At times sounding a bit bluesy, there are other moments that echo New Riders of the Purple Sage. Not that there is anything wrong with this approach. Its just kinda like time has stood still for this band. And although the problems we face today are still the same- with different names, it is certainly refreshing in our Paris Hiltonize society to hear that somebody still gives a damn and is willing to be a voice for our society’s woes.
Blessed with a unique writing style, this artist knows what he wants to say. Let’s Go To Mars, The Great Judgment, Friendly Rock are a few of the titles on the disc. And even if his music reminds us of the past, Lenny Solomon has a contemporary vocal style. I give him many kudos’ for remaining true to his particular vision and using his musical gifts for a platform for those of us who are overwhelmed with the state of this planet.
This will not be a record for everyone. It is certainly not a commercial project. But I know there are those folks out there that are unwilling to surrender their grip on the musical past. I even think college radio might find a few gems on this to play to those who are open to any kind of music. Either way….take a Saturday morning spin and give it a listen. Who knows, you might be inspired to start volunteering for something
Lenny Solomon Band - Maybe Today - CD (Solomon Band) This disc really surprised me. Looking at the cover I expected a blues band that had been relegated to playing bars for a few decades and finally decided to make a CD. (This has been the case way too many times). How mistaken I was, the Lenny Solomon Band are a really tight and talented folk rock band. Lenny has a knack for lyrics and writing a guitar riff that draws a listener in. The lead track started off slow and I wasn't expecting much until I heard the title track "Maybe Today". This song sounded like any great folk song written in the early '70s, at once familiar and emotionally connecting. A few songs get a bit too far into country territory for my tastes, but that is typical of the genre. One of the best songs is the hilarious "Let's Go To Mar's" sung from the point of view of Georgie Bush. Most of the other songs are introspective in nature and very well thought out. A wonderful release from a band that really deserves a close listen. -- (2007)
I had the great pleasure of making the musical acquaintance of Massachusetts-based Lenny Solomon with his “Global Warming Blues” entry on the 2005 Songs for a Better Planet compilation disc, produced by Toronto festival director and musician Brian Gladstone.
Although Mr. Solomon has a penchant for creating solid blues music with a lyrical social conscience, Maybe Today (2007) is a multi-flavoured, 14-song collection encompassing dreamily reflective folk ballads (“Maybe Today” and “Why”), dance-friendly country shuffles (“Spare Change, “Friendly Rock”), upbeat soft-rock melodies and rhythms (“When No One’s On the Run”, “Island of Misplaced Souls”) and fusions with a Dylan-like blues foundation (e.g. “It’s Snowing”). The mellow “Other Side of the Street” has a Tom Petty/Neil Young influence to it, and speaking of the latter, Mr. Young included Lenny’s “Let’s Go to Mars” track from this CD on his Living with War Today “Songs of the Times” website listing. It was #2 on the now-2000-plus songlist in September/07.
The fully competent Lenny Solomon Band is comprised of Lenny on lead vocal, guitar and harmonica, Don Barry on bass and vocals, Dennis Gurgul on drums and Bill Gibbs on lead guitar and vocals. Maria Breen and Leah McKinnon-Howe provide extra vocals on the aforementioned “Let’s Go to Mars”. These players are all experienced veterans who have gained the wisdom of playing music as a team rather than trying to outdo each other with their individual talents. This naturally leads to a thoroughly pleasant listening experience.
There are numerous songs that encourage repeated listens, particularly “The Flood”, a gentle but powerful ballad that features both electric and acoustic guitar-picking. The world-weary "It’s Snowing” and “Maybe Today” (the title track) are also favourites of mine.
Overall, the CD has a country-rock feel to it (with just a slight vocal twang) and an intellectual edge, to boot, so if that’s your musical preference, you’ll love this recording, particularly “Nashville Star” and the closing, live-off-the-floor “Players in the Band” (care of bassist Don Barry).
To read about the Lenny Solomon Band's interesting musical background, visit their website at www.solomonband.com.
