"The Painted iD 'The Painted iD' Laid on a colorful artistic backdrop is this groups mellow modern folk offering. This female fronted pop-folk band draws few comparisons with all those similar type acts all over mainstream radio today being that this band seems to be much deeper, much more experimental with their musical formulas, and, overall, much better. The overall atmosphere of the music falls just short of having the space-y undertones, and instead bases the sound around the mellow guitar and smooth harmonious vocals. This CD portrays a diverse mix of emotional content as well as musical. For those into really mellow music, or the underground of the woman-rock that radio is shoving down our throats. (Fox Street Records, 3875 Telegraph Rd, Suite A181, Ventura Ca 93003)" - Manic Depressant
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"The Painted iD The Painted iD Fox Street By Eric Layton The Painted iD deals with issues most thirtysomethings can relate to. This acoustic-leaning Santa Monica-based quartet treads themes of love, commitment, change, introspection and adversity on their self-titled indie debut; what results isn't heavy-handed coffeehouse drivel but a refreshing, solid effort. They may not be reinventing the folk-rock wheel but they definitely know their way around the spokes. This foursome - singer Tori Solomon, guitarist Peter De Baets, drummer Barry Schapira, bassist Ricardo Belled - set the tone straightaway with the shimmering acoustic strains of "Rici". Immediately noticeable is Solomon's crisp, generous voice and a jangly, agreeable pop style that informs most of the tracks, with some pleasing atmospheric touches sprinkled about like fairy dust. While shadows of 10,000 Maniacs exist (this is music you can feed your baby to) and the songs seem Lilith-ready, the Painted iD remains an enchanting troupe with a few surprises up its sleeve. Introspection and cleverness go into "Complicated Goddess", a plugged-in yet softly rendered gem that contains one of this disk's true surprises - an organ line fit for a baseball game. The forceful, emotionally resonant "No Reaching Me" is one of the choice cuts, while the passionate "Stone by Stone" is equally impressive. Harmonies prove to be one of the Painted iD's strong suits, as evidenced on the syrupy-yet-captivating "Ties that Bind". In the spirit of mixing up this batch of songs, "Signature" gallops to a quicker pace than most of its counterparts and is buffed to a gleaming pop shine. The key components to this act's style are Solomon's reliable pipes and De Baets' six-string efforts; the latter is particularly effective on "Soulmate", where the guitarist flirts with classical styles. The lyricism on this cut is revealing as well - with damaged-girl longing, Solomon implores, "Do more than kiss me". It's not as saucy as it sounds - this is a woman searching for a love less ordinary. With the right promotion and breaks, The Painted iD could be ready for prime time. It's tough to say whether or not big-time success figures into the band's game plan, but one thing's for certain: They're clearly enjoying themselves. And that feeling carries over to the listener. The Painted iD will hold a record release party Jan. 22 at The Mint. You can visit their website at www.thepaintedid.com." - Entertainment Today 
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