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Brendan O'Donnell |
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FIRST |
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Music |
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With his coffeehouse wit and soft, melodic
stringmanship, Northport’s Brendan O’Donnell will stir your java.
Chocked with Live-esque realism, unforced solos and haunting vocals, his
debut is a finely polished whisper of esoteric pop harmonies. The
Angelic "Elaine" rides on the surging Violin of Marco Vitalli, who backs
O’Donnell’s determined crooning with progressive, harmonic surges. The
moody bass action and layered percussion of the alt tinged "21 Century
Love" strips songwriting down to it’s bare ass, with raw and
introspective lyrics. Equally alluring is "Break" which offers up a
rollicking backwoods jam segment and "These Moments" which draws it’s
power from snowballed rhythms of shifty backing chords. With an emphasis
on lyrical poesy and light orchestral motifs, this tunesmith will travel
far.
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Brendan O'Donnel - First (Hive Music) |
| In an industry where there is so much borrowing of
influences, it’s refreshing to hear an artist who
definitely has roots, but also has an original sound.
A remarkably individual voice! |
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Art's and Entertainment |
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Brendan O'Donnell
Debuts his "First" Album |
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By Cassie Lee |
Brendan O’Donnell, a new alternative artist, debuts
with his album "First". Brendan O’Donnell plays acoustic and electric
guitar and is accompanied by Bass (Carlton Collier), Drums (Graycon
Legere) and Violin (Marco Vitalli). The songs on this album are about
everything that life chooses to throw at you and are full of emotion and
determination. He uses lines like, "these moments slip away and tomorrow
is today and all lost, poor chosen phrases fade without a sound. All
your past regrets refrain. Can’t go back to yesterday and the fool looks
for lost gold that won’t be found. Won’t be found."
Brendan has a story to tell and he does it very well. He is an artist in
every sense of the word. He knows how to sing things to make you feel
what he is feeling. To make you see the world as he sees it. "First" is
a must have CD to add to your collection. |
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Brendan O'Donnel's "First" |
Brendan is at times (most of the time) a sensitive
singer-songwriter type, incorporating a violin and more than a passing
semblance to Natalie Merchant in his vocals. At other times, he emits a
rocker’s growl and orchestrates careening riffs and sings with the fury of
Live’s Ed Kowalczyk.
And though O’Donnell’s first long player, "First" has it’s share of trite
titles- "Today", "Goodbye", "Break"- he pulls from so many influences and
fleshes out his material in such a way that it’s multidimensional. For
example, he incorporates a jammy, Dave Mathews Band vibe throughout much of
the album, but the ubiquitous violin adds an Irish flavor to what would have
leaned toward white bread "alternative" pop.
Opener, "Elaine" could really be a re-written post 10,000 Maniacs tune from
Merchant. "Break", offers angry boy lyrics—"I don’t bend I break/Snap/Twig
that you are"—over that Live like instrumentation and Marco
Vitalli’s violin. Alas, O’Donnell might be trying to summon another hero of
his at the end of "This Life" with a burst of furious strumming.
Unfortunately, he’s not Neil Young. Yet.
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Brendan O'Donnel's
"First" |
This stunning debut from awesome singer-songwriter
Brendan O’Donnell sets a pretty high standard for any
other contemporary artist to try to reach. The superb songcraft, intense
and unique music and gorgeous,
deeply emotive singing should be a wake up call to all that there are
possibilities beyond rootsy folk stylings. O’Donnell’s voice has the
spirit and beauty of Tim Buckley; his music has the rhythmic intensity
and dynamic range of The Dave Mathews Band.
Every song on "First" is great, with deceptively simple and direct
lyrics conveyed by a remarkable voice and complemented by a very hot
band. On "Elaine" drummer Graycon Legere and basist Carlton Collier lock
in with O’Donnell’s crisp and jangly acoustic guitar lines while
violinist Marco Vitalli weaves magical melodies and passionate
flourishes, or brightens the groove with pizzicatto touches. "21st
Century Love" shows another side of O’Donnell, with the bluesy grunge
electric guitar and O’Donnell’s voice morphing into some wild electronic
beast, as if he was playing his voice with his teeth or singing his
guitar. The magic is further enhanced by the squealing, careening
violin.
On "Concrete Wave" O’Donnell’s voice conveys an openness and
vulnerability, yet supreme confidence, that is totally captivating. On
"Today" the music conveys sad regret as O’Donnell sings "Lost forever,
gone today." "Cry Baby" features some incredible phrasing and
O’Donnell’s sweet falsetto on lyrics like, "Well it takes a lot of joy
to make me smile, and it takes a lot of love to make it seem worthwhile,
and it takes a lot of strength to say goodbye, and just a little thing
to make me cry."