For Lenny Solomon, writing and playing music is as much a part of who he is as it is what he does. But it is only a part, because during the 80s and 90s, he turned his back on live performing to raise a family and to work in environmental research at Harvard University. However the lure of country music was too strong and, with the family now grown, he ended his self-imposed exile in 1997 and formed Solomon, Maybe Today is the band's fourth release.
As a consequence of a life outside of music Maybe Today is a fully rounded and well adjusted album, the songs and ideas behind them have been matured in reality and while he isn't short of opinions, they knit perfectly with some good old fashioned country rhythms and melodies. Even if you weren't aware before, it would quickly become apparent that this not a band in the first flush of youth. There is a measured, solid confidence about the way songs like The Other Side Of The Street are played, this is an album to be savoured and enjoyed at leisure.
Maybe Today is a pleasing mix of traditional country, the gutsy and the quirky. It's Snowin is not a title you'd expect to see on an album of country blues but Solomon uses it to display a sense of humour equal to his talent. If the blues has a presentational problem, it's that it can seem a little serious, musicians like Lenny Solomon prick the bubble. Island of Misplaced Souls, Nashville Star, Rockabilly Kid, Spare Change and Players In The Band represent the traditional wing of the Lenny Solomon Band. All would sound right at home at the Grand Ol' Opry and while they are great fun, a formula is still a formula and the Lenny Solomon Band has enough about it to avoid being stylized.
The best comes with the songs that fill the cracks in the country pavement. Lets Go To Mars is possibly one of the most original anti-war songs for many a year and it is joined by The Flood, Maybe Today and Other Side Of The Street in showing a more complex side to Lenny Solomon. As you'd expect, Lenny Solomon has strong held opinions and he uses his talent to express them subtlely but succinctly. As he stirs the conscience about the planet, Hurricane Katrina, love and loneliness he makes you care about the songs, not because you should, but because what they have to say should be listened to.
Lenny Solomon emerges from Maybe Today as a bit of an enigma. He is much more than simply the entertaining frontman and songwriter of a honky tonk country band but just how much more isn't clear from Maybe Today.
I'm not the type of reviewer who finds it tasteful or necessary to use the name and style of some well known artist to describe a less widely known independent artist or band. So, I'm not going tell you that Lenny Solomon's new CD, Maybe Today, is like a cross between Bob Dylan and Jimmy Buffett. For one thing, Solomon actually can carry a tune and he's much better at playing the harmonica than a certain iconic folk master from the 1960's. Yet, the pleasantly nasal edge of Solomon's voice is in fact Dylan-ish and his "devil may care", "lets go to mars" humor is reminiscent of you know who's social and civil detachment.
This fourteen song recording cycles between Solomon's bluesy and almost outrageous humor found in songs such as the opening tune, "It's Snowin" to darkly rich and emotive tunes like the title song, "Maybe Today." The dramatic swings in the sound and feel of this project give it an eclectic appeal and the resulting contrasts serve to augment the impact of Solomon's poetry and harmonic style.
In spite of the playfully up beat songs such as "Island of Misplaced Souls" and "Friendly Rock, Friendly Tree", this is a blues album through and through.
There is a resounding wisdom that comes across in Solomon's songwriting that speaks of lessons learned amid trial and triumph, disappointment and elation. Interesting aspects of this CD include its straight forwardly traditional instrumentation and musicianship. Just before the project becomes too "country" , or too "folksy", or too anything, Solomon's wailing blues harmonic enters the mix adding yet another dimension of sound.
There are significant social statements made throughout the album. For instance, "The Great Judgment" offers up a "ripped from today's headlines" outcry with lines such as, "bosses are paid, but your pension's bankrupt", and "save yourself but you forget the sea of people left is right the Right has left.".
Solomon's band includes Don Barry on bass and vocals, Dennis Gurgul on drums and Bill Gibbs on lead guitar and vocals. Solomon sings, plays guitar and harmonica. All of the songs are written by Solomon. Although the individual performances on the CD are well done and without flaw, there is nothing that stands out as particularly outstanding or stellar.
