RIPE: Pretty Shiny Must Touch

Ripe

Pretty Shiny Must Touch

© 2002 Christa McNamee/Dan Bar Hava

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

A blend of pop, techo, and rock with a little bit of hip-hop, played by eight musicians--three vocalists, keys, guitar, flute, violin, bass, and drums.

tracks

1 Bloom
2 Here we go
3 All the words
4 I believe
5 Scars
6 Don't go back
7 Lola sings
8 Amazing grace
9 Hey Heart
10 Dunes
11 The place
12 Sexy
13 Let it go
14 Before
15 Confused
16 Breath
17 No ones gonna stop me now
18 Shashuka
19 Bye bye

notes

RIPE:
Christa McNamee Lead Vocals
Leia Thompson Vocals
Jessica Grant Vocals
Dan Bar Hava Keys
Seth Himmelhoch Guitars
Dave Keen Violin/Bass
Rich Zukor Drums

Splice Dave Matthews with Vanessa Carlton and the sound would be pure Ripe, a NYC-based progressive pop/rock band.

In the words of an industry professional: "You don't know what to do first at a Ripe show, look at the 3 beauties, listen to the awesome musicians, or get absorbed in the lush vocal harmonies." Ripe's sound tapestry derives from sources as diverse as Santana, Dido, Albeniz, Elton John, Paula Cole and Red Hot Chilli Peppers. The three voices blend beautifully yet maintain an uncanny independence. The instrumentalists master every single note and occasionally let go in all out solo-bursts.

Ripe provides pure vocal and musical fun, catchy hooks and real substance. Live show highlights include: a haunting 3-part a capella ballad, a driving world/fusion instrumental, and a lush pop/tribal love song with a classical quote worthy of a Carnegie Hall performance.

The quote to sum it all is: "The sheer level of joy and energy gives people the mistaken impression (that Ripe) is a Christian rock band...they're not. It's almost a shame though, God's image could use the help." NY Waste

Ripe credits include headlining the NCAA Sweet Sixteen 2002 games in Syracuse, a live appearance on CBS regional TV, singing the National Anthem for the Brooklyn Cyclones opening game at Key Span Park, a showcase at the Hoboken Arts and Music festival, 6 #1 hits on MP3.com top 40 charts, national and international airplay and numerous airing of our music video, "Don't Go Back" on several TV stations. Stage credits include Makor, Arlene Grocery, Tribeca Blues, Continental, La Bar Bat, Elbow Room, Downtown (Farmingdale L.I), The Regent Theatre (Boston) and more.


Amaze your friends with:
RIPE FUN FACTS AND TRIVIA

Upcoming: NYC area cable TV Live show/interview in July.
Upcoming: National Anthem for Brooklyn Cyclones July 4th celebration.

--Ripe's "Temptation" plays in various dance clubs in NYC.
--One-hour interview on New Artist showcase.com in May 2003.
--"Don't let me go" and "Hey Heart" charted #1on MP3.com Top 40 Charts, Feb 2003
--WPLJ in NYC spins an acapaella version of "Little Rock and Roll" in November 2002-Twice!
--"Scherzo" AND "Stormbird" charted #1on MP3.com's Top Downloads, Nov 2002.
--"Don't go back" music video featured on Access Central TV numerous times in 2002.
--Honored to perform the National Anthem in three-part harmony for the 2002 season of the Brooklyn Cyclones.
--Headlined NCAA SWEET SIXTEEN celebration in Syracuse, NY (a spot opposite Motown legends the Spinners) March, 2002.
--Live performance on CBS regional TV, March 2002.
--Artist of the month, February 2002, on Shock Value Music Webzine.
--Featured on NewArtistShowcase. "Don't go back" charted 6 weeks, "70" charted 8 weeks and was top track of the week (as voted on by listeners).
--Awarded 2001 New Century Booking "Best Artist/Live Acts in NYC"
--Headlined Women in Rock and Blues at Tribeca Blues, NYC.
Main stage, Indie Music Explosion in NYC's famous Elbow Room.

Ripe can: solo blindfolded, glitter-fight, play "musical chairs" with the instruments, and play faster than you can imagine.

Did you know???
Seth is president of the New York City Classical Guitar Society.
Rich can play the drums -extremely well- with a baseball bat.
Jessica is a soap star on One Life to Live.
Dan drives his convertible with the top down in mid-January.
Dave ate sushi for an entire year.
Leia "dials down the middle" in a commercial with Kurt Angle.
Christa is three degrees from Kevin Bacon.

The stages we know and love...
Village Underground...Arlene Grocery...The Elbow Room...Makor...La Bar Bat...Kenny's Castaways...Shine...Tribeca Blues...Continential...C-Note...Triad...Bar 169...The Slipper Room...Mamma Cassies...Baby Jupiter...1050

REVIEW: from Shock Value Music Webzine
Volume 5 Issue 8 February 2002
Ripe
Artist of the Month
By C.J. Cauley

Another female trio you say? Well bite your tongue because Ripe is unlike any female trio you've seen. They have talented musicians backing them up and their music has substance. You won't find any bubblegum pop here. Ripe's music is a mix of pop, techno and hip hop. It sounds like an unusual mix but it's been meshed perfectly.

First are the girls, lead singer Christa McNamee and vocalists Jessica Grant and Leia Thompson. McNamee's voice is a merger of sultry and sass. She can be little-girl timid one moment and turn right around and be in-your-face brassy the next moment. Next are the boys, Dan Bar Hava on keyboard, guitarist Seth Himmelhoch, Mattan Klein on flute, Rich Zucker on drums and bassist Dave Keen. Together, this eclectic New York group makes a progressive pop sound completely their own.

Track one of their three song demo, Don't Go Back in Time, is a cutting tune. McNamee and Bar Hava join forces as the songwriting team, creating a somber retrospective about regret with a Dido-like feel. They take their collaboration in a completely different direction on I Believe. It's about life, love and miracles. An upbeat, stylish ditty, it has a feel-good atmosphere. It also has a Paula Cole-esque mix of lyrics and playful spoken word.

The spoken word/lyric mix continues on 70. The most powerful tune on the disc, 70 is a strife ridden aria written following the terrorist attacks that brought down the WTC towers in New York City. The spoken word explains the title: "When the religious leaders of terror train their human warheads, they promise them that when they complete their mission, there will be 70 virgins waiting to reward them in heaven." Is this true, you may ask? Absolutely. It's a sick, disgusting proposal but Ripe manages to preserve integrity with 70, sticking it to the lunatics that actually believe that load of crap. It maintains an eerie, almost hypnotic melody. All proceeds from the sale of 70 go to charity.

All three songs on Ripe's demo are well crafted. They have the magic touch with strong lyrics and fluid melody lines. They're sweet, strong, skillful, and they're not afraid to taunt terrorists. For more information, check out Ripe's website, www.ripemusic.com.

reviews

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  • author: Andy "Taz"

    I love the songs they recorded on it.

  • cool band! tons of variety with consistent quality.
    author: Michael

    I really enjoyed the "Amazing Grace" track - it's a cool song in the style of the female folk singers. But what impresses me most is the variety of their songs and the consistenly high musical quality, no matter what style of music.

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