DANNY SCHMIDT: Parables & Primes

Danny Schmidt

Parables & Primes

© 2005 Danny Schmidt (750532944920)

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2005. Danny Schmidt is a writer's writer, in the vein of Townes Van Zandt and Leonard Cohen. And Parables & Primes is the kind of album you envelop yourself in at 2am, half drunk, strangely attuned, and with the lyrics on your lap as you follow along.

tracks

1 This Too Shall Pass
2 Neil Young
3 Dark-Eyed Prince
4 Happy All The Time
5 Riddles & Lies
6 Esmee By The River
7 Stained Glass
8 Ghosts
9 Beggars & Mules
10 A Circus of Clowns
11 Parables & Primes

notes

Sing Out! magazine's review of Parables & Primes
by Rich Warren (see note at bottom)


Danny Schmidt reminds me of why I gravitate towards the singer-songwriter art form. With the gravitational pull of the sun, he is, perhaps the best new songwriter I’ve heard in the last 15 years. Schmidt’s iconoclastic style sets him apart from the crowd, yet if you lean toward the acoustic folk side of singer-songwriters you’ll find him quite accessible.

This self-produced CD lists 15 accompanists, yet the uncluttered production never overwhelms or overshadows the songs. It builds a vortex that swirls you into the songs. Schmidt’s voice is frail yet assertive, self-effacing yet self-confident and easily carries his ideas.

“Stained Glass” is the single most dazzling, dramatic, dynamic and poetic song I’ve heard since Phil Och’s “Crucifixion.” This 6:36 minute long parable tells of the destruction and reconstru

“This Too Shall Pass” is a defiant song for a friend with cancer. Setting an overall tone of sardonic, dark commentary often illuminated with irony, he views the human condition from a variety of angles. “A Circus of Clowns” cleverly, boldly skewers the current Administration.

Schmidt crafts engrossing melodies to carry his novel approach to words. While you may not be able to remember all the lyrics because of the complexity, you may have trouble escaping the tunes. He even weaves in some melodic quotations from traditional folk songs.

I have tried to avoid hyperbole in discussing Parables & Primes. I’ll simply say you must buy this CD. It is the pinnacle of contemporary songwriting.

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Besides writing for Sing Out! magazine, Rich Warren also hosts the nationally syndicated folk radio show, Midnight Special, produced by Chicago's WFMT 98.7FM
http://www.midnightspecial.org

reviews

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  • Parables and Primes
    author: Stacy Hairfield

    The song Neil Young has to be one of the sweetest, sensual songs I've ever heard. Much more than a silly love song, it's real and takes me back to similar moments in my life. Moments that even though we leave that person, the time shared remains a part of us...forever. Well done!

  • This just may be the best CD we've ever heard!
    author: John and Linda Austin

    Don't know where to begin. Every song was wonderful and we can't stop listening! We had heard Danny on the "Laz Spectrum" (Boise State Public Radio) and were blown away by this album. We can't wait to hear him in person.

  • Danny Schmidt is my favorite folk singer.
    author: Jeri Roges

    Danny Schmidt is my favorite folk singer today. If you haven't tuned into his genius on the guitar and lyric, your missing a wonderful opportunity to be charmed by a lst class artist. A real poet!

  • A Brilliant Poet!!!
    author: Craig Sonnenfeld

    Danny Schmidt deserves all of the accolades that he has received from critics, dj's and other songwriters. He is hands-down one of the best singer-songwriters I have ever heard. The songs on this cd will stay with you for many years to come. 'Stained Glass' is an absolute masterpiece about which contains the story line about an elderly craftsman repairing a stained-glass window in a church that his deceased son had created, but it's also about so much more and I think every listener will have his/her own interpretation; exactly the kind of writing that makes a song a classic.

  • BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR! A MASTERPIECE!!!!!!!
    author: remo (civitavecchia-italy)

    BUY THIS CD NOW! Danny is a POET, a GENIUS. This is a MASTERPIECE. The ALBUM OF THE YEAR! All Danny's music is beautiful, so buy all his albums and start from this one! Wherever you are, Danny, thank you for your voice and your words!

  • Beautiful!
    author: Karen Wright

    I saw Danny Schmidt live, he was supporting Kathryn Williams, he performed some of the tracks from his album and was completely spellbinding.

  • A must buy- unique and wholly delicious
    author: LindseyM

    Danny is one of the most talented artists out there... and with this CD, he has beaten himself! Colorful, deeply woven stories will take you to a magical place- moody... celebratory... His wit, raw talent and ability on the guitar are really unsurpassable. A must buy!!

  • GREAT lyricks....GREAT songs....man i loved this CD
    author: willemjasper@hotmail.com

    Danny....never heard of you before, i saw a review on the dutch site altcountry.nl, it was very good...i listen to the songs thru CD baby, and man i loved it....i get the cd last week and since then its on my cd player all time great lyrics, and beautiful music!!!!!!!!!!!!thanks!!!!!

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