However, listeners will appreciate the transcendent effect of this music and will find that contemplative songs like "Maybe Today" and "The Flood" will haunt them and compel them to return again and again to listen to what Solomon has to say. I recommend this CD to you. You will be glad you added it to your collection. Check it out at: http://www.solomonband.com
Lenny Solomon is a product of the 1960s, when he performed regularly in Cambridge before taking a break to raise a family. He continued to write during that period, and so had a vast repertoire of self-penned material when he re-emerged in the 1990s with his own band.
This collection defies being pigeonholed. There are echoes of folk, bits of country, snippets of pop and strains of blues on offer over 14 tracks. He opens in upbeat fashion, telling us that "It's Snowing" before taking it down a bit for a more thoughtful "Maybe Today," the title track. If you want to lift your spirits, give a listen to "Island of Misplaced Souls." "Friendly Rock" is another up-tempo piece worth giving your attention to.
Not that this is a light-hearted album. He also tackles the darker side. This is done to great effect on "The Great Judgement" and "Other Side of the Street." As if to demonstrate his versatility, he launches into a beautifully written and performed ballad that sounds timeless on "Why." One of the songs that I particularly enjoyed is "Lets Go to Mars." It is a song about forgetting about all the troubles besetting us today, from wars to rising prices. Solomon recalls the tragedy of Katrina with a moving song called "The Flood." It brings us into the reality of how it must have felt to experience that horror.
He lightens things as we approach the final chords of this album. He sings of dealing with life's hard times and playing in a band -- not that either sentiment is connected or separate. Solomon has a knack for writing good lyrics worth listening to and delivering them with a good tune, whether it be lively or sad.
For a part that's the band's input - with a nice loose drummer who gives a song like Nashville Star exactly the right loose swing. The songs talk,amongst other things, about losers - the musician in Nashville Star that signed on the dotted line, but ends up playing for nickels instead of becoming famous, but also the lonely soul who longs for the other side of the street. There are love songs, a song on snow, a song about making music with friends and why that's so much fun, but there's also a very critical song, Let's Go To Mars, that perfectly captures the cynicism of the Bushgang: "we're done playing in Iraq and Afghanistan, come on, let's go to Mars, then the whining about pollution will stop."
The whole band is great, but the singing and the harmony singing are great too. Solomon has a pleasant, slightly gritty voice. The harmony is never too tight, and always just right for the song. And the songs are all great. Good lyrics, but also some beautiful, catchy melodies that stay with you. When we don't play the cd we're likely to be heard singing the songs. From Let's Go To Mars to the beautiful, Island Of Misplaced Souls where Solomon sings solo as well as harmony.
As always this one can be bought from Lenny directly. Tell him I sent you.It's cheap and you get yourself a highly recommended album, an hours worth of great music.
I'm taken back to another time and place. The music of Bill Gibbs, Dennis Gurgul, and Lenny Solomon harks back to a time so long ago that country music was still called folk, or western, or perhaps hillbilly. It’s old-time music that manages somehow to not be old-timey, generating instead a timeless quality. Lenny Solomon’'s vocals remind me most of John Prine, as does his writing, but there are also elements of the old country and western singers like Merle Travis, Stonewall Jackson, Roy Acuff or Doc Watson.
These songs tell stories. Some reach inside the narrator, pulling out something very personal and making it so universal that any listener can understand. It'’s these songs that most remind me of Prine’s writing. Others feature a more direct style of storytelling that brings to mind artists like Tom T. Hall and a whole tradition of country storytellers before him. In each song, Solomon’s gentle, raspy voice carries just the right degree of emotion to bring his story into the listener’s real world. One is reminded of songs like Hall’s “Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine” or “Faster Horses.”
Some of the songs on this release lean toward rock and roll or jazz or pop styles, but they never really lose their old time country flavour. One song especially seems to break the mold. "Firefly” rolls along slow, with soulful electric guitar underscoring Solomon'’s equally soulful vocal. While the country flavour is still present, the overall feel is more like lazy Southern Rock. As I hear this song, I’'m reminded ever so much of The Marshall Tucker Band’s “Can’t You See.”
