Thank you so much for your kind words Melinda. I'm so happy to hear
that you feel the review put into words what a lot of others feel. I
had an inkling that others would feel that way, and am happy to hear
it is true. Thanks for sharing your feelings and thoughts. :)
Leslie

--- In KristiMartel@yahoogroups.com, "Melinda Marshall"
<melindajmarshall@...> wrote:
>
> Hello Leslie,
>
> What a lovely, and so true, review! Bravo! I think you put
into words
> what so many fans of Kristi's music felt about this cd. Ravengirl
is like a
> ray of light pinpricking the immense engulfing darkness that can
try to
> overcome our souls, and I just found such healing in it. Thank you
so much
> for sharing your great review.
>
> Blessings,
> Melinda
>
>
> On 12/11/06, lbpiken <sealedlipboston@...> wrote:
> >
> > I'm not sure if a message went out to everyone, I'm not
extremely
> > experienced in working with the yahoo discussion groups, I just
> > posted a text file of the review I wrote, and when I looked at
the
> > file it came out- quite, horizontal. If it came out that way for
you
> > as well I'll post it here in an attempt for it to come out
reading
> > as it should in paragraph form. Sorry! I'll learn :)
> >
> > Brand New Ravengirl Review
> >
> > Review of Kristi Martel's: "Ravengirl" (Released 10.22.06)
> >
> > Written By: Leslie Piken
> >
> > I met Kristi three years ago, just months before her
> > life-partner Littlebird took her own life. This event altered
> > Kristi's life forever; and I never realized how much this event
> > would change my life and so many others as well. Chronicled in
her
> > new album "Ravengirl," Kristi Martel's true colors are shining
> > through all of the grief and hardship. Embodied fearlessly in
this
> > sixth (her 3rd full-length) album; joy seems to come quite
naturally
> > to Kristi in a strange yet enduring way. Fittingly, in her song
> > notes she clarifies that her experience of joy in the year after
her
> > Littlebird's suicide made her feel like a "superhero." The
> > superhero name she chose was none other than "Ravengirl," which
> > opens up Kristi's world and her experience for all of us to see
and
> > hear.
> >
> > Poignant, would be a word that comes to mind when
> > listening to "Ravengirl," but even then, that doesn't do it
justice.
> > Shocking or astonishing would be more appropriate. I've come to
> > realize just how many dedicated listeners Kristi has out there,
of
> > which I am only one. Whether you've been listening for years, or
> > have just been introduced to Kristi Martel, Ravengirl will
> > definitely astound. All within fifteen songs, Kristi manages to
> > touch every spectrum of the emotions, both familiar and
unfamiliar.
> > It just makes me realize how much of my emotional experience I
> > neglect on a daily basis. Then to experience all of these
feelings
> > within a 64 minute LP is simply unbelievable. Within the first
few
> > strokes of the keys of "Harder than Dying" it was almost as if my
> > chest was opened up and something else filled that space.
> > In "Crossing into Dreams" the 'bumbling tumbling song' she
describes
> > in her songbook; Kristi brings out another side of herself,
> > cheerfulness. This is a familiar state of being for Kristi; as
she
> > carries a silly smirk with her most of her days. This frame of
mind
> > even comes out when singing a song she used to sing with
Littlebird,
> > her life-partner lost. In "Dear Emily" Kristi courageously shares
> > with us the events that occurred surrounding Littlebird's
suicide.
> > This song is not just an inscription of the events that occurred
in
> > those fateful days, it is a disquieting experience that seems to
> > pull the listener right in. During the crescendo of the song,
> > Kristi plays these big thick chords back and forth like a mad
woman.
> > It evokes such a haunting desperation; a wailing or crying
expressed
> > instrumentally unlike anything I have ever heard coming out of a
> > piano. This song will stay burned in my memory for as long as I
can
> > imagine. It touches a part of my history that many of us struggle
> > with in losing a family member to suicide, and also because
Kristi
> > truly is grieving through this song. Beyond its unmistakable
> > compositional brilliance, it gives validation to those who are
> > struggling with similar horrors.
> >
> > There's something downright uncanny about the way Kristi
> > speaks to her fans and listeners within moments of hearing her
> > sing. Her performance, her lyrics, the way she holds herself, and
> > the way she dances (literally and on the keys) when she sings-
it is
> > as if she is, in essence a true storyteller. But, more than that-
> > she's like[1] a spirit guide- as she takes you through her
emotional
> > experience, pain, and joy, holding your hand the entire way as if
> > she's known you your entire life. She's a true artist who's
> > mastered her form, and composes rich music, writes emotionally
> > shocking lyrics, and possesses a four-octave range that is simply
> > amazing. Her music rings a similarity to Stevie Wonder, Patti
> > Griffin, Bjork and Toni Amos to name a few. She's toured
nationally
> > and played in legendary folk venues such as Club Passim and Stone
> > Soup, festivals and conferences, coffee houses and clubs, concert
> > halls and churches. She's been reviewed and interviewed in
> > prominent national publications, college papers and radio
stations.
> > Interestingly enough she's got a style that sets her apart from
the
> > most legendary of performers.
> >
> > Ultimately, Ravengirl is a masterpiece. It's interesting to
> > think about the fact that the album is just a piece, a fraction
of
> > Kristi's vision and hard work for over a decade. Every minute of
> > her life she eats, drinks, sleeps and breathes her music, and it
is
> > quite apparent while listening to this master of her work. A mere
> > fifteen songs only scrapes the surface of her indisputable
talent in
> > scoring, producing, creating, writing and performing music. Be
what
> > it may, Kristi captures such horrific pain, life altering loss
and
> > breakthrough joy with such ease that it left me completely
stunned
> > after listening to Ravengirl. Whether you are an experienced
> > listener of Kristi Martel's work or hearing her for the first
time
> > on this album, prepare to be moved. There's no way you can finish
> > this entire record without being touched by one or all of her
> > lyrics, musically, intellectually, emotionally or all of the
above.
> > Kristi has a way of reaching out personally to her listeners and
> > fans that is unique from the many performers out there. My advice
> > is: do yourselves a favor and experience this album and all of
the
> > joy it brings.
> >
> > ----------------------------------------------------------
> > -----------
> >
> > [1] Not to be mistaken for Bill Dvorak's foolish review from the
> > Boston Dig. Meant as a comparison, not a statement of Kristi
being
> > spiritually divine, or for the faint in mind, "hopped up."
> >
> >
> >
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>