COURTNEY COLLINS: Violet Night

Courtney Collins

Violet Night

© 2006 Maypole Records (801655125328)

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An eclectic mix of indie pop/rock, electronica, and lounge with sultry female vocals in the vein of Feist, Fiona Apple, Rilo Kiley, and Regina Spektor. Featuring members of Andrew Bird, Fog, Happy Apple, and Mark Mallman.

tracks

1 Cry Me A River
2 Off Ramp
3 I Want You To Want Me
4 Thirteen Men
5 Don't Forget
6 Al Di La
7 Used To
8 Roseability
9 Away From Me
10 So In Love
11 La Isla Bonita
12 Anthems

notes

Courtney Collins is a musician/songwriter based in Madison, Wisconsin, "whose sultry, expressive voice would sound great singing just about anything," according to The Onion. She's also the sometimes vocalist for electronica band Voltress and previously sang in the now defunct power pop band Arena Venus. She released her first solo CD, Violet Night, in the spring of 2006. Violet Night is a varied mix of indie pop, lounge, and electronica, with both original songs and eclectic covers. She brings out the classic "Cry Me A River" in a modern style, takes Cheap Trick's arena rock anthem "I Want You To Want Me" and turns it into a melancholy western-inflected dirge, and puts an electronic spin on Idlewild's "Roseability." Other surprising covers and pop and electronica-infused originals round out the disc. Recorded in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with Andrew Thomas and Jeremy Ylvisaker (Andrew Bird, Fog, Eyedea, Mark Mallman), the album features members of Andrew Bird, Fog, Happy Apple, Redstart, Tarlton, The Fantastic Merlins, and others. Courtney is also the producer of "Chad Vader," a successful comedic video series that has been featured on Good Morning America, VH1, in the New York Times, and has over 30 million downloads online. "So In Love" from Violet Night was featured in episode 3, and Courtney lends vocals to the final episode of season 1.

CDs by ARENA VENUS, Courtney's former band, are also available on CD Baby. Check out the Christmas lounge CD and the power pop EP at:
http://cdbaby.com/all/arenavenus

CDs by VOLTRESS, Courtney's other band, are available at this link: http://cdbaby.com/cd/voltress


"...Courtney Collins, whose sultry and expressive voice
would sound great singing just about anything."
- The Onion

"Thirteen Men" is a vampish-sounding bass-heavy delight.
Collins’ temptress tones are at their best. "Used To" an original,
resembles Blondie in their punk pop glory. Collins is both a
gifted interpreter and a good songwriter in her own right.
- Anna Maria Stjarnell, Collected Sounds

" An amazing, sultry voice."
- Saara Myrene Raappana, Actionman Magazine

"All in all, a pretty remarkable solo debut."
- Tom Laskin, Isthmus

"Courtney Collins’s seductive vocal style meshes with a surprising range of musical genres from lounge to tear-in-your-beer to Blondie-ish punk. A mix of original and cover songs, my favorites are “Used to” and the unexpected takes on “I Want You to Want Me” and “La Isla Bonita.”
- Mel Goldsipe, Go Girls Music

"The eclectic ability of Courtney Collins to adapt to a style is uncanny. Violet Night is an excellent recording that should be sought out by all musical thrill-seekers and by those who appreciate the injection of some mystery into their rock. Courtney Collins is Madison's Marianne Faithfull"
-Rick Tvedt, Rick's Cafe

reviews

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  • Tingle
    author: Terry Jones

    Such well-stated descriptions already.All I can add,is that the cd's subtle production allows the dynamics of the songs to reveal more emotion with each re-play.It doesn't wear it's welcome out.A mature gift from such a young talent happens so rarely in these days of "pop tarts".Brilliant!

  • More than enjoyable
    author: Robert M

    Just listening to the samples I like her style. Reminds me of Heather Duby. If you like either one check out the other.

  • intoxicating!
    author: David Ross, Madison, WI

    A voice like a chocolate-cherry martini--rich, scrumptious, and intoxicating.

  • All in all, a pretty remarkable solo debut.
    author: Tom Laskin, Isthmus

    Local singer Courtney Collins' first solo CD starts out strong with a languorous, electronically shaded version of "Cry Me a River" that brings a different kind of heat to the torchy Julie London hit. After a pause for the clattery indie-rock of "Off Ramp," Collins (formerly of Arena Venus, currently with Voltress) underscores her talent for remaking familiar material with an agonizingly slow, country-inflected take on Cheap Trick's "I Want You to Want Me" that could make a big impression on college radio. She sticks with the gray-toned palette on an ennui-ridden cover of Ann-Margret's "Thirteen Men." The pert pop original "Don't Forget" ups the energy level with a sprightly, clipped vocal and a Queen-inspired guitar hook that refers to classic rock without falling victim to it. All in all, a pretty remarkable solo debut.

  • Collins is both a gifted interpreter and a good songwriter in her own right.
    author: Anna Maria Stjarnell, Collected Sounds and Lunakafe

    Courtney Collins’ cover-heavy solo debut is still pretty original. The sultry-voiced singer starts with “Cry Me a River” in a jazzy version. Her own “Off ramp” is energetic rock with a memorable chorus. “Thirteen Men” is a vampish-sounding bass-heavy delight. Collins’ temptress tones are at their best. “Used To” an original, resembles Blondie in their punk pop glory. The version of Madonna’s “La isla Bonita” breathes new life into the song and adds a likeable vulnerability. Collins is both a gifted interpreter and a good songwriter in her own right.

  • amazing
    author: Saara Myrene Raappana, Actionman Magazine

    An amazing, sultry voice.

  • brassy, sultry voice
    author: Rob Thomas, The Capital Times

    Courtney Collins' brassy, sultry voice is perfectly suited to classics.

  • silky voice
    author: Kenneth Burns, Isthmus

    ...Courtney Collins' silky voice, which sounds especially good when she is singing a cappella...

  • dreamy voice creates a playful mood
    author: Amanda Gaze, Rick's Cafe

    Courtney creates music that crosses genres and demonstrates her singular character and style. She is a perceptive observer whose dreamy voice creates a playful mood.

  • steals the show
    author: Carol Swanson, Christmas Reviews

    Collins' sultry voice steals the show. She occupies the lower registers with sensual flair, sometimes exuding a jazzy, torch singer approach, and other times presenting a more mellow, low-key sensibility.

  • sultry and expressive voice
    author: The Onion

    ...Courtney Collins, whose sultry and expressive voice would sound great singing just about anything.

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