Somewhere on a road that stretches from the Devil's Crossroads in Mississippi to the heights of the Appalachian Mountains in West Virginia is the music of Todd Cecil.  His version of Memphis Minnie's "When the Levee Breaks" is a superb interpretation of a song that most people believe is the doings of Led Zeppelin, but Todd and company show a lot of Americana in this CD. Not bad for a song written and sung originally in 1928!! This album is a tasteful blend of blues, folk, country, rock and bluegrass.  The music is well produced and well mixed, and the songs are short but chock full of all sorts of hooks.  It is hard not to like this album.  I would say that this would be the perfect union of Robert Johnson, John Popper, John Prine and Goose Creek Symphony.  Can't wait to hear more.  Todd Cecil came to play!!
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The first thing you'll notice after Todd's latest release 'Sweet Cynthia' and the Nashville Music Co. starts to play is that this isn't your everyday cookie cutter type music. Todd's music is a blend of everything from folk, bluegrass, and rock to the blues.

Todd's uses unique guitar tuning and guitar techniques to achieve that sound. Todd refers to his style of playing, "as slide 'collage' guitar."

While the music grabs your attention it's the song lyrics that keeps it. Todd is a published poet and treats his lyrics like 'song poems'. Todd's philosophy on his songwriting is that he works to write, "stand alone lines worthy of a wall."

If you had to pick other artist to compare him to names like, John Prine, Bob Dylan, and Ben Harper come to mind. On several of the songs I could really hear the Dylan vocal sound.

I really liked the mixture of instrumentation found on 'Sweet Cynthia' and the Nashville Music Co. Todd's guitar playing is stellar along with his banjo, mandolin, bass, and harmonica work.

You'll also find a lot of nice percussion work in the songs. You'll even find an instrument credit listed in the CD's booklet for a coffee can.

For those of you like myself who enjoy some 'hill music' the song, "J-boy Coin & the Whisky Horn" will have you foot stomping and hand clapping to it's beat.

You also find Todd's version of the Memphis Mini and Led Zeppelin song, "When the Levee Breaks."

On the last track titled, "Weep" Todd's harmonica playing really brings the song to life. With it's slightly rock beats it has a sound very reminiscent of the band Blues Traveler.

This release has a spiritual undertone that runs through it that I'll let you interpret for yourself after hearing the songs.

The more I listened to this release the more I liked it. Each time my ears picked out new little nuances and beats that peaked my ears up.

Do yourself a favor and get 'Sweet Cynthia' and the Nashville Music Co. Your ears will thank you!
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Everything on this CD grabbed & held me from the first lick to the last note. The lyrics are a balm to a sunburn.They whisper hope into blistered situations. The rythms are as natural & refreshing as rain in a steamy buyeau. These tunes flow seamlessly,haunting melodies into syncopated tempos that beg for never before seen dance steps.The insturmentals seamlessly woven into this CD are in a class with John Wesley Harding. A vivid picture, of experiences intimate & familiar. Damp,glistening,driven & distinctivley southern, throughout the CD there is an indomidable groove. Something too authentic to conjour up.The harmonica on Weep is as real as it gets.Anyone who is hungry for genuine musical food will crave more of this.Slide guitar with it's seductive pull has found a place of fertility & birthed a baby with Sweet Cynthia and the Nashville Music Co.
CONGRATULATIONS! Don't stop there honey, please, please, please slide on down!
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This is the surprise you’ve been waiting for. A mixture of folk, blues, and slide country, Cecil croons/growls his way through thirteen tracks of feel good music. With his talent on the guitar and penchant for folk styles it’s a wonder that Chris Thile or Gary Jules hasn’t picked up on this guy. Give it time though, we’ll see much more of Mr. Cecil.
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