World pop. Poetic lyrics, a temperamental voice, and beautiful arrangements. Some sounds mesmerize and entrance; others move listeners to dance. Songs explore the passions, poisons, and politics that inform relationships.

12 MP3 Songs
POP: Folky Pop, FOLK: Political



Details:
"Great album!" Micah Solomon (President, Oasis CD)

"Wonderful music!!" J.L. Bueno, radio show host Cadiz, Spain

"Pollard's vocal style and poetry share the integral qualities that make Canadian Leonard Cohen so popular with generations of listeners around the world...One listen has you convinced that you'd like to hear more" John Frame,FM102.1, Brisbane, Australia.

"...wonderful CD... lyrics have something (many things) to say... truly exquisite production. The CD sounds like a million bucks. " Mitch Gallob, Streeter Music

Throughout Passion, Poison, and Politik words, melodies, and rhythms weave together as do the passions, poisons, and politics of human relationships.

Listeners traverse various historical settings from ancient Greece through the middle ages to contemporary times. They ride an ever changing array of rhythms - Indian, bossa nova, and those more familiar to American listeners: folk, rock, and even a country waltz. Some sounds mesmerize and entrance; others move listeners to dance.

Passions move to various rhythms in John's songs. Holding is a compelling bossa nova on which Elie Massias and his band supplement John's voice and guitar with bass, drums, and guitar. Steve Sandberg's soulfully plays wind synthesizer, and Frank Colon's percussion moves listeners to samba. Quicksand mesmerizes as traditional Indian rhythms pulsing from tablas add to the dreamy, hypnotic quality created by acoustic bass, guitars, cello, and a phased Rhodes keyboard. A party-like arrangement of bass harmonica, harmonica, piano, and guitars set off Lies' insightful lyrics. The Biggest Fool of All is a country waltz.

Passion, Poison, and Politik tells new stories and reinterprets old myths. Poison, an intriguing tale laced with revenge, depicts the brutal conquest of an new world tribe by Europeans. Chambers, a retelling of the Princess and the Pea, shines against a beautifully arranged melody. We join Jason and Medea in the realm of Greek mythology via Re-Membered. White Down Comforter alludes to another Greek myth, Leda and the Swan.

The Government's Got You delivers a clear, political message, "get out and vote and take back the state." The final song, Angels Watch Over, completed in the wake of the attack on the World Trade Center, affirms that "We could build paradise..."

First-rate lyrics blended with memorable melodies, an array of rhythms, and first rate musicianship afford a thought provoking and satisfying listening experience.