - Spacelab
"...Andrews echoes vintage acoustic troubadours such as Nick Drake and Cat Stevens, juxtaposing mellow, sunny soul with eerie and consumptive darkness. Although the music on Hand is a marked departure from the Allstars' jazz- and funk-tinged boogie, it's equally ambitious...." -Westword
"...One of LA's finest musicians and producers...." -Kcrw.com
For more on Mike Andrews, Elgin Park and Hand On String or to purchase the Hand On String lyric & picture book please visit www.elginpark.com and www.myspace.com/elginpark.
reviews
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kind of Nilsson-y
author: mdmphdI have this at work and am listening over and over. Mike sometimes reminds me of Harry Nilsson in the creative stretch and I enjoy the Henry Gaffney/HN sound. Well, that's what got me to buy the cd in the first place(from one of these reviews) and I'm enjoying it immensely.
Delicate subtle fun epic
author: JTGlorious music in here. Reserved, melancholy, fun. Michael Andrews has made an album filled with relaxed, fun, and powerful songs. It's the electronic touches that make his sound truly distinct, the lovely simple casio and low-cut moogy synths that weave in and around guitar and lyrics. The swelling epic of "Love Is Tired" brings to mind the best of DeVotchKa, and the lyrical gentleness of Sufjan Stevens, but it's the enveloping airy synthesized swells that make it a true epic, and distinctly Michael Andrews. Each song is a gem, a treasure, some sweet, some icy. "Just a Thought" should pique the ears of any Harry Nilsson fan, it's just too fun. To me, "Hello Lemon" is the funnest song. It's a guilty pleasure, Andrews in a citrusy sassy form. You'll be "ba ba ba baa"ing to it when you least expect it.
Great music.
author: kblang58@yahoo.comHands On String is an amazing cd. It is mellow yet originally crafty. Are there angels singing in the background? : / Thanks again for the great music.
This is my current favorite CD
author: AnnieI am just a person who loves good music so this review won’t sound as professional as the previous ones but it is from the heart. I knew Michael was going to be exceptional the first time I heard his version of Mad World. I went to cd baby and listened to Hand on String (thank you cd baby for this feature). I was simply mesmerized. Michael is truly eclectic- each piece is distinctively different from the one before. He does quirky, romantic, jazz and more. To master such a plethora of instruments and styles is a rare gift. He truly is a musical genius. And then to finally hear his voice- a voice which was a pleasant surprise. Sometimes he’s whispery and sounds so similar to his good friend Gary Jules, sometimes full voiced, but always passionate. I am looking forward to more from Michael.
amazing accomplishment
author: QuincyI've been a fan of Mike Andrews ever sing The Origin; but, this is a special album. It reminds me of the quirky genius of Brian Wilson's "Smile," but has a much stronger jazz undertone. A great complete album that flows together and fuels your escape while you are listening to it...a must have...
Lovely, quirky, vulnerable music
author: Waterdog StudioLovely, quirky, vulnerable music from the man who created one of my favorite film scores ("Donnie Darko"--also on CD Baby, also highly recommended.) Within familiar song forms lurk gentle twists and sweet surprises, lyrically as well as musically. The arrangements are spare and evocative, never over-done or slick, but very sure and organic. Be sure to listen on headphones at least once, there are a lot of subtle tones and sonic phantoms wafting in and out of these tunes.
beautifully original and uplifting.
author: Danielle BerminghamHand On String is beautifully original and uplifting. It's fantastic!
just great!
author: sandy m.I love this CD, its already on my top 10 for the year. This is a pretty amazing set of songs, and the musical instruments just flow togather, like a gentle breaze through your brain. I can't say enought great things about it, it hasn't left my Cd player sense I got it. Hats off to you Michael Andrews, for putting the faith back into music!
An incredible, enjoyable collection of songs...
author: JRoquetA highly recommended album with creative lyrics (great metaphors) and music that is wonderful in its ability to perfectly match them. Great chord progressions that, as the above reviewer stated, "are totally unpredictable, but completely satisfying". With a blending of jazz, folk, rock and some soundtrack-like elements it is hard to put a label on "Hand On String". Words like 'quiet', 'sophisticated', 'whimsical', 'endearing', 'intimate' and 'fun' come to mind. It is a collection of songs that on a first listen is wonderful and on successive listens gets better as lyrics and musical richness are noticed and incorporated into your appreciation of his work... Each song is strong and flows sensibly into the next. To sum up, if you like the samples then get it. You will not be disappointed. Oh, and be prepared to smile.
This is a one man orchestra, good job on this CD.
I think this shows that good musicianship do not depend on quantity but quality
- author: Pamela at CD Baby
This man is one of my musical heroes. The Greyboy Allstars, Elgin Park, and original score for the film "Donnie Darko" (not to mention a number of quality producing gigs for everything from Metric to Gary Jules) were all just building my love for his music until this album came along and solidified it. Here is a solo work that conjures an image of a cabin in the middle of nowhere with a slowly spiraling disco ball inside... and you're the only one that knows about it. I can't really call it rock because it's more forgiving than your average rock record. To just call it pop would be misleading; an album full of chord progressions that are totally unpredictable, but completely satisfying, offers wayyyy more than what the broad genre describes. I could call it folk, but that would offer little to suggest the jazz-like complexity of the arrangements, instrumentation, and production. It's just gorgeous, beautifully written and performed, and put together with a musical sophistication that's delicate, but somehow not overly refined.