Linda Stout
Good Luck Child
© 2004 Linda Stout (616895374920)
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Singer-songwriter Linda Stout infuses cool jazz into hook-driven love songs accompanied by groovy congas, acoustic guitar and baritone ukulele.
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Right after Linda Stout, a singer-songwriter from Ithaca, N.Y., released her debut CD, "Good Luck Child," it was listed as a favorite at RadioioAcoustic.com. Linda has been likened to "Norah Jones with a guitar" and her vocals have been compared to Dido and Everything But the Girl. She has been called a female Kenny Rankin for how seamlessly she melds jazz, pop and folk.
Jim Catalano of The Ithaca Journal named "Good Luck Child" "best solo CD," citing "sophisticated arrangements and evocative lyrics" and named Linda "best female singer" in the 2004 music awards.
Reviewer Pamela Goddard wrote in the Ithaca Times, "Singer-songwriter Linda Stout is a cat who purrs, rather than growls, and the jazz-infused songwriting on her debut CD Good Luck Child highlights her intimate, warm vocal sound. Ghost Cat Records is an appropriate label for this recording: music which comes out at night - sleek, sure footed, agile, sensuous, and independent.
"Stout's light soprano sound is as cool, crisp, and multifaceted as a Finger Lakes Reisling. Good Luck Child catches every nuance and range of her voice, from mellow to ringing tones. Her songs are modern, while firmly rooted in the cool urban jazz of the '40s and '50s.
"For her first recording, Stout is joined by a range of local musicians, including Charlie Shew, Johnny Dowd, Dana Paul, and Jan Nigro. Good Luck Child features 12 original compositions, including a musical setting of Emily Dickinson's poetry in "Emily's Muse."
"Rarely has the subtlety of Dickinson's poetry been so well musically supported. This modern take on a literary art song leads into the pure country sound of "Blue Blue Water." Stout's lyrics are clear and comprehensible. She has something to say and we can catch every word in these tasteful arrangements. The songs collected here show that Stout is comfortable in her voice, flexible from piece to piece, and yet focused."
Linda produced the CD, played multiple guitar parts, included the unique sound of baritone ukulele in "I Don't Wanna Know," and sang lead and backing vocals. Among the musicians on the CD is Linda's cousin, fiddler and mandolinist Ward Stout of Nashville (Aaron Tippin, Peter Rowan, Brad Paisley).
The CD is released on Ghost Cat Records, Linda's new indie label named in honor of a close-up sighting of a young mountain lion, or ghost cat, as they are called in the Appalachians.
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Can't stop listening
author: GregSince I got my two Linda Stout albums, I have not been able to stop listening to them. They go with me out to the car, they come back in the house... Some of the songs make me laugh, others bring tears to my eyes, and some do both. Sometimes just humming a bit of one tune or another to myself is enough to make a perfectly awful day seem bearable. You should buy these. Heck, you should go see her in person if you can!
A delight, pure and simple
author: Keith MilesThis is a delightful album -- no two ways about it. I'm very pleased to have Linda Stout in my CD collection.
Linda is a singer/songwriter of exceptional ability. BRAVO
author: stephen newcombeLinda's lyrics are real and her voice/guitar is awesome. I enjoyed this album very much.
Once you start, you can't stop listening. The music is addictive.
author: The Singing SongwriterThe first time I heard Linda Stout's dreamy voice I was hooked. From the first enchanted chord of "Falling" to the cheerful last note of "Tell You So", Good Luck Child is an emotional experience that is at times magical, at times mystical, and completely captivating. Once you start, you can't stop listening. The music is addictive. No wonder RadioioAcoustic has already picked it up and added it to their "acoustic faves" list. No doubt other feeds and stations will soon do the same. Then, as more and more people listen, the inevitable comparisons to other artists will surface. Every one of them will fall short, though; Stout is in a league of her own. Nevertheless, think Norah Jones with a guitar or a female Kenny Rankin; this will at least get you in the same galaxy. My favorite aspect of Stout's style is her ability to create beautiful, vivid imagery in her lyrics. She uses words like a painter uses her tubes of color: she chooses them carefully and mixes them just so on her lyrical palette. Rhythmic and harmonic brush strokes layered on a multi-textured musical canvas complete the picture. One of the best examples of this is "Falling". Stout draws you in with a one-word hook (and walks you through a landscape of haunting, moody, minor riffs: Falling leaves Falling rain Falling for you, for you The piano, deftly played by Cornell student Matt Robbins, adds the shadows and highlights. I'll bet it's no accident that Linda chose this song over the title cut for the first track--it's intoxicating. This one will be on my playlist for a long time. The title track, an upbeat conga/guitar/bass groove, immediately took control of my brain's rhythm center. I was tapping my feet, shaking my head, and bouncing to the beat from the first "ponk" of the congas. This funky feel-good jam with straight-ahead vocals and seamless harmonies, carries the message that it's okay to get caught up in the moment. "Tangled" is pure poetry. Part ryhthmic recitation, part song, this track features a gritty guitar solo that captures the essence of '60s acid rock at its finest. And speaking of poetry, "Emily's Muse" is an Emily Dickinson poem that Stout set to music. The fit is so perfect that it's hard to believe they weren't written at the same time. Stout's artistry shines in "I Don't Wanna Know". She gets hold of your heartstrings and heaves for all she's worth. The unusual arrangment, featuring the rootsy sound of a baritone ukelele, is perfect for this simple song. Enchanting vocal harmonies and the gradual buildup of guitar and bass deliver a finale that had me in tears. Such beautiful sadness. Wow! What a delight it is to hear the work of an artist who doesn't pander to the American Idol-ized pop mentality. Linda Stout's artistic senses haven't been suborned by cookie-cutter, formulaic songwriting and chest-thumping production. This is home-grown music at its finest--real, honest, straight-from-the-soul tunes written and performed by an artist who knows what it means to be one. Nevertheless, I have a complaint. Overall, Stout's production works well. But, she made one huge mistake. She should have released a double album.