Reviews of Pink
Humpy debut EP
"i have been meaning to write this ever since i
got back from new york
but man i checked your cd and i dig it.great vox great harmonies and
theres even a song about emilie but i think my favorite was.new jersey
transit train.emilie.without you.
i also check your website every now and then.on my travels i will bump
into you literally at some point.
peace
jones" www.keziahjones.com
(get his CD Black Orpheus, it's awesome!)
"Your CD is GREAT! That is the type of music that
I am into. I dig your bluesy riffs and you have a great voice! Can I have
a couple copies for my friends? I really think they would like it a lot"
- Joe D, Philadelphia
"the cd is freakin' awesome ... i listened to it
on the (long) way home and loved it. brendan, if you don't get a record
deal then there's something seriously wrong with the world! it's really
great - if you want me to distribute any copies to my friends in va and
elsewhere just let me know, cause i think a lot of them would like it"
- rhi, NYC
"What I like about it is that I think it's very
original material, an original sound. It's hard to fit it into a specific
category which I always say of music that I like because it is original
and not copying other's work. And in my opinion there are not that many
original sounding people - i hate all those kids trying to sound exactly
like Dave Matthews (I don't like Dave Matthews either). The sound is very
smooth, sensual - if I had to compare it to anyone I would say he sounds
like the male equivalent to Sade. Also the instrumental is very addictive,
clear and reminds me of listening to classical guitar which I love. His
voice as well as the instrumental flows together really well. okay if
I weren't friends with you guys I would have sex to this CD but since
I know you it would feel like an orgy. Way to go Brendan"
- amy, Seattle
"I like the drum work: smooth and simple. I like the skat on Pillow
Case! You have a great voice. I like your harmony work. Keep that up.
So many bands/performers skip that when they never realize that all of
the successful acts nail harmonies. Your style is slightly reminiscent
to John Mayer."
- Mike - Malvern, PA
"Hey, my name is Chris. I saw your show at Steel City in Phoenixville
the other day and asked for the demo. I'm just emailing you back with
a review of it. First off, congratulations on writing and recording an
EP all yourself. That's tough and you did a good job of it. I am also
a musician and a singer/songwriter so I thought I'd give you a track by
track review if you ever decide to rerecord or get signed (knock on wood).
Track 1 (Come Inside) - this track has a very cool and jazzy chord groove
progression. I also really like the tone you have with your acoustic (is
that a Taylor?).
Track 2 (Pillowcase) - you played this live so i knew the name. The guitar
on this track just sings. The drums were a nice compliment but it might
sound even better if you experimented with some brushes (they'd work really
well with the jazzy sound). But this song was real good, one of my favorites
on the CD.
Track 3 (Emily) - Great guitar sound again and a really interesting chord
on the line "stay with me tonight". works well. Also the bridge
was very tight. Good song overall.
Track 4 (Without You) - The electric guitar complimented the song very
well on this track. Also i liked the vocal separation (that was both you,
right?) on this track, very interesting idea. This track i thought had
the overall best sound quality on the CD.
Track 5 (Jersey Transit Train) - very creative intro. I really liked the
drawn out words/notes in contrast to the fast tempoed rhythm. Cool time
signatures and cadences, great solo and great trck overall, my favorite"
Track 6 (Run) - interesting changes in rhythm and percussion, sounds a
little disjointed though. Could use a transition to the different rhythm
sections but a good closing song.
So in review, it was a great demo, congrats again. Let me know when your
next gig is and i'll try and bring some people to listen."
- Chris, Boston College
Pink Humpy Brendan Brennan
Reviews by Home Recording Peers:
Jersey Transit Train:
"YO! What a groove! This is kicking serious ass!
The drums are spot on level and choo-chooin' this bad boy all over Jersey.
Cool bass groove. This is solid.