For the most part, the songs on Not Life Threatening range from the gentleness of a Motel 6 commercial through what I tend to call “cowboy music” to a sort of light country rock. Over all, on a quick listen, the set is quiet and enjoyable. Paid closer attention, the music and the lyrics show the quality that only a lifetime of craft can add. The music combines interesting elements in sometimes quirky ways and the lyrics are tight and well formed to most effectively tell their stories.
This band is clearly the creature of Lenny Solomon, a folk and country musician with the soul of a poet. This is a very American set of music, reaching musically and lyrically into the diverse roots of American music and bringing them new life.
Drifting as it does across folk, country, and light popular music styles, Not Life Threatening would fit well in any music collection. The songs are comfortable and thought-provoking at the same time, well-suited to play in the background or to be given a close listen.
Those who may be interested can find additional information about the band Solomon at the Solomon Band website. There are clips of all the songs on Not Life Threatening at CD Baby.
Article in the October 27, 2005 issue of the
Middleboro Gazette about our performance at a fundraiser for the victims of the gulf hurricanes.
(excerpt from a review of Songs for a Better Planet)
SONGS FOR A BETTER PLANET – VARIOUS ARTISTS, abetterworld.ca ©2005-
....There were a number of songs here that I was particularly pleased with – the opening track, “Our World”, performed by Kate MacDonald, of Miramichi, New Brunswick, “Global Warming Blues” by Lenny Solomon, of Cambridge, Massachusetts, “Earth Mother” by Beliss (a.k.a. Melissa Underwood), of Portland, Oregon, “Pesticide” by (Ms.) Terry Winchell, of Water Mill, New York, and the funky-reggae “Reverence and Ridicule” by Layah Jane of Toronto, Ontario.....The artists appearing here were selected from hundreds of submissions received from around the world...
Lenny Solomon and his band produced an excellent first CD and, therefore, I was very curious to listen to his second album. It turned out to be a solo performance with Lenny playing all the instruments. The mood was the same as present in “Not life threatening” but something is missing. Call it the magic interaction which sometimes develops when people play music together. That aspect somewhat disappears if all parts are played by one person. Because of this the disc turned into something a bit more “meager”. Summarizing, I was somewhat disappointed and it took a bit of effort to listen to the entire CD without interruption. Nevertheless, I kept playing it again because Lenny, again, wrote a number of beautiful songs and the interpretation certainly cannot be called bad. Lenny plays the guitar very well and possesses a pleasant, slightly hoarse voice and, as mentioned, he writes beautiful songs. That, in my opinion, deserves praise in my review. The songs intrigued me to the point of wanting to ask Solomon a couple of questions to which he responded by e-mail.
To my remark that I found the musical presentation less appealing than that of the first CD, he replied:
His reply to my question whether other artists have performed any of his songs, his response was as follows:
In any case, this makes us look forward to the next CD by Solomon and we want to suggest to everyone interested in a CD full of excellent songs, to order the two albums by Solomon. The guy certainly could use a little push up the mountain and, on top of that, if you order them from him directly, they are dirt-cheap.
I view myself primarily as a songwriter anyway, not as a performer. The songs are what's most important to me. At 60 years old, I know I'm not going to be a teen idol. I've been thinking about my next album and I think it will be more highly produced using other players. Everything in life, however, is a question of tradeoffs. Because “Armando's Pie” is so sparse, it's actually gotten much more airplay than “Not Life Threatening”. Folk shows on college and public radio stations picked it up. I know that if the next album is more produced, it will probably get less airtime because many folk stations won't play it because of the band backup. I then have to try and deal with commercial stations, which I don't have any access to. I will follow the music, however, so whatever I feel sounds best, will be on the disc..
