Ellen Rosner
Count To 3
© 2002 Malleable Music (800911000423)
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Pop Rock at its finest. Vocals like Johnny Cash on estrogen, kick-ass drums, great guitar-work (not wankery) and good solid bass. Throw in the Poi Dog Pondering horns on a few numbers. You have to listen to this.
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A native Chicagoan, singer/songwriter, Ellen Rosner is a popular and dynamic mainstay in the city's most prominent clubs. She captivates, inviting
you to face your own demons, then makes you laugh, dance and sing, sometimes all at once! With a voice as strong as it is versatile, and finely honed guitar skills, the combination is absolutely irresistible. Put her band in the mix and you have a level of performance not often matched, live or otherwise. While she has been compared to Joan Armatrading and Chrissy Hynde, she is unapologetically herself. She has opened for Ms. Armatrading, as well as Janis Ian, Livingston Taylor and disappear fear, among others. A first-rate professional, Ellen performs with authority. She has been the anchor of many projects that have nurtured and showcased the talents of other formidable performers.
Ellen Rosner's pervading sense of self awareness lets her stand outside herself long enough to see the humor. Then there's that voice, which can either grab you by the jugular or soothe you into submission, depending upon her intent. Finally, there's the music, which ranges from bombastic grooves, to soulful, punchy workouts, or sparse acoustic textures. Amid all of this, Rosner holds on to that Midwestern, what-you-see-is-what-you-get, disposition. She sees the value in her unique expression as well. As she puts it, "Nobody else is going to be Ellen Rosner."
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grrlpunk collides with Chris Isaak, comes out better for it
author: Jay VerkuilenI love this disk (and The Perfect Malcontent, too, though it has a different feel). It's tightly written, excellently produced, and performed with conviction, skill, and taste. Ellen has a great sense of humor too, and this makes the material really open in a way that it might not have in the hands of artists either making big political statements or doing messy public psychoanalysis with no care for the listener. As in all CDs there are tracks that light me up more than others. My faves: B-Grade Movie, Month of Sundays, Judas Lips, Empty Bottle, More of the Same. But really all the tracks are worthy. By the way, do not be afraid to CRANK IT! This one is best LOUD, especially in the car. :)
Threes a charm !
author: Laura . Lynch of Kweevak.comEllen Rosner is a talented singer/songwriter supported by quality musicians on a variety of instruments including the cello, violin, mandolin and Dobro as well as traditional rock tools such as the guitar, bass and drums. Polished production is also another plus on this win-win CD. Her songs are a blend of roots rock, blues, and country with a touch of pop. Ellen's music is mult-layered and the different instruments add precision and depth to her songs. Her rhythms are organic and her vocals are clear, concise and passionate. Although unplanned Count To 3 ended up as a theme album about break ups. 'First In A Series' opens with a funky rift that reminds me of a slide guitar, the song has a soft subtle beat. Ellen sings soulfully that "it only takes a moment to undo everything" as she laments later "I don't like it" with mournful instrumentation accenting and shaping this poignant song. "Empty Bottle" is full of powerful fretwork, solid rock beats and Ellen executing dynamic lyrics with emotion and passion. Ellen Rosner is a versatile vocalist who brings candor and zeal to her craft.
3 Stars (of 3)
author: Chicago Sun-times - Jim DerogatisA hardworking mainstay of the local singer-songwriter scene Ellen Rosner's most endearing strength is an overwhelming passion for music-making in general and her own tales of romance and heart-break in particular. At times, her material suffers from being overly obvious (the lyrics to "B-Grade Movie" read like the script to one) [NB Gee, Jim, ya think that mighta been on purpose?...] while her voice can go over the top with the occasional histrionic display. But elsewhere, she hits the perfect balance of poetic vignette and heartfelt emotion, as on "Vacancy," when she enigmatically evokes "Stolen Glances/Whispered Secrets... Empty bottles and lingerie." And she gets first-rate backing from some great Chicago players, including Eric Remschneider and Paul Mertens on strings.
Count to 3...
author: Chicago Music Network, Brian WilliamsonEllen Rosner’s "Count to 3" is a collection of songs that come in many different flavors including rock, country, blues and a bit of funk. The Chicago singer/songwriter has crafted some good songs and surrounded herself with talented musicians. The instrumentation on "Count to 3" is not merely the standard guitar, bass and drums. Also present are the cello, violin, mandolin, accordion, and dobro (to name a few). The music is played tastefully and falls within the context of each song. This multi-instrumental layering works and makes each song a story in itself. Rosner’s vocals are expressive and as deep as her lyrics. Her sense of humor sneaks up on you. My favorite line is in "Action/Reaction" when she tells someone: "You’re sinking in a pile of your own big muddy." I’ve never heard that one before, but you can bet I’ll repeat it sometime soon. On "First in a Series" Rosner tells us: "Although it’s much more than a flesh wound, it’s not enough to kill." There may be a couple of moments where the vocals are a bit too expressive - but she’s got a flesh wound for Pete’s sake! The strengths of this release are the middle tracks, including: "B-Grade Movie", "Month of Sundays" and "Promise After Promise". Any of these songs would fit nicely on WXRT. Tom Valenzano’s guitar work on this CD is outstanding, everyone should have a guitarist like him. Ellen Rosner writes songs that provide atmosphere.
These Shows Should Cure Winter Blues
author: Chicago Tribune, Greg KotWith a big voice, a bigger heart and a test for experimental textures that embroider and occasionally rough up her singer-songwriter confessionals, Rosner at her best comes across as Chicago's answer to Amy Ray, the feistier half of the Indigo Girls. When Rosner lets it roar, she can be formidable as on "Action/Reaction" and "Outside the Box"