Speechless!
author: TS Divis Studios
This CD is a must have! The musical arrangement is cemented by the very soul of the artist! His unique songwriting abilities bring a wonderful change to the musical world. I look forward to hearing subsequent music from this amazing artist!
Read more...
author: Jacob Bailis
Still Night is the new album by the very talented singer songwriter Zach Phillips (and he plays the harmonica like Neil Young). I've known Zach for a long time. I think I've heard just about every album he's ever put out (and from some that he never did). And this is the one. It's bright and lively and beautiful, smart and funny, angry and sweet. It will make you smile. Songs include:
"Cry Like I Do" The bitterest song on the album, but there's still time for the line "Do you make faces in the mirror to try and make the pain disappear?" Good organ. Good drum. And making faces in the mirror does help.
"I Wanna Know Why" A little drum, a little riff and the first single. Great melody. Great lyrics. Nice background vocals. "Why would you leave? I wanna know why." "Everything you do just brings me down. Everything you do just breaks my heart." "Oh."
"Some Faith" Very pretty. Very generous. He can't have lost that much faith.
"The Last Time" This probably isn't the last time we'll start a war. But the
guitars are great. And the drums. Subtlety forever right Zach?
"Too Far Gone" There are moments on this album where two guitars, or a guitar and a keyboard, or two keyboards will blend, and it's really beautiful. That exploding organ!
"Farwell, So Long" "There's a world waiting up for you. You better go before it's gone."
"Forever & Ever" Zach's voice takes some getting used to. So get used to it.
"Alchemy" The B-Side of "I Wanna Know Why". Someone could turn it over one morning and it could change their life.
"I've Lost My Heart" Primative.
"Dream Song" There isn't a bad song on this entire album. Great vocal. Especially the last verse.
"Aurora Borealis" It's still night. And he's still holding out.
"The Brightest Star" This is one of the sweetest, most wonderful songs in the whole world. If you find a friend like this, don't lose him.
Read more...
The new "voice" of folk-rock
author: Jeff Millar-Sax
If Zach Phillips was starting his career in 1967 he'd be a household name right now. First off, Zach's got one of those voices that's both familiar and unique at the same time and he makes the most of it on this CD. He sings with a controlled passion that's reminiscent of Eric Anderson and even Richard Manuel of "The Band" but also displays some of the reckless abandon of Dylan and even Lindsey Buckingham's live version of "Go Insane." That mouthful being said, let's move on to his songwriting...
the songs on this album are like Zach's voice, familiar but with some twists that keep you listening and involved - especially once you start to absorb his lyrics. Zach writes with the wisdom of experience yet with a youthful perspective so his songs are accessable for listeners aged 15 - 60 (guess some of us '60's rockers are getting up there!). From the opening notes of "Cry Like I Do" I was hooked. That Neil Youngish harmonica intertwined with the gentle guitar and Zach's voice were a subtly strong opening to the journey that the listener takes while listening to this disc.
The sparse yet ambient arrangements on the songs are a great compliment to the material as there is very little clutter to get in the way. Zach shows maturity by not throwing the "kitchen sink" into the production, and a trust in his songs and his voice to just "let the music do the talking."
"Still Night" is the perfect album for 3AM and ranks up there in this writer's book as one of the top 5 albums to listen to when everyone's gone home and you're left to clean up after the party - in fact, along with Chick Corea & Return to Forever's "Light as a Feather" and the first Dire Straits album, it's one of my favorites for late night background music.
Zach strikes me as a spiritual kind of person based on the intro to this disc on this web site and from the photos and art on the CD, and there is almost a transcendental quality to the disc as well. I listened to it on a drive across North Carolina through the wee hours of the morning and ended my journey refreshed and energized and the only reason that I can think of was this CD. If you appreciate the artists that I've mentioned in this review, this is a "must have" CD for your collection. Thanks Zach - keep on writing and recording!
Read more...
It gets better and better!
author: L. Glomski
This is a very satisfying CD. There are so many new things to hear during each listen. It gets better and better each time I hear it. It flows nicely due to the mood of the instrumentation and poetic lyrics. A+ work!
Read more...