How'd you get that acoustic sound at the beginning? I'm trying to get
that kind of level. But I gotta say I would have liked the solo(s) a bit
more up-in-my-face acoustic souding - I'm just curious why you went the
route of the more distanced mic. You obviously know what you're doing
- now I have two reasons to visit Philly - your friend's folksy group
and your super jammin.! Love it, man - keeper file right now.
~Milan "
"Christ, I am digging this a ton. I am going to
crank this up when I get home.
I hadn't really heard anything from you yet Brendan,
but after seeing you reply to my posts, I was ready to check it out!
I'm super glad I did, and yeah, I'm very impressed all
the way round. Vocals, groove, instruments, all of it. Kicks my ass, so
I guess I must fall into either the jazzhead, or musician category.
So cool, thanks for that.
Brendan, I'm in love with this song. Seriously. And,
I think it's Jazz/Funk.
I'd call it Junk.
It is outstanding in my ears. Very genre mixing. Which
is what a lot of us seem to do, in this forum, and I am all the happier
for it. Makes music stay interesting!
I love it, I love it, I love it. I keep harmonizing with it in ways that
you didn't. Love singing along with this. Even though I don't know what
the rest of the words are. if you get the chance and want to post them
all, I'd like that. Maybe you have...I'll go check the post again...
It's like beat poetry. I knew the lyrics were cool!
Definitely I heard the Steely Dan reference on the section
just before the "verse" starts up...I don't know how to technically
refer to this, but it holds the chord for part of a beat and then two
measures before the groove comes back in.
-Kirstin"
"Too many people throw the word 'jazz' at something,
I'm afraid. This piece has nothing to do with jazz at all.
It is, though, extremely good and highly individual.
I think references to Skaggs, Benson and Prince etc are closer, and Kirstin's
reference to 'beat poetry' is also perceptive and well chosen. Perhaps
maybe a touch of Steely Dan, too.
My only criticism is the harmonics intro, which I think
is too long - and reminded me of Steve Howe's harmonics intro to And you
and I from Yes's Close to the edge album.
It's really nice to hear something so different - and
clearly difficult for people to categorise. More!
- Kaszper"
"Man, I have no idea how to classify your music.
I keep thinking it's like "smooth acoustic funk". I saw Prince
in concert last year, he said he read an article that was trying to describe
funk, but if you can describe it, it ain't funky. Anyways...
This is a freakin' great tune man, I'm a big fan of
your style and mood. I also really dig the drums, what are they?
-lynx "
"This is great. I really enjoyed it Brendan. Sweet
and I really look farward to more. Just wanted to say it was good listening
Erland"
"I like the tune man....and the guit playing and
tone are stellar....
Harmonics at the beginning are really cool.....so is the lead in...
The bass is booming like crazy on my monitors though....to the point of
clipping....
vocals are nice man....but the harmony vox seems to go in and out of sync
with the lead.....or...they just change occasionally timing wise....I
dunno......a performance thing I think...probably intentional and I being
a know nothing hack when it comes to this stuff...well...what do I know
anyways...
I enjoyed the listen very much man....you wail on the
guit....
Joe"
Reviews from 2001/2002 - demo versions
"damn, b, $'s ... u know it's all $'s... set
it up
Pillowcase 9.2 ---> Def. a hit single :) Damn .. this is so $'s
Run 8.5 * --> Moneys kinda song fighting a fast tempo and a slow chorus
Without You 8.0 --> this song def grows on me
Beaches of Spain 9.2 --> Jaimie's favorite. Nice variety of percussion
Jersey Transit Train 8.9 --> Cool sound. the all aboard vocals feel like
i'm on a train.
Nicotine Stain 9.1 --> like the guitar on 2:15
they're $'s songs snoop ... remember the little people"
- Mario, Colorado - www.devstream.com
"I listened to Jersey Transit Train. I liked your
guitar playing. I thought it was recorded well too. Your voice has a nice
tone and presence. So I guess I would agree with the others who say you
have a nice voice. The song suits your vocal style."