I'd love it if others covered some of my songs but it isn't a simple thing to get that done. To get anyone with a following to do that one needs an agent. An agent is in the business of making money. Since I'm an unknown; no publishing agent would be interested in me. I'm also not much of a self promoter. You have to be so to make any impact. Last Thursday night I tried an experiment with my band. First of all I have to say that every time I see the movie, The Last Waltz, about The Band's last performance, I say to myself that I've got to play rock and roll before I die. The Band is possibly my favorite group of all time. I loved the vibe they created, the way they switched off instruments, and their very basic style. Anyway, I told my bandmates that I wanted to try doing a song that was very laid back and serious, in a style reminiscent of The Band. I chose the song “Not Life Threatening” from the album you liked. I chose that also because the guys really don't like to play that song. Too depressing for them. Anyway, we did it totally differently than the way we recorded it on the album and - by god - it worked. I'm now psyched to try other tunes in that manner. I'm also in the process of hooking up with a bass player who is very talented.”
Much like the bare-bones balladry of Bob Dylan or Jim Croce, Lenny Solomon's simplistic tone transforms the rural Americana sound into beautiful textures that draw on nostalgia and evoke the pioneer. Whether employing wit, lore, or sheer emotion, his music is crafted with rare honesty and power. Songs like "Here With Me" and "Margaret" showcase Solomon's wonderful tell-tale ability.
Lenny Solomon, the lead singer and songwriter behind the Boston-based Solomon Band, takes a break from the group to release a solo recording called Armando's Pie. Armed with an acoustic guitar, a stirring harmonica and a voice that rings of early Dylan, Solomon takes us on a breezy musical journey through satire, love and a bit of history, moving from folk to country and back again. While there are some serious tunes here (most notably, Gettysburg), this is by and large music to gather friends and family around - stuff to make you smile, sigh and sometimes even laugh out loud.
The recording opens with a well-written, rousing tune called Five More Minutes. Featuring some nice work on both harmonica and guitar, the singer begs for five more minutes to plead his case. Armando's Pie, the title cut, is a real gem. It tells the story of Armando, an Italian immigrant who has a special talent for making outstanding pizza pies. Solomon provides a bit of magic by adding the bell-like sound of the glockenspiel to the mix. Solomon adds a rock beat to the tongue-in-cheek warning behind the humor of Global Warning Blues: Solomon's solo outing, Armando's Pie, is a fitting tribute to the songs within as each offers a slice of life. With a voice and guitar style that cover a wide musical range, there is something here for everyone. And...if you get a chance to cross over the Charles River from Boston into Cambridge, do drop in at Armando's and tell them that Lenny sent you.
Glaciers are all melting, the Arctic's turning green
Polar bears have seen their lairs go floating down the stream
Harp seals have changed color, they're no longer white
They're now bronze complected and extremely uptight
Will it be now or later, when we get a clue
Global warming's coming babe, it's gonna get you.
Solomon evokes the sadness and futility of war in his ballad Gettysburg. While the guitar plays out a simple melody, the lyrics tell a story of waste and horror. It's one of the recording's best cuts.
Find a folk singer/songwriter who has been around since the 1960s, and you’ll find a sage with a distinctive style and wit who puts to music vital pieces of Americana. That’s what you'll find in Lenny Solomon. Solomon’s new CD Armando’s Pie offers listeners fourteen songs that feature Solomon’s unusual voice, clean guitar strumming, and soulful harmonica playing, which seem to provide the perfect accompaniment for the experiences, emotions and American culture that he sings about.
In Armando’s Pie, listeners will track with Solomon through cryptic and often humorous social commentary in songs like “Global Warming Blues," “The Vegan Song” and “Life At The Time." As you might expect from a folk singer, Solomon’s music talks about watershed moments in history, as in the song “Gettysburg." Also in the mix are songs like the title track, in which he heralds the virtues not only of the food, but also the ethnicity of his favorite pizza store. Love songs also dot the landscape of Solomon’s song selection. Songs like “One More Night” and “Come Take My Hand” are notable examples that will resonate with anybody who has ever said goodbye to someone they love.
