Wow, what a great mix of sounds. It's got soul, angst, incredible acoustic guitar,  electric guitar with a hint of Garcia , kickin' harmonies and some really great drummin'. This CD has real catchy tunes that stay with you long after the CD player is off, i.e. Baby Talk, I Do and Go. Don't miss out on this one. Can't wait for the next CD.
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On some level, being a solo singer-songwriter can be easier than being in a full band. After all, the singer-songwriter can set up a microphone or two, hit a couple of buttons on his or her computer and start recording a CD. One of the pleasures of Adam Varona’s new release is that it is decidedly not this kind of record. Instead, Varona has chosen to set up a full band (including Dave Middleton and Julie Meyers, also known as SquishTheBadMan) and clearly has taken the time to make sure the recording and production of that band is top-notch. Middleton’s production here is crystal-clear, a perfect setting for Varona’s heavily romantic songs about love affairs and breakups. Sometimes, it’s a bit over the top, but in the end, it all seems to come together quite nicely.
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Take one cup of indie rock, two teaspoons of garage rock, three shakes of pop and blend together on one CD and you have Adam Varona's Coffee & Nirvana; The prototypical feel-good album, full of life experience, insight and a healthy dose of “the world is at your fingertips” attitude. Varona started his career in coffeehouses and clubs with the band Pornstar back in Napa, CA before it dismantled two years after its inception. Shortly after that he took it upon himself to forge a solo career and in the early part of 2003 released his debut acoustic EP Adam the 18 Foot Guitar Player. Fans demanded a fully produced album and what came forth from those efforts is Coffee & Nirvana. The album is the quintessential open-mic night jam band recording. You know they've got mad potential but the pit in your stomach is filling up with the idea that they're not going to get as much success as they deserve. The longing to leave that person who fails to put in as much effort as you have, who still has a hold over you, seems to be the story of “Baby Talk.” Keeping with the relationship theme Varona moves along to his song “My Bride,” a song about the yearning to have the free time between a husband and a wife to rekindle the passion in their marriage between the sheets. It is a sweet ballad full of an unspoken desire for the love of one's life. “Watch The World Come Down” has this almost country-folk vibe going on in the music. The song's lyrics emphasize the connections between people and how we come and go as those connections change. “Inside” by far has the coolest beat on the release; it's really simple but catchy and gets your head bobbin' to the rhythm pretty fast. Coffee & Nirvana is a reflective, well done and thoroughly enjoyable album. (Prozac Nation)
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Given its status as something more than cow-town but less than city, Sacramento's low-fi, indie pop culture is at times nothing short of world-class. Some amazing hidden treasures can be found in the hallowed halls of the local coffeehouses, among them singer-songwriter Adam Varona.

With a voice akin to Counting Crows' Adam Duritz, and a stature akin to the King's Brad Miller, Varona's style is a great mix of north, south, east and west. All 10 tracks roll easily though the ears, and whether it's a catchy pop hook or a poignant exposition of the human condition, Varona and producer Dave Middleton (of local band Squishthebadman) have presented a regional product worthy of national attention.

Sadly, Varona plans to make his way to Manhattan sometime this summer, so be sure to seek him out now. And don't forget to grab some "Coffee and Nirvana" at the show.
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