- TripleM, Northern Chicago - from www.Homerecording.com/bbs
"Without You: Definitely like the music.. kind of jazzy, adult contemporary..
Good toon"
- Participant, Salt Lake - from www.homerecording.com/bbs
"Nice tunes....nice singing.....nice guitar playing
..... all very good. The mix, though, mushy to me. The different parts
need some definition and separation. And everything sounds like it was
cut just the least bit too hot. This is real good stuff man, I'd really
like to hear it a couple mixes down the road 'cause it should be pretty
amazing"
- Lt. Bob, Louisiana - from www.homerecording.com/bbs
"My favorite song on your album is "Pillowcase". There
is something about that song that really intrigues me. Each time I listen
to it I hear something different that I like. I have noticed so many different
messages or themes running through it. I try to interpret in different
ways each time.
"After You" tied as my second favorite song on your album. It
had real depth and meaning. Another song that I could read into on many
levels. It felt like you were really talking to your audience on some
level in this song.
"Without You" was also my second favorite. It had a real Santana
beginning. It was kinda trippy. I like how your voice went down in parts.
It gave your vocals a new effect. There was the romantic tone to this
song that was an attention getter for me.
The fade in and out effect of "Run" was interesting. There is
something different about this song that makes it cool. I really don't
know how to describe the intriguing side of this song. Maybe it is the
repetitive verses. Not sure. I have to give this more thought.
You're going to make it big one day soon and I will be proud to know you
as you were up and coming. Peace out"
- H-Town, D.C.
"So here's a little of my musical background so
you know where I'm coming from. I started playing the drums professionally
when I was in high school (and that was a LONG time ago...) and most ofmy
early "career" was spent playing for top-40/lounge bands. In
the last 6 years or so I've played lots of musicals as a pit drummer,
which suits me because big band is my favorite style of music, and most
of the "classic" musicals are written in the swing/big-band
style.
I've also done live sound for my friends who are *real* musicians. www.boykatindig.com.
I'm from Hawaii, and when Boy lived there in the mid-90's, my best friend
Mark Tanouye (look in the "played with" page) was playing bass
with Boy and they needed a sound guy. I mixed them for about 6 months
and did one impromptu recording to ADAT.
www.bennyworld.com Benny grew up in Hawaii as well, and on his discography
page, there's a group called the Outtakes. That was Benny with his high
school friends, doing music that they had all written over the years.
The drummer was my teacher, and when Benny was in town, the Outtakes would
gig and they, too, needed a sound guy. So I didn't actually get to know
Benny until about '96 or so, although his reputation was legendary, as
you might imagine. He got me tickets to Santana last year, and it was
freakin' awesome!
So my tastes lean toward the less-is-more, acoustic style of production.
That said: This is an excellent recording. You have an awesome voice that
would stand out against most any of the stuff I hear on the radio. The
vocals and instruments are all very cleanly recorded, and the overall
mix is balanced nicely. I really want to stress that this is an impressive
performance; keep chasing the dream!"
- Rhett, www.turbobuick.com
"Skibby-do-wow man, that one smooth cat peckin da vibes man.. Seriously,
that sounds awesome!"
- TurboJim, Rockaway, NJ, www.turbobuick.com
"Damn that is some smooth groove. The voice was great."
- IrvJr, Orlando FL, www.turbobuick.com
"That's real decent! I've got a home studio myself. What gear are
you running. Particularly vocal mic/preamp.. very nice "real"
sound on that recording"
- Zam70, Springfield, IL, www.turbobuick.com
"Wow man I just listened I was lovin it. Keep it up. You got an awesome
voice"
- qbano65, Schaumburg, IL, www.turbobuick.com
"Awwwww yeah... You have a good voice there, brother. Nice guitar
chops and effects. Excellent singing! One of the better vocalists I have
heard around here in a long time"
- Village Idiot, www.homerecording.com/bbs
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