Sardonic and bittersweet songs of emotional masochism, social ineptness, and the inevitable divide between one heart and another - with a few cracks around the edges where hope peeks in.

12 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Folk Pop, ROCK: Acoustic



Details:
"Donât listen to Leigh Marble if youâre not going to pay attention. While plenty of folks make perfectly pleasant background music, Marbleâs songwriting has a wit and intelligence that deserve more than a cursory listen â thereâs a bite behind the bark of his voice and the strum of his guitar.

The characters that populate or inspire his CD âPeepâ are the types your mother warned you about: bittersweet losers with an appetite for self-destruction and just enough self-awareness to make the unhappy ending that much more poignant.

Marble lets them roam through all kinds of sonic territory â veering between the idiosyncratic vibe of Tom Waits, the twangy pop of Rhett Miller and gentle downtrodden lullabies as he sees fit.

Marbleâs sharp eye and unvarnished vocals give his stories and their protagonists both a grittiness and fragility. Itâs not an easy balance to achieve, but Marbleâs not your everyday storyteller. âPeepâ is the kind of record that begs for repeat listens, and reveals new twists and turns each time." â Barbara Mitchell, Portland Tribune

"Shimmers with compelling acoustic riffs." - Harp Magazine

"A folk-and-run firebrand." - Willamette Week

"In a world where singer/songwriter types are a dime a dozen, this talented chap stands out from the crowd." - Big Takeover

"Every song has a massive hook...Peep is an idiosyncratic delight." - Comes With A Smile

"A sort of outlaw-folk... Marble's got rhythm, attitude and excellent songwriting." - West Coast Performer

*****

Peep, Marble's long-awaited solo debut CD, reveals a talented young artist grounded in the naked truth of American folk, while pushing the envelope out defiantly in all directions. Songs born of critical thought are buoyed by memorable melodies, then pushed out to sea amongst clouds of subtle fuzz. At turns a gentle crooner and floor-stomping rocker, it's like Beck calling a square dance to a crate of Clash records. Sure, there's the authentic sneer to put the vitriol in your veins, but there's also moments when the pretty polish outshines the dirt.

Peep was forged at Leigh's subterranean sonic workshop, Fishboy Studios. After months of solo production, Jeff Stuart Saltzman (Dolorean, The Standard) stepped in to mix the album, which was then passed to John Fischbach (Stevie Wonder, Circle Jerks) for mastering. From the stark, folk reveille of the opening "A Rock From the Sky," to the sensuous groove of the closer "Last Chance," Peep spans an impressive emotional gamut.

Leaving his native New England in the late 90's, Leigh headed west with a tape in his pocket to join the rich singer-songwriter tapestry of Portland, OR. Soon after arriving, he released a split single with Nettwerk recording artist Erin McKeown, produced by Larry Crane (Elliott Smith, Richmond Fontaine). Crane later helped craft "Buttered For Her Pleasure", an album from Marble's witty hip-hop project, the Buttery Lords, coproduced by Marble.

Leigh Marble's music is like a cross between Tom Waits and Fugazi: rooted in folk forms, yet idiosyncratically smart and sharp. Junkyard Americana, some might call it, with a scrappy sound descended from punk rock minimalism. His live show features propulsive drumming from Jason Russell, supple organ and accordion work from Ben Macy, and Marble's tight rhythms pumped out on an amped-up acoustic guitar.

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