JONI LAURENCE: Trashbag Birdie

Joni Laurence

Trashbag Birdie

© 2004 Joni Laurence (783707916828)

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Another girl with a guitar, just like Eleanor Roosevelt was just another radical First Lady and Donna Summers was just another disco queen. Folk music with a kick.

notes

The wagging butt of a tailless dog, a philosophical conversation between a tattered trash bag and a shard of glass, plus all the real-life expressions of love and laughter and hope and heartache that color everyday people's lives. These are the experiences of Trashbag Birdie, the third solo CD by singer-songwriter Joni Laurence, a girl with a guitar who is anything but "just another" girl with a guitar.

While the sound of Joni Laurence certainly has its roots in folk music, Trashbag Birdie veers slightly from the feel of Joni's two previous releases as she explores the boundaries of the folk genre. The fourteen original tracks cover a wide range of styles, from the funk driven electric guitar energy of "Sneak-up" to the irresistible sweetness of "I Love You" to the imaginative storyline and upbeat, foot-tapping tempo of "Trashbag Birdie," which will stick in your head for days after you've heard it only once.

Community radio D.J., Kevin Elliott, WEFT 90.1, has this to say about Trashbag Birdie:

"Trashbag Birdie is one of my favorite CDs of the year. Joni has stirred up an eclectic menu of styles, embellished by a stellar supporting cast. She is in fine voice, with her customary mix of lyrical sensitivity and wit. This is Joni at her best...I really love this CD."

In Joni's performances, the Midwestern roots of a woman born and raised in Illinois clearly show themselves. She tells a few stories, but mostly lets the music speak for itself, which happens effortlessly because of Joni's simple and accessible, while still captivating, performance style. Joni's early influences, audible in her music, include Mary Chapin Carpenter, the Indigo Girls and Nanci Griffith, although her earliest influences were likely her musical parents, who once sang duets on central Illinois' first television variety show, the Possum Holler Opry.

Whatever her influences, Joni has been drawing audiences into her world - and keeping them there - for over 10 years while performing in and around the Midwest at venues such as The Old Town School of Folk, Chicago, IL and the Blue Moon Coffee House, Bloomington, IL. Joni's two previous releases, Short Time (1998) and daphne speaks (2000) have received high praise. The creative songwriter has been a finalist in a number of song writing contests including the Songwriters Association of Washington Song Contest and the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and she has opened for such artists as Carrie Newcomer, John Gorka and Lynn Miles, among others.

In a way, Joni Laurence is indeed "just another" girl with a guitar, just like Eleanor Roosevelt was just another radical First Lady and Donna Summers was just another disco queen. Joni is set apart by her unique and soul-stirring talent for translating the human experience into insightful lyrics and unforgettable music. Ben Omart of the Muse's Muse, in reviewing Short Time is right - Joni Laurence is simply, purely and wonderfully "gifted."

reviews

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  • breath of fresh folk air
    author: debbie

    My favorites on this CD are "Breathing", "Bowl of Rasin Bran", and "I Love You". "Breathing" is a song I listen to when I am alone and want to reconnect with my soul. "Bowl of Rasin Bran" is a song I listen to when I want to smile all over. "I Love You" is a song I listen to when I want to reassure myself that I will find my love of a lifetime, because when I do find love, "I Love You" is what I hope it will feel like!

  • One of the best!
    author: Kim Brooks

    I am not from the Illinois area and it was by chance that I heard Joni's music on a St. Louis radio station. I liked her music immediately! She has a wonderful clear voice and is a superb guitar player. Each song on this CD tells a story. More and More Each Day is a REALLY beautiful love song. Trashbag Birdie has a really great beat. I don't think I could pick a favorite song on this CD because they are all great. You can bet I'll be buying Joni's next CD.

  • Just Plain Fabulous !
    author: Lesley Millar

    Here's an artist who can reach into your heart and mind, pull out your life experience and put it to great music. From toe tapping Trashbag Birdie to the serenade I Love You this CD provides a diversity of musical styles, demonstrates Joni's vocal range and provides just a great CD you can listen to anytime.

  • I have this and daphne Speeks on my favorite list .
    author: Mary Tangora

    I don't think you could ever get tired of hearing Joni's clear clean voice. Both my husband and I have her music on our favorit play list. One cut and you are hooked.1

  • Brilliantly written and played.
    author: Jeffery L. Ford

    I love this CD. My teenage daughter loves this CD. It is one of the few CDs we agree on! The songs are brilliantly written. The musicianship is a breath of fresh air.

  • One of the best CDs I've heard all year!
    author: Clark Danderson

    Trashbag Birdie is one of the best CDs I've listened to this year. On this CD Joni displays her amazing vocal and artistic talents as well as her ability at creating catchy guitar riffs. The songs on Trashbag Birdie range from mellow and folksy to somewhat funk-like. It is a CD that younger and older people can enjoy alike. Every song is a winner! Too bad more mainstream artists don't have her talent.

  • Trahsbag Birdie is a great on (or off) road C.D.
    author: Topper Steinman

    I travel a lot. I'm picky about my on-road C.D. "listens". Trashbag Birdie is always in my car and always gets a listen for my short or long road trips. The variety, the style and the substance keep my ears perked and my eyes wide open - a good thing when driving. I highly recommend Joni and Trashbag Birdie for all occasions and seasons....

  • Great music from a wonderful and friendly lady
    author: John and Monica Gavin

    My wife and I met Joni while camping next to her at a festival in New York and woke up one morning to her beautiful voice. We got a copy of her CD, Trashbag Birdie, put it in as we left the festival and listened through each track several times throughout our 5 hour drive to our home. Every song was entertaining and an obvious personal statement about feelings that Joni has. My favorite was the title song but my wife, Monica, refused to name a favorite since there were 4 or 5 that really struck her on a personal level. We are not professional reviewers (as if you didn't guess that) but we do know what we like and we like this CD. It is fun, serious and an absolute pleasure to listen to.

  • Totally engaging! Certainly not background music.
    author: Ash

    Joni's lyrics demand attention, as each of her songs has a clear message to offer. Joni's lyrics are quite different from the mainstream, they are original... you begin to see everything (from a bowl of raisin bran to a little brown dog) in a new light. The music is well performed, original, interesting, and engaging. I hope that others will love this CD as much as I did! This is one of the gems in my collection of lesser-known performers, and I look forward to enjoying Joni's music on her way down the road.

  • A diverse performer and recording artist
    author: Frances Mai-Ling

    Joni Laurence album "Trashbag Birdie" is a very diverse album. Even though she identifies and promotes herself as Folk, she's much more that one genre. This album encompasses an entire span of style that is composed by this one woman and her guitar. From rockabilly, country rock, funk to classic folk. Even a bit of spanish style rhythm is heard in "Bowl of Raisin Bran." I met this amazing artist and listened to her live, and her album is a wonderful equal to her live performance. Her style is similiar to the current Sarah Harmer. From track one to the Track 14 each song is eloquent and the lyrics are memorable. Environmental songs, love songs, personal tradgedy and world tradgedy its one CD that people need to have in their collection. Key tracks to listen to are: I Love You, Hey Babe, I Will Not Forget, Meet Your Mate ... next to those I recommend all of them.

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