hey all! here's the latest from Barbara... now I gotta get the new cd! oh and
this list is way too damn quiet :P someone go see Barbara and tell me how the
show was so I can live vicariously through you over here on the west coast...

another artist worth mentioning....saw Michelle Malone on Saturday in San
Francisco. She's got a folky/bluesy feel and she rocks too :) check her out!

_______________
Hello you loyal e-mailees. Welcome to you newcomers! I am writing to
officially announce *Barbara Kessler* -- my 3rd album. I will be
celebrating its release this Friday, for any of you who live in the Boston
area (or anyone who likes to drive!) I am happy to say that I love the
album, even this many weeks post-production, and believe me, that is a
good sign. I invite you all to check out some samples at www.cdfreedom.com
as www.BarbaraKessler.com is currently a "construction site." (Although it
is on target for completion within the week...so they tell me!) My
website is being spruced up like never before and will include lots of
liner notes and credits and press bits and photos and film clips and
stuff I've never put out there before. Please check back soon... *Barbara
Kessler* is now available at www.cdfreedom.com (and eventually
www.BarbaraKessler.com) or by calling 1.800.937.3397 Monday-Friday EST.
Also, previously available only on cassette, my earliest original
recording "Live," digitally re-mastered for the first time for CD. And its
only $9.99! Wow, this is a real commercial now. Forgive the exclamation
points and the pricing but I couldn't resist having something "for only
$9.99!"

Below is a list of upcoming dates. If you care to read on, I pasted the
first review of of the new album, just received from an area concert
producer. Thanks as always for keeping in touch. Just let me know if you
wish to be removed from this list and stay in touch at
www.barbarakessler.com.

3/8 www.radioboston.com, live interview 6:30pm
3/9 WUMB 91.9fm Boston, "Live at Noon," live interview 12pm
*March 10th CD Release Show at Club Passim, Harvard Square* 617-492-7679
Kym Tuvim opens. Broadcast by www.radioboston.com
4/1/00 Harris Creek Acoustic, house concert, Hampton VA.
For info contact hca@... or 757-850-1011 with Daryl Purpose
opening
4/8/00 Roaring Brook Nature Center, Canton CT 860-693-0263 split with
Peter Keane
4/14/00 Eddie's Attic, Decatur GA 404-377-4976, with Todd Thibaud and
others
4/16/00 Birmingham AL, venue TBA with Todd Thibaud
More dates on the tour with Todd Thibaud TBA
Keep in Touch!

Here's that review:
--------------------------------

I approached the new Barbara Kessler CD with a sense of only mild
expectation. Not because I had low expectations from an artists whose
previous CDs receive regular playing time on my CD player, but because I
had already listened to many of the CD's tracks numerous times already on
CD. For those who don't know what I mean, Barbara formed a "CD of the
Month Club" about 2 years ago as a vehicle to distribute her new
recordings in pre-release form (along with various live tracks or other
rarities) to her fans - an approach which got her mentioned in Billboard
Magazine. To date, 8 of the new CD's 11 tracks have been released in some
form through this club. So, I expected that the new CD would have a sense
of "been there - done that" as I listened to it for the first time.

Having seen Barbara live on a few occasions, and never having heard her
sing the same song the same way twice, I really should've known better...

While the "CD of the Month" tracks sound quite polished, they pale in
comparison to those released on the new CD (simply titled, *Barbara
Kessler* - when an artist releases an eponymously-titled album that is not
their first release, it usually signifies the artist has attained some
level of national exposure - without giving away the rest of the review, I
think that this could be the one that does it for Barbara). There is more
instrumentation, background vocals, and several (5 by my count) of the
songs are in higher keys than the originals - giving them a bit more
delicate feel, and putting them more in the "sweet spot" of Barbara's
range (Barbara had undergone surgery to remove nodules on her vocal chords
about a year or so ago - the result has left her voice stronger with a
wider range). Overall, the CD represents a perceptible style shift from
both of her two previous CDs (the folk-heavy innoncence of *Stranger to
this Land* and the introspective *notion* with it's slightly alternative
edges) - there is both a sense of maturity, a deeper emotional feel, and
yet a sense of fun.