This CD should of course be added to the playlist of everyone who loves folk music, but the message and the appeal of Armando’s Pie is big enough and important enough to earn a spot in every CD collection.
Lenny Solomon is one of the many gifted singer/songwriters currently on the scene. His music has a delicately honed urgency that often reminds me of early Bob Dylan. On the opening track here, 'Five More Minutes' the similarity is marked and I mean that as a compliment to Lenny. He writes and sings on matters that will touch the lives of most people at some time. But he also adds that magic ingredient called humor to some of the tracks. He seems to realize that we all love lyrics with meaning but we do not want to be submerged in causes and earnest pleas.
The title track 'Armando's Pie' appears to be about pizza but he gives us the tale of the immigrant opening his store with a light touch and holds your attention. If an Armando ever opens a pizza store he has a readymade advertisement here. From the newcomer he switches to the long-time resident and brings us south with a smell of magnolia as we meet and hear the tale of 'Margaret'.
The songs are varied and the subjects are wide-ranging. Guess what is being examined with lines like, "He loves to go shopping in his SUV and a fridge as big as Venus, a stove as big as Mars." The track is 'Global Warming Blues '.
One of my favorite tracks is a great country-sounding piece called 'He's a Cowboy'. This brings the rider of the range up to the 21st century but with a sense of respect mingled with the humor. He stays in a country vein and with humor on the beautifully titled 'Jews in Country Music'. This song reminds me of the best of Shel Silverstein with tongue firmly in cheek as he is "looking for a country Lenny Bernstein". My love of the story song and history pointed me directly to 'Gettysburg' and there I found my top track. Here is a song that brings the horror of war on a one to one basis home to the listener.
The 14 tracks on this CD are all excellent and diverse enough to ensure that any listener will find a few that could become favorites. Solomon has the wisdom of that other person of that name. He gives us songs to make us think but never lets the message get in the way of the fact that to transmit any message, the medium must grab and hold our attention.
Lenny was somewhat shocked that somebody in Europe knew his music because, according to him, most people on his street don't even know him. This is no big surprise since Lenny and his band; just called "Solomon," make music, which can be easily overlooked.
The CD reveals that "Fishin'" is not just a lucky shot but that Solomon specializes in this kind of lazy songs,something JJ Cale is also very good at. Lenny himself calls it back porch music and that is pretty much the picture that develops when you listen - a couple of older guys sitting on a small deck behind a house, playing music in a relaxed way. They take their time for each number. "Fishin'", at 4 1/2 minutes, is one of the shorter numbers. Now, don't arrive at the conclusion that this music just rambles on, because it is not. They play in an inspired, relaxed way, but certainly not nonchalant or uninterested. They merely take great pleasure in letting you listen to some songs written by Lenny.
Not all songs are as lighthearted as "Fishin'." The title song "Not Life Threatening" deals with a lady over eighty who suddenly realizes that she is getting older and lonelier and who, in the end, is found by a neighbor after having been dead for three weeks. It is a beautiful, non-dramatic, yet touching song. And then there are more beautiful songs on this disc. Lenny writes beautiful lyrics, composes beautiful melodies, and sings them relaxed for you, on your back porch.
"Solomon is an eclectic Boston-based band
comprised of Lenny Solomon (on lead vocals and acoustic guitar),
Bill Gibbs (on acoustic lead and bass guitar, mandolin and banjo)
and Dennis Gurgul on drums. Lenny Solomon writes all of the songs,
which on Not Life Threatening range over several musical genres,
from country to rock to more traditional folk and pop. What distinguishes
the band is a very tight sound grounded by Solomon's and Gibbs'
guitars, and driven by Gurgul's drums.
The recording opens with the tongue-in-cheek country tune Fishin'.
The melody, powered by the skilled fingers of Bill Gibbs on lap steel
guitar, catches you up in its rhythm and gets you moving.
Lilac Night, on the other end of the musical scale, is soft
and lovely, and dwells on sentimental thoughts and dreams. Slim
Cedrone takes us there with his harmonica, ending this quiet ballad.
