PRESS:ARTICLE: Monday, 08 December 2008, Columbia, South Carolina City Paper:
by Greg Slattery
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Being a musician is no menial task. It’s a life that nearly every parent doesn’t want for a child of theirs and the odds are almost always against you. It’s not something that just anyone can succeed at, and it something that takes years of practice and begging before you really can afford to do it full time.
Elise Major, a Baltimore music veteran, has been in and out of various bands in her lifetime, teaching piano and guitar while bartending to make it by. “I have sacrificed a lot for it,” Major explained to me. “My music basically dictates where I am in life. I’ve given it my full attention. Luckily, I love to teach on the side so even when I am working, I am working with music and focusing on what I love to do.”
Elise Major just released her first album, Self-Titled, and was relieved to finally get an album done and “tohear the songs as I did in my head.” “I have a serious addiction to the dramatic elements of rock and roll,” Major explained. When I asked her what she was listening to when she was writing and recording the album, it wasn’t a huge shock she said Queens of the Stone Age and Muse after listening to driving bass, riff-heavy guitars and a more classically-inspired arrangement.
My favorite track, “Green”, is a great example of her dramatic arrangement skills, starting sans-drums and building to a heavily-driven harmonized guitar solo that drops off to a part reminiscent of the beginning, the major difference being a soulful Major vocal styling. “Icebox” is another recommended track, though the piano version, the only song tracked at Cue Studios, is in my opinion much better. Their track “Seal The Bleeding Heart” utilizes the Bellamy influence.
A good portion of the tracks from their new album are up on Myspace, including the three tracks I already mentioned, so check them out.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Elise Major CD Review: Owl & Bear, August 13th, 2008
"One thing’s for sure: it’s a rocking, rollicking, reboot of 90s alternative rock. The album jumps right into the rock, and the trend continues throughout. Major and her band produce catchy riffs as she wails on the mic–sometimes like a female Ten-era Eddie Vedder."
- Owl & Bear
"Major, the writer and rocker for whom the band is named for. No where else can you find a female fronted act with looks, chops, and kick-assed songs you’ll find yourself humming through and through.”
- Bill's Music
“Elise Major is without a doubt one of the most talented outfits to breakout of the northeast of the United States, and will undoubtably put Baltimore back on the Rock & Roll map. All the right elements are there; great musicianship, a tremendously talented front woman, and songwriting craftmanship. The sky is the limit with this band. I love em'.”
- Joseph Lawson, FVIC Records
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
BIOGRAPHY:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baltimore rocker, Elise Major, is a beacon for those who dig intense guitar work and vocal domination, both executed by the girl herself. Elise Major's music transcends the trendy to focus on true rock and roll instinct and polish. A classically trained pianist as well, Major strives to inject each song with chord structure that pleases her musical palette.
Major is not alone, she surrounds herself with three impressive musicians. Theron Day, who formerly toured as bassist for the DC electro rock artist "Thomas Lunch", Evan Anderson, a Berklee Grad virtuoso of the guitar, vocals, and Alex Straiter, the newest to the group who currently also plays in the band Bulletproof Messenger from New York are on the team.
Supporting her new album, and her new band, Elise Major will be touring regionally to spread her special brand of rock around in 2009. Elise and the band are getting a buzz on college radio stations across the country and on sites like Myspace. Elise Major's new self-titled CD is available on Itunes, Rhapsody, CD Baby, and Amazon.com. With standout tracks like "Green", it is an essential addition to any rock lover's library.
Elise Major has opened for bands such as Paramore (at the Vans Warped Tour), Big City Rock and David Ellefson of Megadeath. Awards include: "Best Band" at the Emergenza Finals '06, winner of the WHFS 105.7 Underground Live Battle of the Bands, and Elise Major's song, "Heroine" received "Track of the Day" on Garageband.com. Elise Major was named "Band of the Month" by FVIC Records for January of 2008.
Elise Major- vocals, guitar, keys 
Online Now!
