EASILY AMUSED: Novice

Easily Amused

Novice

© 2001 KAR Music Group (777215102019)

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Armed with two acoustic guitars and two unique vocals, Easily Amused is Keith and Renee.

tracks

1 Superstar
2 Dollar in the Fountain
3 Social Song
4 Nowhere to Go
5 Maryjane
6 Got Your News
7 Colour Red
8 Blinded
9 This Girl
10 Yellowhead Highway
11 Sunflower Eyes
12 Sliding Doors

notes

Easily Amused is Renée Lamoureux and Keith Macpherson. Graduates of the music hotbed of Winnipeg, Canada (Chantal Kreviazuk, Crash Test Dummies), Easily Amused have been gradually stairstepping towards mainstream recognition since releasing their debut independent CD Novice in 2001. Their lethal combination of searing harmonies and sophisticated, infectious songwriting quickly vaulted them onto national television, with appearances on Canada A.M., Open Mike with Mike Bullard, and Vicki Gabereau.

Two years and almost 400 live performances later, Keith and Renee have garnered Canadian Music Week's award for Best Online Indie Artist and are poised for a much bigger breakthrough with the release of their second CD. Producer and acclaimed musician Creighton Doane took them under his wing, and together they crafted a blistering collection of radio-friendly songs.

Doane artfully harnesses every aspect of Easily Amused's formidable talent and energy, from Renee's powerhouse vocals on the personal ballads "Simple Stuff" and "Only A Girl" to Keith's spirited romp on the irresistible pop nugget "No One's Fool". Other standouts are the instantly hummable "Better That Way" and "Ms Eliot". "Better That Way" distinctively retains the group's acoustic roots within their increasingly edgy pop sound. That may come as a relief to their devout fan base, carved out during 3 years of non-stop touring throughout North America. Easily Amused's passion for performing and endearing, kids-next-door personalities make for a live show that consistently wins over audiences in any setting, including clubs, theatres, and outdoor festivals. Memorable dates included opening stints for the Crash Test Dummies, the North by Northeast Festival, and Canadian Music Week. Their persistent barnstorming of American campuses has landed them a nomination for Best College Duo in the U.S by CampusAwards.com.

It's amazing that with all of the attention the band has attracted, Lamoureux and Macpherson have successfully managed all aspects of this outfit independently for the last three years. "To be able to say that we've gotten this far on our own has been very rewarding," Lamoureux explains. "Being a self-managed group has given us the chance to learn the business side of the music industry, as well as given us a sense of control which has built up our confidence and made us a stronger band."

Introduced to each other through Lamoureux's cousin in 1997, Lamoureux and Macpherson developed a strong friendship, put pen to paper and began writing songs together. After realizing how innate and smooth the unification of their voices was, they soon amassed a collection of songs to perform in coffee houses. Although Lamoureux and Macpherson formed a deep friendship, the duo put their musical collaborations on hold for a year to pursue their education. However, the extraordinary musical connection between Lamoureux and Macpherson was undeniable and they officially began writing and performing together again in 1998 under the moniker Easily Amused.

- More -

The coalescence between Lamoureux and Macpherson continues on the new album. Wading deeper into pop-rock waters than ever before, they leaned heavily on Doane's navigation skills. "Creighton shared the same vision with us right from the start. He has a great sense of creativity. His attitude is very positive and laid back, which made for a comfortable atmosphere during the recording process," Lamoureux says. "He's taught us so much and it was a real privilege to have him as our producer." Cellist Kevin Fox (Holly McNarland?, Sarah Harmer) also contributes to the intricacy of the new album with stunning string arrangements.

Easily Amused is well on its way to becoming a musical force to be reckoned with. The endearing harmonies and tight guitar work have by no means reached a plateau. In fact, the charismatic duo's music is ever evolving and Easily Amused proves there continues to be a place for honest songwriting and musicianship in the music industry. Macpherson remarks, "We are real people, playing real music and have a true honesty in the music we create together."

reviews

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  • Mellow guitar album
    author: Markus

    This CD has some highs and lows but all in all it's a good album. It has a lot of ballads and slow melancholic songs on it but is never depressing. Very good to listen to on rainy cold fall and winter days while you cuddle. Let's wait until summer is over. Definitely pleasant to listen to.

  • great to sing along to!
    author: Melissa O.

    This is an awesome CD. Their voices are so pure. This is a nice CD to sing along to in the car, all while keeping you 'easily amused'! ;)

  • harmonious duo!
    author: stephanie

    Love the harmonies! Love the guitar! Awesome sound - mellow, but happy! Loved it!

  • A flawless beginning!
    author: ghostly_shadows

    This CD is a near perfect jumping off point for Easily Amused. They are a terrific band and this CD is mellow and enjoyable. Take a listen to the sample tracks and realize that the CD is even better than that. You'll never regret having a CD like this in your collection

  • WOW
    author: The Dudley Daily

    This is one of the ten best cd's I have ever heard!

  • subtley superb
    author: Natalie Larson

    The music is so real, from the lyrics to the harmonies to the acoustic guitars. It's unpretentious and lovely without trying too hard. In the words of George Harrison, "it transports you somewhere nice" and is a joy to listen to over and over.

  • absolutely fabulous
    author: Megan Gardiner

    Whether you're looking for mellow background music or something to just sit and contemplate, Novice will provide you with both. With beautiful harmonies and heartfelt lyrics, Novice has quickly become a favorite in my cd collection, and hopefully yours too. It's a keeper!

  • splendid stuff
    author: Alicia Aho

    Inocuously pleasant when used as background music, yet becomes mind-bogglingly, addictively good when actively listened to. Already one of my favorites.

  • This CD is great, I love all of the songs
    author: Josh Cromley

    The CD is great to listen to. After hearing it more and more, the songs still have a lot of meaning and are still full of the love that Easily Amused meant when they wrote the songs initially.

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