DANIEL GANNAWAY: FINE BY ME

Daniel Gannaway

FINE BY ME

© 1998 Daniel Gannaway (634479017025)

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An intense, raw and personal debut from NZ independent singer/songwriter Daniel Gannaway. A solo acoustic/harmonica laced somewhere - between Tim Buckley, Joni Mitchell and Eddie Vedder. Bold, bare and honest.

notes

Daniel Gannaway
FINE BY ME

It was a given that Daniel would turn up in Sydney with a surfboard. He hadn't seen a beach in a few years and we knew he was hanging out to get in the ocean.

The guitar was a surprise. He called her 'Daisy' and it turned out he'd bought her a few months earlier, before leaving New York. With some mumbled words about having only learnt a chord or two, that was the last we heard about the it.

We didn't see much of Daisy, it was a new relationship of a different kind for Daniel and he was keeping it pretty low key. Over the next few months you'd sometimes hear the sound of a guitar being strummed late into the night, but, when asked about what he was playing, it would always be "Oh nothing..."

Finally, one humid Bondi night with the sweet scent of frangipanni hanging in the air, and following a good meal with plenty of wine, Daniel had sufficient confidence to ask us if we minded him playing a few simple tunes. Understated, as always, we should've realized the gravity of what we were about to experience.

Inexplicably, you feel so much whilst seeing Daniel play. So much of his usually quiet, eccentric genius is revealed - a bold, and no doubt very difficult thing for him to do.

The first song he sang us was a wandering tale from New York, called 'Avenues.' The tune quietly blew us away and remains a personal favorite to this day. We all sat in silence, mouths agape, with no awareness of anything else, just our friend, each note, each raw emotion, each lyric - unambiguous yet ethereal prose that any one of us could relate to. Daniel blended his own torment and success together with a passionately overwhelming delivery.

Simple huh? Well, in believing that life is about simple pleasures, whether it be surfing or music, it became a regular thing. A meal would get cooked for a few friends, and Daniel - being broke - would play for his dinner. Our guests would sit back, mellowed out after eating, and enjoy the show. It was on these kind of nights, with everybody singing along to a chorus with smiles and laughs, that someone would notice a new guest silent, completely stunned, as we had once been ourselves. Everyone would fall apart laughing because we'd neglected to even mention Daniel was going to perform. Needless to say, the dinners grew larger and the sets got longer.

'Fine By Me' is an album that contains songs we heard come to light over a Sydney summer. It's one of those albums you can put on and not think about, yet you might find yourself realizing the myriad of different aspects to each track throughout the album's course.

It's a great late-night-after-party album for those who appreciate stripped-down singer/songwriter stuff - hooky in a weird way, with great little stories that pull you in slowly until you know all the words. They're lyrically intense personal political tracks like 'Fine By Me', the sad harmonica-inflected 'Radio songs,' or upbeat love and lost-love songs like 'Daisy' and 'When I Was A Schoolboy.' They're silly, humorous songs like 'Jetwash,' and then there's a song like 'Fireescapes' which seems to read as a straight-up confession of Daniel being scared to step-up and play his songs to people - to be himself - his fear taunting him through the chorus.

The album as a whole reads like a flat-out representation of Daniel facing exactly that fear. He made it for the people encouraging him and freely admits that playing "a few simple tunes" that fateful night was the best thing anyone could have done for him. It's a privilege to have witnessed the start of what is proving to be a humble and prodigious musical journey. His freedom in expressing what all of us are afraid to say is both refreshing and compelling.

On a final note, it should be added that one the quirky and coolest things about 'FINE BY ME' is that you really feel like he's somewhere in the room, strumming away a bunch of songs for you. Then, finally, as the album draws to a close, he yawns and says "Goodnight," and you go off to sleepyland 'with a crash and a boom....'

Rich Freeman

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Albums by kiwi [NZ] indie singer/songwriter Daniel Gannaway:

2008 - JOINED LIKE NOTES
2007 - HEADING FOR COUNTRY
2006 - OP-ED: Environmental / Social / Political
2005 - SUMMER STORM | A collection of ukulele ditties
2004 - darling one year
2002 - BOOTLEGGED AT THE 12 BAR CLUB [released 2006]
2001 - Bound and Suburban
2000 - Bootlegged at the Temple
1999 - flashback*
1998 - FINE BY ME

http://www.cdbaby.com/all/danielgannaway

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More truly independent releases:

2008 - ELECPHONIC: TRIPLEPHONIC
2007 - ELECPHONIC: SOPHOMOREPHONIC
2006 - ELECPHONIC: ELECPHONIC
2004 - kidameln - the kidameln lo-fi

http://www.cdbaby.com/group/trulyindependent

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truly independent has kidameln's debut & Daniel's first 3 albums in the CD Baby $5 Specials!