The emotional range and raw power of O’Donnell and band are highlighted
on "Break" with rhythmic accents and crescendos that sound like Led
Zeppelin’s "Kashmir."
With all it’s serious and deep poetry of regret and it’s emotional
intensity, the music on "First" is some of the brightest and most
liberating to be heard in years. This is the kind of CD you want to put
on first thing in the morning to start your day of right. A reminder of
the power of great art to enrich our lives. |
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Brendan Odonnell's
"First" |
After two years on the club circuit, New York based
singer/songwriter Brendan O'Donnell arrives with "First", a blend of
honest singing and powerful storytelling.
Backed ably by bassist Carlton Collier, drummer Gray Legere and
violinist Marco Vitalli, O'Donnell's lean vocals have a delicate timber
sometime occasionally reminiscent of Tracy Chapman. His 10 songs are
full of mellow epiphanies, optimistic energy and intense personal
exploration-and there are some gems. Notably the catchy "Elaine", the
lyrical "Concrete Wave" and the spare "This Life".
Dave Mathews Band comparisons are likely because of O'Donnell's high
register and Vitalli's soaring violin. But O'Donnell has a real chance
to carve out his own folk-rock niche.
Three Stars-Alex Van Krogh |
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Brendan O'Donnell
Scores on his first record |
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Emerging singer-songwriter Brendan O’Donnell has been
compared to both Natalie Merchant and Dave Mathews. Although these
comparisons are tough to live up to, O’Donnell’s full length album,
First, lends him a distinct credibility and offers are certain
originality. Using soft yet powerful vocals, O’Donnell successfully
wraps his lyrics around strong and at times harsh guitar solos.
There is a strong component of folk-rock fusion in many of the tracks on
"First". The comparison to Dave Mathews is most obvious in "Today." The
strong acoustic guitar and drum background makes up for the lack of
sincere lyrics. O’Donnell is at his best during "Goodbye" a haunting ode
to a love not meant to be, wherein the hurt in the singer’s voice is
palpable.
Song after song O’Donnell seems to be trying to reduce any complexity in
his lyrics. While sometimes this technique may simply make a song sound
repetitive, "Goodbye" gets to the point without losing the intense sense
of pain and regret with the lyrics, "Past loves are hard to burn/and I
cannot forget/ promises you made lies/ when twisted and turned."
When O’Donnell veers into harder rock, he loses the sensitive edge that
distinguishes his almost trembling tenor. In "Break", he effectively
comes across as angry, alternating from a restrained rage to a
disturbing pitch.
His less soothing lyrics give way to almost neurotic diatribes. In "Cry
Baby", he offers some rather dark musings such as, "So lost deep in
sadness/ deeper than a grave dug six feet under/ wrestle with the pain
and start to wonder/ how you managed to survive."
O’Donnell is in his element when he performs ballads, in particular,
"Elaine". His encouraging and sensuous tones create a lullaby for a
presumably jaded lover. "Fight This World" and "21st Century Love" both
create musical lyricism with a liberal dose of violin and metallic
guitar arrangements.
Brendan O’Donnell’s "First" is a good pick for those interested in some
mellow, and at times, jarring music. |
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 "First"
Impressions
Reviewer: Beth Eaton
I first heard Brendan O'Donnell at the Iron Horse Music Hall in
Northampton, MA. He opened for Freedy Johnston, but I could have
listened to him all night. I was completely caught off guard by this
powerful, emotional music -with intelligent lyrics & amazing live
musicians. I immediately purchased his album, FIRST, from which most of
his live material came. It is now in my regular rotation at home & in
the car. Brendan is like an Irish Dave Matthews with a more "aggressive"
stance. This album, a good mix of ballads, uplifting beats, grabbed me
with the song "Break" - a tale of love & obsession, & what we all think
we would do for love. If you like pop rhythms, intelligent lyrics, tales
of love & loss, and some damn fantastic fiddle playing with a D.M.B.
influence, then grab this CD before this guy gets really famous. And
catch a live performance any time you can! |
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Brendan O'Donnell &
First |
Songwriter Brendan O'Donnell counts Harry Chapin, Paul
Simon and Dave Matthews as influences, but all you have to do is listen
to any song on ``First,'' his strong debut album, and his real
inspiration is obvious: it's the late Tim Buckley. O'Donnell, a New
Yorker, sounds so much like Buckley in timbre, tone and emotional
language it is almost scary. Some of the song structures are more varied
and modern, strongly evoking Tim's son, Jeff Buckley.
Both Buckleys possessed such a high degree of musicality that sounding
like them is no great sin. O'Donnell is already a polished,
sophisticated melodic talent.
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