"This singer-songwriter's latest, Beguiler ranks as her best effort to date. Some of her original songs have an epic scope while others are tiny, elegantly illuminated vignettes. Her disarmingly non-histrionic soprano heighten's her performances emotional impact while Brandon Turner's guitar provides some extra dollops of electric energy to the mix."
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Steven Stone, Vintage Guitar
““What's an honest girl doing singing about all these lies? Telling the truth about them, of course, in a voice that is strong and clear, backed by The Beguilers. Will Kimbrough, who produced the record, has taken this very strong cast of players and found just the right combination of instruments for each song, resulting in the impression that each song is recorded just as it should be, nothing missing and nothing extra." ”
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Mando Lines, No Depression
"Easterling takes Beguiler into deep water as she sings about infidelity, morality and urban sprawl, and she won’t write a breakup song without wheedling out the most complex aspects. McGuinn describes Easterling’s sound as “tradition meets youthful exuberance,” but it’s more than just tradition; snappy youth is why Beguiler sparkles. But wizened lyrical depth is what could make it last.
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Jessica Pace, American Songwriter
"Innocence and clarity so fresh as to be dangerous."
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Eric Thom, Maverick
"Easterling’s new Will Kimbrough-produced Beguiler introduces her snappy new band the Beguilers with a — well, beguiling set of catchy, country-rocking songs that stick in your mind."
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Nashville Scene
““Angela Easterling has a golden glowing voice and she writes observant songs about contemporary life. She can weave urban sprawl and cultural shifts into songs as gingerly as love and relationships. She’s taken her very promising career to a new level with her new album Beguiler.” ”
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Craig Havighurst, Music City Roots
"Beguiler is a diverse and spirited re-imagination of the classic country-rock of the early 1970s, the best of which effortlessly blends folk, pop, country, and rock behind the singularly beautiful, lilting vocals and ever-sharpening songwriting prowess of a budding talent."
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Kyle Petersen, Free Times
"Easterling's smart tunes and spunky delivery put her in a category with Americana songbirds such as Tift Merritt and Shelby Lynne."
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Sam McDonald, DailyPress.com
““This is a special act to hit town. Her recent album, Beguiler has a unique blend of grassy-folk and just enough pop to keep ya singing along. Her voice is angelic and her band truly enhances this along with each song’s story. Don’t miss this one, folks.” ”
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Fredericksburg Patch
"Easterling – accompanied by her backing band, The Beguilers – played to a packed house, delivering a fantastic performance. The result was pure musical magic. It wasn’t a show as much as it was an event with some special guests adding to the electric on-stage atmosphere. The Beguilers are always top-notch musicians, but their collective talent seemed to reach extraordinary heights Saturday"
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Spartanburg Herald, Dan Armonaitis
"Angela Easterling is on the road with a new CD–Beguiler, produced by Nashville superstar Will Kimbrough, also features the handy work of Brandon Turner. She’s been hitting the circuit several years now, known for her intense performance of “Helpless” at the 2009 Americana Music Festival. I know you’re feeling a little Americana void in your life right now, here’s some medicine."
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Nashville For Free
"This is Easterling’s first recording with her band, “The Beguilers,” and it’s clear listening to the sample track “Two Clouds” that she’s taking full advantage of the new musical resources she’s been given. The song starts off with guitarist Brandon Turner exhibiting some Steve Cropper style, Blues Brothers-esque ascending notes alongside a soaring organ line, then Easterling’s commanding voice and drummer Jeff Hook’s driving beat propel the song into what becomes a country-tinged summer romp of a track."
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Cameron Powell, Scene SC
"Angela Easterling has the fire in her belly. With songs inspired by Alice Sebold's The Lovely Bones and A.P. Carter's bones, power, corruption, sex, lies, videotape, French microphones, epic floods and plain old human heartache, Angela is creating literate, modern Southern music for the ages."