http://www.cdbaby.com/group/trulyindependent

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truly independent recommends a newly recovered live gem of Daniel:

BOOTLEGGED AT THE 12 BAR CLUB
[11 Songs - Solo Acoustic - London - April 2002]
@ http://www.cdbaby.com/danielgannaway8

Recorded live in an intimate little venue in the centre of London – the 12 Bar Club – Daniel’s vocal range and delicate guitar, sometimes complimented by harmonica, are collected surprisingly well and make for a beautifully meandering compilation.

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OP-ED: Environmental / Social / Political
@ http://www.cdbaby.com/danielgannaway7

"Documenting many of Daniel's previously unrecorded songs of environmental, social and political importance, OP-ED is an inspired compilation of acoustic material on guitar and ukulele - all recorded in Hawaii during February of 2006."

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SUMMER STORM | A collection of ukulele ditties
@ http://www.cdbaby.com/danielgannaway6

"Written and recorded in Hawaii and New Zealand, Summer Storm - Daniel's sixth solo outing - references laidback island life with the ukulele's nylon strings, while wrapping it up in the kind of dynamic folk/indie-rock/electronic feel..."

"...like Gannaway's home country, this music [SUMMER STORM] is an exotic, faraway place in relationship to the rest of the overall modern musical landscape. Nevertheless, these unique Gannaway sounds offer a pleasant getaway" - Indie-Music.

"...The great aspect of the album [SUMMER STORM] is that each song's arrangement maintains a minimalistic nature, which shows a discipline and a depth of understanding on Gannaway's part. Underneath the ukelele, the cruising drums and harmonic supporting bass grooves provide an all around easy and easily recommendable listen..." - NZ Musician Magazine

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darling one year
@ http://www.cdbaby.com/danielgannaway5

"...A perfect blend of lyrics, emotion and rhythm...If your looking for some refreshing new music for the soul, I whole-heartedly recommend darling one year as a must have for your collection." - AllAboutSurf.com

"...Down to earth and laid back, it has none of the musical tension of trying too hard or the injection of false emotions. Suburban folky and bohemian chic, it [darling one year] ties up agreeably layered and distorted vocals into an angst-ridden, quirky pop as catchy as The Strokes but easily as mysteriously engaging as James Keenan Maynard..." - Indie-Music.com

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Daniel's music is available from such online digital providers as: CD Baby; SNOCAP; Mp3tunes; AudioLunchbox; Apple iTunes Music Store; Rhapsody; Napster; BuyMusic; Emusic; Sony Connect...

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CafePress Stores Now Open!

http://www.cafepress.com/danielgannaway
http://www.cafepress.com/kidameln
http://www.cafepress.com/elecphonic
http://www.cafepress.com/trulyindie

reviews

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  • Great album from a great person and it only gets better and better:)
    author: Linda
  • To leave a place where one is supposed to stay
    author: Jason

    Dans lyrics have an affinity to the Wanderer in me. Roaming the globe leaving behind those that are known and loved for no other reason than the need for growth itself. Listening to his music I contemplate and rejoice the experiences, both good and bad along the way.

  • author: Alison Travaglia - CD:Bootlegged @the temple

    A smooth flow of intimate tunes - definate red wine and candles music.Dan has a vulnerable voice you yearn to connect with. Favourite Track: Zebra Crossing; it has a raw energy that gets me everytime. My sanctuary album!

  • music you can relate to.
    author: matty

    the music dan writes and sings plays on all your emotions, great for cruising to. He is very talented, his writing and the use of his voice combine with playful guitar to make a deep, fun, reflective album. It will find a place in anyones collection.

  • Soulful and melodic tunes
    author: Matt

    modern urban folk with soulful thought provoking songs. A fantastic album that has something for everybody, I love it.

  • author: Fran

    His music really makes you think , It is so easy to sit back and really listen to .His Music is real and diffrent amazing voice to go with it and the rest.

  • Food for thought
    author: Jim

    Daniel's harmonious, tender and often powerful voice imparts a strong a moving messages. His music has real spine and his lyrics deliver poigniant reasoning to his songs.

  • Beautiful acoustic melody
    author: Rebecca Bayly

    'Beautiful acoustic melody' are the best three words in describing how I feel about Fine By Me. This album gives you something warm and nice to take away and think about later.

  • blown away.. flashback is great!!
    author: Josh

    after popping this cd into my player its been running non stop while i work!.. great album..

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