MP3 Paul Meredith - In Your Travels
Modern Folk. Socially conscious lyrics from a sometimes alienated American abroad, set to American style folk, featuring mandolin, banjo, harmonica, and djembe.
14 MP3 Songs
FOLK: Modern Folk, POP: Folky Pop
Details:
"In Your Travels," Paul Meredith''s newest release of original songs, highlights Paul''s talents as a multi-instrumentalist. He plays acoustic and electric guitars, basses, mandolin, harmonica, banjo, and all percussion in addition to all vocals. Unlike Paul''s previous musical ventures, the songs of "In Your Travels" aren''t built around any particular place or historical event, but rather, just invite listeners along on trips (and myriad stumbles) along the meandering journey of life.
Featured songs include "I Saw Mars," about the magnificent appearance of Mars in our night skies during the summer of 2003, and its impact on us all, seeing Mars ("like a true friend by my side, sharing my sky.."), "Those Dark Eyes," about the trials of smart kids who struggle in school (and their parents who suffer with them), hits on the blues with "The Way That You Do," (a song featuring some great slide guitar work by Hong Kong artist Yank Wong), and "So Happy Birthday," an upbeat and energetic trip down memory lane inspired by being unable to forget people''s birthdays. Paul touches on his past career as a relief worker in his recording of "Something Made You Stay," written in response to the 2003 bombings of UN and Red Cross offices in Iraq, and honoring the risks and sacrifices of NGOs and relief workers around the world. The album closes with "Message from Shanghai," where beautiful parks, trees, streets and sounds almost help in remembering a dream (or was it a dream?), the musical fragments of which drift outward in a "message...going out to you...." Finally, the heart of the album, "Song for Dad," takes us back to the farm in Michigan where Paul grew up (featured on the cover), and contemplates the enduring influences of a special relationship. Paul dedicates "In Your Travels" to his dad''s memory. Modern folk music fans will thoroughly enjoy the 14 tracks of "In Your Travels," Paul Meredith''s most personal, yet most accessible, album to date.
"I''d bet most of you don''t know Paul Meredith, of the state of Michigan USA. I am about to put that right. Paul has been working his ass off for humanity in a variety of ways for years. ...Somehow, in amongst the bombs and the bullets and man''s inhumanity to man, Paul has found the time... to record entirely at his own expense several albums of songs laced with his sumptuous acoustic guitar work. I have them all, but it''s the latest offering I particularly want to tell you about. Recorded in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Belgrade and the Michigan family farm, this album "In Your Travels" is a milestone in what really counts in proper music. Once you get into Paul''s music you will see why I am so enthusiastic about it. Buy this album or miss out on a window of light in the darkness that surrounds us." -- Excerpt from review sent to music fans by Geoff Green, Springboard Records (UK).
Paul Meredith is a unique folk singer songwriter. He has worked on behalf of the U.N. and various NGOs with refugees and other victims of war and disaster from every continent -- all the while chronicling emotions and events through songwriting, recording and performing. Paul began playing guitar as a boy; growing up in rural Michigan provided a background rich in American folk traditions. His passion for peace and justice issues often serves as a backdrop for his songs, which have played on radio in Hong Kong, America and Europe. Paul Meredith is strongly attracted to music''s power to enhance communication and understanding - reflecting the enduring legacy of the vision of folk and rock music''s "golden age." His other releases are Spiritual Springtime (1996), Waiting for a Chinese Sun... to Shine (1999), and Shadows of Belgrade (2001). He lives in Shanghai, China.