Album Notes

For the last several years, "razor-tongued diva, Vanessa Morrison, a rising local star who twists audience requests into scathingly hilarious lyrical improvisations, in the manner of a fearless, freestyling Ani DiFranco" (SF Guardian) has been making waves in the Bay Area music scene. Her 2003 CD "Kicking Air", successfully showcased Vanessa's blend of lyrically whimsical (and sometimes perverse) acoustic soul. Following the release of that album, Vanessa formed Rock Me Pony with bassist Ezra Gale (Aphrodesia, Bitches Brew), and drummer/multi-instrumentalist, Olive Mitra (Loco Bloco, El Pulpo), a group that amplifies the soul and hip-hop leanings of Vanessa's incredible new material even further.

Vanessa Morrison's music has been characterized as folk- but that label falls well short of expressing the versatility and musical influences that pour from the ten tracks on "O Better Days" or from her thrilling live performances. Where "O Better Days" ranges from the political ("Holy Land") to the deeply personal ("Listen to the Song Sing") to the downright raunchy and hilarious ("I Wanna Rock Some Cock"), but have more depth and variation with the added colors provided by Mitra and Gale. A typical Vanessa Morrison performance likewise teems with blues and bawdy soul numbers, heart-felt ballads, sweet and quiet crooning and improvised craziness that is created on the spot featuring subject matter her audience provides. In her wild and passionate diversity, Vanessa is truly that rare artist who would make Al Green, Ani Di Franco and Johnny Cash feel right at home.

A fixture in the Bay Area music scene since the spring of 2000, Vanessa Morrison has played such venues as Café Du Nord, The Fillmore, The Hemlock, sharing the stage with Jolie Holland, Sean Hayes, The Mother Hips and many others. "O Better Days" showcases Vanessa's more intense and soul based direction while retaining the intimacy and subtlety that has always marked her appeal. All in all Vanessa is an extraordinary person with a beautiful voice. It is sometimes so strong that when it drops low and lilting, one is veritably startled. Her guitar playing is powerful and the range of things she will sing about is boundless and bespeaks terrific honesty: Sometimes riotous, sometimes vulgar, and sometimes just so pretty.