I'll only highlight a few of the songs in detail, as fans are probably
already familiar with several of the tracks. I'd note that "Red Yellow
Blue", "Persephone", "Confession", "Angels Are Crying", and "Soundtrack"
all benefit from the higher key treatment and sound incredibly fresh.
"Angels Are Crying" is a particularly beautiful track, getting an almost
pop-ballad treatment with some great guitar and piano work. "Soundtrack"
has been a favorite for awhile, and this version is much "bouncier" than
the original - with an added wah-wah guitar that adds to the 70s nostalgia
(I can almost see the lava lamp in the background). Either of these two
tracks seem like they could get airplay on a station such as Boston's
WBOS. Folk radio might prefer tracks such as "Persephone", "Kristin",
"Red Yellow Blue", or "A Perfectly Good Way To Pray". Somewhere
in-between is the slightly-speeded up "Grown Up Love Songs and Other
Oxymorons" which, if the title doesn't grab you, then the song's lyrics
(about how love grows beyond the initial stages that get all the usual
attention) will.

I can probably identify with many of the lyrics on this CD since I am in a
similar place in life to Kessler - in my 30's, in a long-term
relationship, and have young children. And while some of these life
experiences may change the way you look at the world, there's a place
inside of me that is still very child-like - full of mischief and the
desire for a good time. But, I'm getting ahead of myself - hold that
thought for a second...

Kessler has hinted at being much more than a "folk" musician for some time
(check out "That Hurricane" or "Carolina" from her previous CD *notion*
for proof), and I think this new CD really doesn't belong in the "folk"
bins. More tracks that cement that feel are "Happy" (which makes a great
set-closer in her live shows), "Confession" (which literally rocks), and
the song I wish to devote a major portion of this review to - a song
curiously titled "Bridge Mix":

At first listen, I thought, "oh cool - another rock track", sounding
somewhat in the same vein musically as "Confession" (which precedes it).
Then I listened to it again - and again - and again - and yet again - I
could not get the song out of my head (maybe because I kept playing
it...). Aside from it's infectious pop/rock feel (it made me want to get
up and dance - and I don't dance...), the lyrics seemed to reach out and
take hold of me. As I previously mentioned, I am at a similar point in
life to Kessler - and while I am closer to my daughters' teenage years
than my own, I'm not too old to have a good time. And that's what "Bridge
Mix" is all about - check out these lyrics:

It's incorrect politically - leaves you bereft spriritually
- It's high time though I think you'd agree to shed these inhibitions...
and get drunk and roll up the rug, just like my daddy did
when the laughter would keep us up - just like when we were kids.

Thematically, it reminds me a bit of "Take A Ride With Me" from Kessler's
first CD, *Stranger To This Land*, or maybe Cheryl Crows "All I Wanna Do
is Have Some Fun" from 5 or so years ago. What separates "Bridge Mix"
from those and related songs is perspective that comes with it - from a
slightly more mature point of view that still knows what it is to be
young. No, 30-something isn't old, despite what all the pop culture
around us might suggest. What person my age wants to listen to the
perspective of living life from someone like Brittany Spears? She's not
even OLD enough to drink! What can she tell me about such things? It is
incredibly refreshing to hear someone my age singing about having a good
time.

Musically, the song is great - as I said, an infectious pop/rock feel that
makes you want to ... well get drunk and roll up the rug. It seems to
draw on several pops styles - from early Beatles to pop artists of today
(Chery Crow, Abra Moore, and Veruca Salt come to mind) - there's some
nostalgic organ lines, and some gritty guitars - but nothing overbearing.
This song could and should receive serious radio airplay. In my mind, it
fills a much-needed void for those of us looking for something in popular
music that is new but still speaks to us. Pop music is geared toward the
younger market, and those of us who were that in the 70s and 80s have been
pushed aside from most mass-market radio (other than the "classic rock"
stations - but those are just a baby-boomer way of reclassifying music
that we can't admit to being "oldies") - but here is a song which brings
the exhuberance of youth from a slightly more mature (but nowhere near
being "old") point a view which I found incredibly resonating. Maybe I'm
wrong, but this song seems to have all the necessary ingredients of being
a radio hit - at least among those of us still searching across the radio
dials for something modern that speaks to us - someone who isn't trying to
speak to the youth that we once were, but to the youth inside of who we
now are.

And when the partying is done, and we go back to being responsible adults,
Barbara is with us - closing the CD with the beautiful "Baby", celebrating
the joys of being a parent. The song is touching and sweet, with some
wonderful harmonies. Something of a lullaby for us as we end our musical
journey for the day.

Hopefully some of Barbara's fans can relate to some of the thoughts I've
put down. For those that wonder what I'm talking about, I suggest you get
the new CD and find out.

John Swartz
-----------------

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Barbara Kessler
c/o Artist Development Associates Inc.
47 Mellen Street
Framingham, MA 01702
voc. 508.820.8738 fax. 508.820.7920