STEVEN KALAS AND PAPERCYMBAL: Something to Say

Steven Kalas and PaperCymbal

Something to Say

© 2002 Steven Kalas Standing In My Bathroom Records (822030001327)

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The music on Something to Say is pop-rock to folk-rock guaranteed to hammer you with melody and take you apart with sheer poetry.

tracks

1 Boredom
2 Maze of Glass
3 Outa Nowhere
4 You and Casper
5 Little Boy
6 Free Fall
7 Meet You Again
8 Late For Work
9 Something to Say
10 Breathing You
11 So Happy
12 Dreams and Feathers
13 Fail Forward

notes

Steven Kalas is a prolific and multi-faceted songwriter who avoids artistic formulas, rules, and genres at all cost. His lyrics are a gaping mirror into the human experience-extraordinary images of ordinary life. His melodies bring surprised smiles to the faces of musicians and everyday listeners alike; sooner or later, you are ambushed by chord changes and voicings you didn't expect and could never have seen coming.

We gave some of our fans a sneak preview of a couple of the songs on our new CD "Finally Here". One reviewer said, "The pacing of this guitar is quite hypnotic. Such a complete song, and the echoing harmony so subtle! Pure energy. This song is simply a classic. A milestone piece to compare all future work by and one to listen to time and again."

And this from a fellow songwriter, "Steven, how do you pack so much of yourself into 4 minutes? The lyrics are butter. It's so good. The symbolisms are not only natural and simple, but also complete and transcending."

Check it out...YOU'RE IN FOR A HELLUVA RIDE!
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GRAMMY Nominated Songwriter, Lathan Hudson writes....
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"Steven is a great musician/recording artist who is having success in his part of the U.S. and is on his way to becoming a successful international recording artist.

Here's some words about Steven from one of my best friends:

Johnny owns the Adventureland Theme Park in Dothan, Alabama. He is one of the best songwriters I know.
Johnny and I have had songs that we co-wrote, recorded by Tammy Wynette. He is the biggest critic I've ever been associated with. Johnny could find something wrong with - and would try to rewrite -The Sermon on The Mount and/or works of Shakespeare.
--Lathan"

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Steven Kalas writes some things that blow me away Lathan. I mean, blow me away. I have never seen anyone any more talented, lyrically, and he is a pro singer and melody writer too. If Steven can get out there and get heard, which, apparently, he is doing, the sky could be the limit for him. To me, Lyrically, he's a cross between Gordon Lightfoot, Leonard Cohen and Dylan. He misses on some of his songs, like Dylan often did, but it doesn't matter because he's so friggin', unbelievably good on the others that, as in the case of Dylan, people will give him a super star's latitude; create something in their own minds as to what the song means, demand no co-writing credit, and breathlessly proclaim, "what genius!" --JCJ

(Johnny "Chance" Jones, Multiple Award-Winning Songwriter)

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NEWS!!!

"Live As If" and "I'll Wash Your Lover's Car" are FINALISTS in the 2004 UNISONG SONGWRITING CONTEST!!

reviews

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  • Makes an imaginative and significantly enjoyable musical statement.
    author: Alex and Debbie Oliver

    Although this is only his third effort, we believe that Steven Kalas has issued his own WHITE ALBUM. With his latest release, SOMETHING TO SAY, he fearlessly tackles delicate musical twists and turns, both electric and acoustic, creating a very imaginative, very real, and very enjoyable musical statement. Starting with the genre-busting “Boredom,” he maneuvers tricky rhythmic jumps, not unlike John Lennon’s “Happiness is a Warm Gun” or “She Said, She Said” while maintaining his own unique gift for the pop form. In “Maze of Glass” the desperate feeling of separation and loss is as palpable as . . . well . . . glass. Other album highlights include the lovely “Free Fall,” the McCartney-esque “Little Boy,” a great acoustic number, and the tender passion of “Breathing You.” Prepare to be magnificently haunted by the scathing “You and Casper.” It brings to mind the best work of singer-songwriter Warren Zevon. Steven also has a knack for creating great Americana/world beat numbers like “Fail Forward.” SOMETHING TO SAY says it loud and clear. Every song has a distinctively significant message, both lyrically and musically. If you love music, you’ll listen to what is being said.