Radio Days pokes fun at what Joni Mitchell called the
"starmaking machinery." The singer cuts a tune and sends it to
stations all around the country. It gets some airplay and some
feedback. In the end the singer goes back to his guitar, "trying to
find the formula to write myself a hit."
The sound of the early Sixties is captured in Thoughts of You,
a love song from someone looking back on what could have been. Bill
Gibbs on lead electric guitar is particularly good here.
The recording closes with a moving rendition of a song called
Not Life Threatening. It tells the story of an older woman
who complains of symptoms like loss of appetite and weakening of
the muscles. The doctor tells her to go home and stop complaining -
"it's not life threatening." But, of course, you know the rest of
the story. She begins to grow weaker and fail, and a few weeks later
a neighbor finds her dead in her bed. Does her life matter? Does any
life matter? You bet. And without hope and caring, the symptoms are
life threatening. The tune is well written and ably performed by
Lenny Solomon and the band.
In listening to the Solomon band and their ability to cover all
genres in a distinctly country-rock/folk-rock style, a number of
groups come to mind, but the Grateful Dead most of all. Like the
Dead there is great musicianship here and great fun. But most of
all these guys know how to have fun with the music and approach
it with a little tongue in their cheek, and a twinkle in their eye.
Pick up a copy of Not Life Threatening and enjoy the journey the
music takes you on. You are going to have a great time."
"Solomon is a Boston-based band whose output ranges
from new country through jazz and pop to folk. Not Life Threatening seems
to try to cover all of those genres, and for the most part it succeeds. The
main disadvantage of such a wide range of styles is that very few listeners
are enthralled by all of them. Having said that, I would urge anyone who
likes even one of the genres to give the CD a fair listen. Lenny Solomon
has written all of the tracks and it certainly showcases a writer of ability.
His lyrics range from the light-hearted to the highly critical. His humorous
take on airline travel in "Your Flight has been Cancelled" will strike chords
with everyone who has had that glorious experience of asking the check in
desk attendant about it. "Your flight has just been cancelled, please don't be
annoyed, all I do is work here and your time is null and void." "The Listener"
is a track where the singer sounds like an early Bob Dylan. The theme is
about the problems we all face in life and it is very well written.
"Leaving Town Today" is another track that will feel very real to some
listeners as it recounts the forgotten things that resurface when we need
to move on. The title track is about the tragedy of the lack of good
medical care for people when they grow old. It is told in the tale of the
latter days of an Aunt Matilda and is an indictment of the society that
casts aside those who made that society possible. The church, the medical
profession, the world says they hope they will be as well as her when they
reach old age -- empty words. Solomon is a group to watch and Lenny has a
very succinct way of saying the "home truths" that he wishes to express."
"What a perfect disc for the start of summer -
Solomon offers up a trio of acoustic players, and songs that invite the
listener to drift off and dream about sitting under a tree on a hot day,
while a pitcher of ice cold lemonade sits nearby. I must admit that I
couldn't even concentrate on the lyrics for the first couple of listens,
because I was just swept into the overall sound of the record. The first
song, "Fishin," sets the tone of lush acoustics and soft harmonies that
permeate the disc, carrying through to the beautiful "Lilac Night" and
the laid-back "Firefly." In certain songs, such as "Rode Rage," the band
dips into a bluesy framework, but they never veer too far away from the
basic country roots. Throughout these 11 songs, sounds of banjos and
steel guitars creep in and out, riding off the smooth, perfect vocals of
Lenny Solomon, who at times sounds like a huskier version of Roger McGuinn.
If you�re into mellow country and tasteful playing, then this is the disc
for you.
"Lenny Solomon is the brainchild behind the easy-going slice of Americana
he calls Not Life Threatening. Fusing country, folk, and hillbilly music,
Solomon creates flowing masterpieces filled with colorful imagery and
pristine musicality.
Accompanied by bandmates Bill Gibbs on a host of stringed instruments and
Dennis Gurgul on drums, this capable trio spins wistful tales of life
aimed straight for the heart. Solomon's voice is aged and dusty and
gives his tunes a genuineness not heard in most local projects. His
songwriting is also first-rate as he unveils originals that were penned
from 1997 to 2002.