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Will Kimbrough, Producer
“Angela Easterling is a bright shining star on the country/folk/alt.music horizon! Her gift is so special. I loved listening to her new "Black Top Road" CD! Brought me back to the time the Byrds recorded "Sweetheart of the Rodeo" - tradition meets youthful exuberance!”
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Roger McGuinn (founder of The Byrds)
"Best Political Country Song" - Angela Easterling - "The Picture"-
Daniel Gewertz, Boston Herald, Best of 2009 Music
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Daniel Gewertz, Boston Herald
“Dynamite honky-tonk singer Angela Easterling brings a tough traditionalist sound to ballads and ravers alike on her fine new CD Black Top Road.”
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Philadelphia Inquirer
"If Steve Earle was reborn as a girl, he’d very likely be Angela Easterling. And Blacktop Road is her Guitar Town . She comes surging out of the chute like a spurred bronco, full of sideways kicks, bucking with all the compressed energy of a coiled steel spring."
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Steven Stone, Vintage Guitar Magazine
"BlackTop Road" bears all the hallmarks of a smart songwriter with a sharp eye for both the past and future.
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Craig Havighurst, Music City Roots
“Easterling's mix of "gee-whiz" stage presence and solid songwriting and singing was one of the most rewarding, surprising sets of the weekend.”
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Curtis Lynch, Playgrounds Magazine Review of 2009 Americana Music Festival
“Angela Easterling isn't just one of the finest singer-songwriters in the Upstate, she's also one of the best in the entire Americana field. "BlackTop Road" features everything from Steve Earle-like angst to Gillian Welch-type introspection.”
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Dan Armonaitis, Spartanburg Herald
“Angela Easterling's BlackTop Road is one attractive album. Smartly produced by Will Kimbrough, the set holds originals plus a lovely take on Neil Young's "Helpless". The album's sound is folk-rock, strongly executed throughout.”
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Michael Tearson, Sing Out!
“A pretty voice and poignant songwriter surrounds herself with A-list players and puts out a great alt-country album." Free Times Favorite CD's of 2009 (January 7, 2010)”
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Free Times, Kevin Oliver
“A heartfelt album of personal experience, adding youth to tradition. An intelligent and Introspective writer.”
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Larry Kelly, Maverick UK
"Angela Easterling – Black Top Road - Roots/Rock sweetheart with a folk sense of cultural activism" TwangNation Best CD's of 2009
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TwangNation
“Angela has just about the prettiest voice to come out of the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. While she claims Emmylou Harris as an influence (and wears it quite well), there’s also a spark of youth in her voice more reminiscent of someone with a rock background, like Jenny Lewis.”
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Tug Baker, Free Times Columbia
“Easterling can also knock out an Appalachian rocker that sounds like early Steve Earle, such as the title track from her album BlackTopRoad”
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Tug Baker, Free Times, Columbia
“Easterling is a songwriter who makes listeners feel, think and see.The world can be ugly, but somehow her voice can make anything softer, easier to manage. Harsh stories have beauty. ”
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Otis Taylor, The State (Columbia, SC)
"This is country Roots rediscovered and played the way it was always meant to be played."
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SmartChoiceMusic.com
"Enjoyable from beginning to end. Angela has her finger (and voice) on the pulse of the style."
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Robert Francos, Jersey Beat
"Easterling has created an enchanting brand of neo-traditionalist country that mixes hard-edged honky tonk with fetching ballads. Her voice is a gorgeous instrument."
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Jim McGuinness, Kingsport Times
"She’s a quality, standout artist. Her music just jumps out of the speakers."
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Tommy Joyner (MilkBoy Coffee), King Of Prussia Courier
"Angela's one of my personal new favorites. Her debut album is amazing from the opening track to the last."
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Take Country Back.com
:
http://t.co/Diz2MxoZ - CoCo is fabulous! I left my fuzzy scarf on the floor & she was rolling around playing with it & got wrapped up.