  • Adventurous and totally convincing
    author: Ian Kenway (Powys, Wales, UK)

    Something to Say begs a lot to be said about it. Its predecessor was good but this latest outing for Steven Kalas and PaperCymbal represents a quantum leap in musical development. 'Boredom' gets the CD off to a crack start with its snazzy, shuffling changes of tempi. 'Maze of Glass' is a rueful ballad with Kalas in excellent voice while the simple catchy acoustic of 'Outa Nowhere' provides a useful contrast to the rest of the album. The production of 'You and Casper' is genuinely awesome, a ‘real wall of sound’ that serves to underline its sardonic and desperate lyrics. In contrast 'Little Boy' is a homely miniature…shades of Macca, but why not? 'Free Fall' became an instant favourite of mine with guitar tunings suggestive of early Joni Mitchell and David Crosby. 'Meet You Again' (penned with D.R. Wilke) maintains the incredibly high standard: punky, plenty of drive, taking no hostages to fortune etc. 'Late for Work' is alternatively wistful and cute; probably the first time that 'domestic bliss' has been given such an elaborate and joyous treatment. The title track, 'Something to Say', boasts a melody to die for and a bridge section which genuinely cuts the mustard (including a lead guitar solo which would probably give Queen's Brian May a serious run for his money). 'Breathing You' (yet another strong melody) features compressed vocals with a lush arrangement for strings and woodwind. ‘So Happy’ is perfectly self-descriptive with a sax opening which recalls (at least for me) Bowie's Young Americans. 'Dreams and Feathers' works like a dream, very sixties…sort of Incredible String Band (at its most accessible) meets Harper's Bizarre. Feeling groovy? 'Fail Forward' with its lilting reggae bass line underscores the adventurous nature of this album. (Not only all this but also a hidden bonus!). Gorgeous melodies, patently intelligent lyrics, consistently convincing and authoritative musicianship. If there were any fairness in this world, this would be a huge hit on both sides of the Atlantic

  • Perfectly original, words flow together beautifully.
    author: Randal Fowler

    This Cd was awesome, I myself am more aimed toward the hip hop genre of music, but beautiful music is impossible to deny. The words are beautifully written and seem to jump out at you. The hooks are perfect and very catchy, as hoooks are supposed to be. All in all I was very impressed so sign me up I want my copy.

  • Sweet melodies and honest lyrics
    author: Jennifer Friel

    I feel all of the tunes on Something To Say hold deep lyrical and musical importance-- but if for no other reason BUY THIS CD for the song FAIL FOWARD-- we've all wanted to express the feeling of that song to a particular someone in our lives- I am fortunate enough to have seen Steven perform locally in Las Vegas a few times and am always blown away with his ability to express himself and put into words such a wealth of emotions- keep it up!

  • Melodic, well written,witty observations on love and life
    author: RICHARD STARK

    Steven says what we all really long to say to a loved one or not so loved one.Songs like Casper and Fail Foward hold a witty sarcasm nothing short of brilliance.Little Boy will eat at You till You're smart enough to fully understand.The orchestration of his arrangements proves the talent of the man and those fortunate and talented enough to have played along with him--a must have if You appreciate honest observations into life and love.

  • This album speaks to my life.
    author: Cate Cooper

    The lyrics range from tender to biting with all sorts of emotions in between. The music is beautiful; the arrangements are fantastic. This is one album I listen to with headsets so that I don't miss a note!

  • Steven Kalas makes music that puts LIFE into words!
    author: L. Willowbrook

    FAIL FORWARD will dance in my head for a long time. I can see DREAMS AND FEATHERS and FREE FALL in my imagination as he sings it. I'd hate to be on the receiving end of the words in SOMETHING TO SAY; Kalas says it well! GREAT ALBUM!

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