Elaine Greer's interest in music stemmed from a variety of influences, ranging from her love for Broadway musicals as a child to her numerous attempts at punk rock bands as a teenager. Although she began writing songs at a young age, she was secretive about it for years before starting her first active band in 2005, The Bluebirds. The Bluebirds didn't last long though, and thus Elaine Greer the solo artist was born. Years (and several line up changes) later, Elaine now frequently plays with a backing band of awesome musicians, and sometimes alone. At the end of 2008, Elaine realized that lo-fi home recordings could only take her so far, and headed to Master Bedroom Studios to record her first legitimate EP. This EP, complete with horns, a string section and group vocal parts, included a variety of guest musicians, and was mixed by Steve Christensen/Mastered by Allen Corneau.
"Random Acts of Charity" in Joe Mathlete's Living Room
"The...six-song EP, Making Plans and Going Places, was worth the wait. It's a distractingly pretty collection of folk-pop featuring Greer's uncomplicated coo and, yes, strings, horns and a choir part. Even the album art — a pastoral scene with a deep blue sky, a rainbow, fluffy clouds and gentle woodland creatures — is so pretty that it makes one sigh. It's a small slice of perfection."
Sara Cress, 29-95.com
"Elaine Greer...one of Houston's best singer songwriters - packing a sharp gift for melody in one holster and strong and distinctive voice in the other. If anyone's work in Houston has been long overdue a proper CD release, it's Elaine Greer's! Thankfully on Thursday at Mango's Elaine is finally letting the hen out and releasing her first proper CD - a six-song EP "Making Plans and Going Places." The songs should be quite familiar to fans who've kept up with her live performances and many will be excited and surprised at how Elaine approached the songs in the studio."
Ramon Medina, freepresshouston.com
"Greer's vocals are now slowed down, relaxed and unmistakably more confident. Nowhere is her leap into maturity more evident than on the rich, Gillian-Welch-like transformation of favorites like "The Key" and "Wild Things," which make perfect companions for new numbers like the waltzy "Under the Radar" and two-steppin' "Ancient History."
Dusti Rhodes, Houston Press
"Elaine Greer is a singer-songwriter from Houston. She sings songs that could be described as folk, perhaps with a twinge of country thrown in for good measure. But more importantly, she sings songs that are good. They aren’t showy in the least, gently meandering along at their own pace, but they manage to make one hell of an impression.
Most of that impression is down to Greer’s voice. Fitting the style of the songs, it’s constantly bold, but constantly restrained. Sure, this is material from an EP. But it could just as easily be from someone sitting alone in their bedroom. Every now and again a slight musical flourish from a piano or a vocal harmony pops in that reminds us this is a properly produced song. But it doesn’t really need it."
AnotherFormofRelief.com
"Standing aside and behind her, a three piece band, whose amplified sound was almost big enough to keep up with her now seriously catalyic-coverterless voice; you simply cannot believe that a sound that big and full can come from a body that small (and there is really no way to write that phrase without it sounding creepy. Apologies). Though the twee-folk is gone, don't think that she's fallen off the cliff into some sort of too-tuff n' snarly Runaways style rebellion - she sings with a smile and made a noticeably 'oh no' face as she realized she was about to say a lyric with a bad word in front of her grandmother (who was in the audience). The band's slightly twangy pop fits well in the collection of anyone who counts Rilo Kiley or The Lemonheads as must-hears, and certainly has a place in ours."
The Skyline.net
"Elaine Greer and her band kicked off the night at the sweltering Engine Room...
The rest of the band appeared and Greer strummed her way through a set of charming indie-folk-rock with an occasional twang. It didn't take long for me to become a fan."
Chron.com
"The first act for evening was Elaine Greer, a local singer who writes and sings wonderful folk/pop songs. I had seen her before, when she played the last show to ever take place at the Prolo earlier this year, and she has gotten even better since then. Her songs are pretty simple, but have diverse instrumentation, thanks to Austin Lloyd juggling guitar, accordion, and lap steel. The drummer is quite a sight to see, sometimes standing while playing, sometimes jumping up and down, and sometimes eating a pear while tapping a tambourine."
HoustonMusicReview.com
Buy 'Making Plans and Going Places' on iTunes
1. Making Plans
2. Ancient History
3. Wild Things
4. The Key
5. Under the Radar
6. When the Colors Leave
Also available at Cactus Records and Sound Exchange (Houston)
Waterloo Records, Cheapo Discs, End of an Ear (Austin)
i wanted to stop by your page and thank you for being my friend on here....i hope that you are having a great week and that you have really cool plans for the weekend.....stop by and say hello if you get a chance and let me know what you think of the music....
Wow! We all really like your stuff. . . a lot! I'm glad you sent us a friend request. You kind of sound like The Arcade Fire and Ashlynn Ivy, but with your own hint thrown in. Magical. -Dathan
I do like it a lot:-) (Except for one particular word in one song that I can't play on the radio;-) I'll probably play something from it on the show on the 20th, fyi.
im busy doing a masters degree and working part time in a bar/restaurant at the moment. still trying to find time now and again for doing my own music, but its tricky. would love to come back to texas someday. hopefully. i went to a show the other night and there was a support band from austin. i was wondering if it was anyone you knew...
great voice, thanks for befriending. :) i'll actually be in Houston/Austin end of July and I'm looking into playing at Mango and Hole in the Wall. any other suggestions you might have would be awesome! best of luck with your music! Ree
Sounds like the violin part came out really well on under the radar. I forgot though what the other piece I played on was though.If you ever need another violin for upcoming songs, feel free to ask. Later
