American Songwriter Magazine - Album Review by Paul Zollo (Conversations With Tom Petty, Songwriters On Songwriting)
Songs of timeless appeal that shine with the spirit of authentic Americana. Beautiful, compelling melodies with poignant lyrics sung with a sensual, sultry authority that hovers somewhere between Aimee Mann and Chrissie Hynde. Manda's songs reflect a woman's perception of love and life, but it's an empowered vision that shimmers in the tilt of the words and the zen vigor of the vocals. Almost all of the songs are co-written with an assembly of gifted tunesmiths (including Cody LePow and Guy Erez, the producer) but are united by a tender compassion and singular focus. The title song is slinky and arch; it's funny and mysterious, catchy but not cloying. Manda knows her way around a catchy hook, but does so with genuine heart and no scarcity of soul. Erez's production and musicianship throughout is solid and ideal – propulsive tapestry drum rhythms underscore rich, real textures of guitars, keys and harmonica. An absolutely stunning cover of Pete Townshend's "Blue, Red And Grey" is a delightful surprise, a brew of desire, grace and whimsy from an artist whose time has come. This is good, this is now.
Performing Songwriter Magazine Review:
Singer-songwriter Manda Mosher is a sixth-generation Los Angeleno, and maybe the city has something to do with the grit and weathered resonance of her voice. Or, it’s possible that growing up in the City of Angels attests to Mosher’s stylistic reflections of Americana-rock luminaries (and fellow residents) Tom Petty and Lucinda Williams. Perhaps the sprawl has also afforded a wise worldliness to her songs. Whatever its effect on Mosher, it’s quite apparent the city loves her, too – she’s an L.A. Music Awards darling with numerous wins and nominations over the past few years. All that aside, her music speaks across geographical confines, and her new album, Everything You Need (Red Parlor), is a must-hear. Check out the track “Lay Me Down” for Mosher at her best. – Jessica Draper
All Music Guide Review by Michael Berick:
If you just listen to this disc's brief opening track "Intro" and closing tune "Thank You," you'd get the idea that Manda Mosher is one of those lo-fi neo-folkies trying to re-create the old-timey music of yesterday. But the disc's bookending tunes don't give a very accurate impression of this album as a whole. Better yet, start with the knockout second track, "Lay Me Down." On this potent rootsy rocker, the willowy L.A. blonde lays out her musical game plan for her dynamic debut. It's a marvelous mix of Sheryl Crow-style rock balanced by Mosher's husky, Aimee Mann-ish alto. The Mann effect is more present in the following tune, "Keeps on Turning"; however, Mosher offers a more optimistic world view ("the world keeps on turning" despite bad times) than Mann typically does. The song also boasts an engaging earthier sound courtesy of Jamie Muhoberac's organ and Ido Sasson's searing guitar work. Throughout this album, Mosher reveals a nice knack for penning love songs that avoid sappiness. The spare "Everything You Need" exposes an inner strength within its simple (although far from simplest) emotions. A lovely, stripped-down rendition of Pete Townshend's "Blue, Red, and Grey" delivers more joys about the simple things in life. The more uptempo, harmonica-powered rocker "One True Love" is a catchy ode to survival that reveals her affect for Tom Petty's music. "Wash It All Away" is another strong track with Mosher's vocals soaring over a melodic but urgent rock foundation. The disc's smart mix of rootsy rock and quieter, acoustic-based moments brings to mind Crow's Tuesday Night Music Club debut. While it might not contain that album's chart-toppers, Everything You Need contains everything Americana rock fans need -- it is an impressively confident and compelling disc that bodes well for Mosher's future.
The Charleston Gazette, West Virginia by Michael Lipton:
The debut from this comely Los Angelino starts out with a short, low-fi acoustic teaser, but it doesn't take long to realize there's nothing low-fi about Mosher. More inspired by the rock side of pop, Mosher seems more informed by smart pop gals like Marti Jones than by the bumper crop of sensitive Americana darlings. Even when she's breathy and cooing on "It Can't Be Wrong" and singing with nothing but an acoustic guitar on the intro to the title track, she has an attitude and an unmistakable undercurrent of fire.
The lone cover is a version of Pete Townsend's gorgeous "Blue, Red and Grey," which she performed at a Townshend tribute at Austin's South By Southwest. It that starts out true to the original with guitar instead of ukulele and gradually adds full instrumentation.
"One True Love" and "Wash it All Away" are melodic, jangle rockers with plenty of Dylanesque harp on the former. While Mosher's recipe is soaring pop-rockers that always stay within the lines, the back porch-sounding bookends on the disc indicate that she's got some soul and perhaps even a few rough edges.
Folk & Acoustic Music Exchange by Mark S. Tucker:
A scratchy old tape recording composing the Intro belies the fully engineered recordings that follow, each one delivered in vocals as smooth and sweet as honey but with a knowing of the world…Lay Me Down being exactly what you might hope and imagine and a rocker finding some good leadwork in Ido Sasson. Monda Mosher's purry pipes are a perennially slinky seduction into her brand of lush soft rock that amps up in various songs building and layering.
