Tom Waits, Cole Porter, Warren Zevon, Randy Newman, Loudon Wainwright III
Sounds Like
Slightly dark, humorous, and off-kilter; old-fashioned piano-drenched songwriting, recalling early Elton John, Biff Rose, David Ackles, David Forman, as well as Stew, Rufus Wainwright, Ben Folds, etc.
Corey Landis recently released his new album--entitled "Corey Landis"--which will (hopefully) create a new ground zero for his work. It's an odd acoustic affair that is brought to life by incredible string and woodwind arrangements by film composer Joey Newman, as well as the ear of gifted mixer Greg Hayes, recalling records such as Elton John's self-titled release, Randy Newman's "Sail Away", Tom Waits's "Small Change" and the works of Biff Rose and David Ackles. Take a listen to all the songs now at CDBaby, iTunes, and Amazon! You can also download individual tracks below.
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COREY LANDIS fittingly shares a birthday with Charles Bukowski and a deathday with Elvis Presley.
Whether or not he chooses to admit it, Landis typifies the recent resurgence of gifted twenty-somethings that evoke the "golden" singer-songwriter age of the 70s. The ubiquitous melodies of Elton, Joel, Springsteen, Cohen, Waits, Zevon and Newman hover over Landis' shoulder like older siblings--most tellingly in the dystopian relationship odes of the last three Angelenos.
Destined to relocate to Los Angeles (from Ohio) in 2000, Landis began appearing around LA as a solo performer, accompanying himself on piano at venues such as The Derby, and The Mint, and as the opening act for the comedy troupe Piece of Meat Theater. Landis was soon asked to contribute six original songs to the soundtrack for the indie film "Unreel: A True Hollywood Story" and also supplied the closing track for "Peace", a short film starring "That '70s Show"'s Kurtwood Smith.
His first release, "Feast of Scraps", a singular paean to the emotional mean streets of El Lay, sought to blow some dust and smoke in the right places, in the right amount. Landis' singular mix of melodramatic melodies, razorblade-gargling singing and homemade wall-of-Spector sounded to some "like the fictional soundtrack to a fictional paring of Stanley Kubrick and Sergio Leone... a spaghetti-O western." (Nimbus)
Critical consensus was that Landis was a songwriting force to be reckoned with:
"Great songwriters are few and far between; like troubadours of old, his dark, ironic lyrics work best against a minimal background of the lone piano or a single acoustic guitar. This is an artist who can dominate any small venue and who should be recording gems like this in a much better studio than his living room." (Skratch)
"**** 1/2 (out of five stars) Very real, somber, and humbling. If Bukowski could sing, he'd sound like this. A poet blessed with musical talent. The music is great. He sounds great. I'm afraid of him." (South of Mainstream)
"Darkly moody songs in a drunken manner. Excellent lyrics, interesting musicality, depth and soul... gritty and real. Great lyrics. I will buy him a drink." (Hybrid Magazine)
"14 old messages"--Landis' second release on Urban Myth Recordings--was released in September of 2005. On Landis' ambitious second platter, he sings his black heart out over all sorts of memories, both real and imagined, in musical settings both familiar and disorienting. Landis' self-mocking, mock-solipsistic lyrics and nostalgia-tinged new melodist pop evokes both the alleged golden age of singer-songwriter pathos AND sad-sack contemporaries Oberst, Barzelay, Apple, and Wainwright.
As "14 Old Messages"' very first review concurs:
"This kid could become the next great singer/songwriter of our generation." (Smother)
Recently, "New Year" from "Feast of Scraps" was voted a finalist in the 2005 International Songwriting Competition, making it in the top .5% of around 15,000 entrties.
To purchase the old stuff, go to Amazon, CDBaby. Or download from iTunes or the store below.
great introduction to your music at the IS Showcase- thanks so much for coming out. I am going to try to make it for your gig Friday! I hope I can make it --Bill
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