If you're looking for something a little different and off the beaten path,
you'll thoroughly enjoy Solomon's Not Life Threatening."
"The band�s most recent CD, "Not Life Threatening," features lyrics by
Lenny Solomon. They are well crafted and sometimes reflect the feelings
lurking beneath ordinary experiences...He describes ordinary slices of
life in philosophical terms."
"To be fair it is hard to put the Solomon Band
into a category, they are a little bit Country and little bit Folk and
a little bit Blues...The album has eleven songs and each has to be
enjoyed for their words and music content....As a songwriter, Lenny
must take full marks for writing brilliant lyrics for themes that
are out of the ordinary....The Solomon band has a
talent that is deserving of more notoriety. I recommend you buy this
album, you won't be disappointed."
"Combining elements of folk and blues, Solomon
offers up 11 tracks of guitar jangling tunes. The bluesy aspects add a
groove to the music while the folk guitar-work twinkles along in
the most pleasant of ways, layered upon each other. The
vocals sit right on top of the music, marching each song
forward with a wise and precise delivery of story after story."
"Massachusetts' Solomon (Lenny Solomon, Bill Gibbs & Dennis
Gurgul) combines elements of bluegrass, blues, a little jazz, a little
hot country, and puts it together with fine songwriting on "Not Life
Threatening". While the songs can be funny or wry, they can also
be touching. The title cut, about the lack of quality in medical care
for the aging, and on a deeper level about basic human respect for
those who have been our parents and grandparents, is a fine song
that cuts at the conscience."
..."Rode Rage"... bitter, hard-edged, tough....should be released as a single.
"Your Flight Has Just Been Cancelled"...another hit...good blues beat...the frustrations of
air travel....liked the humor....frequent flyers nightmare song! "Not Life Threatening"....
sad...medical protest song...hard hitting reality. As a summary...lyrics are
spectacular...a hard driving sound...disillusionment touches pain and complexity
of life and the need for answers.
Your songs are certainly fine; you bring all your experience and maturity
to bear with fun and intelligence.
"...listening, I felt like I was in the audience of Saturday Night Live....(Solomon) sounds like a Saturday Night Live kind of group....they also reminded me of the Blues Traveler" - Bob & Mary MIX 106 Charlotte, NC
"Got your CD today. I like it a lot. I can see why you have developed a big local following. I especially like track #1 "Dreams". I'll put it into rotation this week..... I for one, like what I hear." - John Roths, Music Director, KEOS 89.1 FM, College Station, TX
Hi Lenny "Four Shortened is now available for airplay, really enjoy Isolation. Will you do a full CD?"; "Your CD has been getting pretty good airplay" - Steve Scott, WNMC 90.7, Traverse City, MI
I've already received your package... Your music is already on my playlist. All the best. - Nuno Morna, Danïa do Lobo, RPD, Medeira, Portugal
"Lenny - from the CD called Solomon, comes from Cambridge, Mass, where he plays in his folk-rock band called Solomon: An Original Band. I think he's a professor at Harvard in his spare time. His style reminds me of acoustic bands from the late 1960s with country and blues mixed through the carburetor. A folk singer with a band behind him." - Steve Fruitman, CIUT, University of Toronto Radio
"I did get the tape and I really liked the song. I haven't played it yet; but will use it for a special program I am working on. Thanks, Valerie" (about the song "Wounded Knee") - Valerie Cartonio, WMPG 90.9 & 104.2 FM, Portland, ME
"It's unusual these days to go into a club or a
concert hall and find a performer who smiles at the beginning of a
set. Lenny's smile is kind of like the proverbial footsteps of
King Wenceslaus, it warms anyone who sees it. His voice, too, is warm and mellow."
-
UMass Boston Student Newspaper
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| last updated: Tue Nov 27 09:58:07 2007 | solomon_AT_harvard.edu |