There's a lot of Aimee Mann and bit of Martha Bates in her writing. In aspect, the blond-tressed singer-guitarist-songwriter looks like she could be the daughter of Lynn Carey, 70s singer and namesake of Mama Lion, a beauty who was a Neil Merryweather protege and posed for Penthouse, making a small scandal at the time. Carey was a blueser who could shout when she had a mind to, but Mosher never resorts to that, preferring the melodious, sultry, moody, and mellifluous. She was, not long ago, chosen to tributize Neil Young and Pete Townshend in respective CDs, and a Townshend cut appears here, his Blue, Red, and Grey.
Everything You Need is a breezy CD, not a burner or a depressoid set of opuses for a dark fall afternoon. The disc is more a summertime outing, driving up Pacific Coast Highway, heading for Zuma Beach and points beyond, cares well behind with prospects of life and love ahead. There's a goodly share of wistfulness to shade the collection, and any number of cuts could easily find their way onto the charts. Manda Mosher has everything going for her: the looks, the sonorities, the chart sound, and any number of winning aspects no matter how you approach her work.
Official iTunes Album Review:
Much in the spirit of other strong alt-country singer-songwriters like Kathleen Edwards and Sara Cox, Manda Mosher skirts the genre with enough mainstream pop appeal to avoid being so easily classifiable. She plays a dobro and blows a harmonica (“Thank You”) where she hears fit. Her smooth delivery on Pete Townshend’s “Blue, Red and Grey” and her own “Don’t You Know” owe more to Karen Carpenter than, say, Lucinda Williams, while the whirling, whimsical flourishes of “One True Love” flash moments of Nashville under its pop tent as the organ gently purrs behind Mosher’s honeyed vocals – the sudden “oohs” taking things to another level. “Wash It All Away” and the title track work similarly, relying on the tightknit groove of mildly distorted guitars, emerging Hammond organs, and Mosher’s unpretentious delivery to build the songs to dramatic heights without ever threatening the sound barrier. It’s soft rock with a sturdy backbone and unashamed pop hooks.
ABC RADIO's FAME GAMES on "Lay Me Down" after making it to the final main show
This is a really cool song, beautifully delivered and produced, and on top of it all it..s an ear-worm but a sexy one at that! What a great combination. Hearing it again after some weeks pause, the track felt very healthy and positively familiar. Nice job all around!
5/24/08 Los Angeles Music Awards Showcase Review by Al Bowman
MANDA: As a legacy artist for the LA Music Awards, Manda just keeps on churning out more great music year after year, earning her more accolades each time she creates another masterpiece of music. In 2005, she received the prestigious Female Singer / Songwriter of the Year. In 2006, she won for Rock Single of the Year. She has also been nominated for other categories as well including Music Video of the Year. Now she is up for Pop Single of the Year for "Wash It All Away" and for Record of the Year for producer Guy Erez for her amazing album entitled "Keeps On Turning". At this show, she toned it down a bit and went with a lighter set up and once again, created a masterpiece performance. Manda will be on our red carpet on November 20th at the Music Box Theater for the third year in a row.
David "Doc" Morgan - RedRock Internet Radio's commentary on Manda:
I sort of fell across Manda's myspace site and listened to a few tracks. Needless to say, I was rather stunned at the fact that I had not heard these tracks before. Manda has a very smooth and concise vocal range and they blend with the instrumentation magnificently. It is no wonder that she has been nominated for several awards from the music industry.
When you run through the tracks on this album, the tune "Thank You" sort of blows you away. Its a bluesy, country sort of track that catches you off guard. A definite show of the versatility of this lady. Manda is definitely an artist to keep your eye on and your ears tuned into.
"One of the best records that has ever come through our pipeline in nearly two decades. Magnificent!" Al Bowman (LA Music Awards)
Manda Mosher is an Americana rock singer and songwriter specializing in soothing the weary soul. As a sixth generation Los Angeleno raised on the sounds of Dylan, Petty, and Springsteen, Mosher delivers authentic roadhardened stories of an American girl wiser than her years, combined with a sultry voice. She's reviving the roots of classic folk and rock music bringing back authenticity to an overproduced and processed music world.
Her debut album Everything You Need was released in April 2009 on Red Parlor Records. Subsequently, she's received critical acclaim from American Songwriter Magazine, Performing Songwriter, All Music Guide, and more. Her first single "Lay Me Down" connected at over 45 Triple A stations across the US and resulted in a performance on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson. Manda's second single "One True Love" is currently a KCRW favorite and is accompanied by both an interactive music video: www.manda-onetruelove.com, the first of its kind and its companion traditional music video.
Manda and her band spent the last 7 months touring in the US and are set to record a follow up EP to Everything You Need this winter. For up to date information on Manda Mosher, sign up for her mailing list and also receive unreleased mp3s and goodies only available to her newsletter friends at www.mandamosher.com.
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