Rachel Ries
For You Only
© 2005 Rachel Ries (753114006429)
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Prairie Swing & City Folk - a fresh approach to the musical forms of the '20s & '30s sung with a voice reminiscent of early Maria Muldaur and the finger-style picking of Mississippi John Hurt.
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Daughter of Mennonite missionaries, raised in Zaire and Freeman, S.D., Rachel Ries performs "Prairie Swing & City Folk". Classically trained in voice, piano, violin and viola, Ries marries sophisticated, vintage musicality to smart lyrics. Like Andrew Bird and Erin McKeown, Ries has developed an urban cult following based on a fresh approach to musical forms of the '20s and '30s. Recorded analog on vintage microphones, her vocals recall Billie Holiday and early Maria Muldaur, with a self-taught guitar style reminiscent of Mississippi John Hurt. Songs range from the romantic simplicity of jazz standards to the distilled intensity of poet Anne Sexton. Ries has an adventurous ear for melody and a voice flexible enough to accomplish it. Now twenty-five, Ms. Ries has performed her music from Denver to Winnipeg, Texas to South Dakota, Chicago to Scotland. She currently tours solo, with Anais Mitchell, and the Tin Pan Caravan, an eclectic songwriters-in-the-round. Rachel's latest album, For You Only, will be released on Waterbug Records in the summer of 2005.
"Rachel's songs have a strange and visceral impact on listeners - they literally shiver, their jaws drop, they smile incredulously - I have see this happen to listeners from all walks of life and in all corners of this country. She is a skillful writer and a classically-trained musician, and this allows her to express the trickiest of human emotions and tell stories both subtle and sublime. At the same time, there is not the slightest trace of pretense in her work; her songs are as honest, humble and gracious as Rachel is herself." -Anais Mitchell
"The most seductively literary folk debut since Dar Williams." -Tom Neff, Grassy Hill Radio
"Few artists have grabbed me the way Rachel Ries does. She reminds me of the first time I heard singers like Emmylou Harris, Aimee Mann & Jenny Lewis of Rilo Kiley... I immediately fell in love with her voice and songwriting." -Michael Cameron, Uncommon Ground, Chicago
"Music as pure and necessary as anything Alan Lomax ever found." -Greg Sorrell, gray.
reviews
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GREAT!
author: helen griffithsonly had the cd for a few days but already its had a few spins.... really loving some of the sounds. very gentle in places and her voice really carries the whole thing. i bought it on impulse and i am pleased with my instincts and now the new tracks i have to listen to. great stuff.
Ms. Ries has found her calling, and we are blessed
author: Doug BillingsMy life has become even better and more enriched since being introduced to Rachel Ries' wonderful music; it wasn't a bad life before that either! She has a fresh, raw, and transforming sound and style that has no equal. This work stands above and beyond... Love it!
beautifuly amazing
author: AlexandraThe CD was dilicious and melodic, wonderful to day dream to when you're on the train. Rachel's voice is soothing and light-hearted with a bit of understated sass and softness :)
Beautiful vocals, lovely songs, and amazing person
author: Josh PowellI had a chance to see Rachel Ries at the Mennofolk festival in Harrisonburg, and just a few songs in I knew I had to buy the CD. Light, airy vocals.. a very classic sound, and deeply personal song lyrics. Keep it up Rachel! I also talked with her briefly after the show and she's a really nice person as well.
Great talent
author: JonI seen Rachel perform on several occasions at a coffeehouse in Chicago. Her lyrics are absolutely gorgeous and it certainly helps to have a beautiful pleasant voice that supports it. Her biggest strengths are in her raw solo performances with just her guitar and voice. She plays it in a style hardly played anymore nowadays. One might say her writing sensibilities has the similar charismatic story-tellings like of Loretta Lynnn except with more of a folk-magic. Great job Rachel!