Feathermerchants

feathermerchants

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Folk-pop-meets-world-music group the Feathermerchants have crafted an exotic musical atmosphere by inventively combining Eastern European instruments with song arrangements that recall Dead Can Dance. Overlaying a rich tapestry of instruments are the swirling and seductive dual lead vocals of Erin O'Hara and Alison Winston and special guest Moroccan gnawa singer Hassan Hakmoun. The mesh of folk and pop sensibilities gel with "Syracuse," and by "Crazy Girl," with its chiming guitars and vocal performance eerily evocative of Fairport Convention's Sandy Denny, the group hits its stride. With bouzouki and bagpipes complementing the usual rock & roll lineup of bass, drums, and guitar, this mature debut successfully manages to be at once eclectic and cohesive. --Michael Wells

Product Description
Ethereal, female fronted alternative pop with a decidedly Middle Eastern vibe.

Feathermerchants

Feathermerchants,Feathermerchants,Innocent,Indie Rock,Pop,Popular Music,Rock,Rock/Pop

Feathermerchants

Average customer rating:

Cowboy Junkies + Psychadelic Dream Rock = Feathermerchants
SOULFUL AND ENTERTAINING!!
Their best yet; solid start to finish

Last Man on Earth
Feathermerchants
Manufacturer: Innocent 12th St. Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Unarmed Against the Dark
Feathermerchants
Street Theater
The Garden
These Four Walls

ASIN: B000EGD2QY
Release Date: 2006-02-20

Tracks:

Last Man on Earth
Change My Night
Head, to the Here and Now
Finnish Last
Go For a Walk
Hitchcock Blonde
Bindy
Hollow
Under the Milky Way
The Long Goodbye

Product Description

Dark, arty and other worldly. Last Man on Earth is a haunting, swirly, ambient affair that shares a kinship with their February 2000 debut than it does with anything this band has done.

Customer Reviews:

Cowboy Junkies + Psychadelic Dream Rock = Feathermerchants.......2007-02-14

As soon as I heard "Go For a Walk" on a local college station, I was hooked. Immersive, melancholy and surreal -- this disc was made for long drives, overcast days, late nights and headphones.

SOULFUL AND ENTERTAINING!!.......2006-06-26

I HEARD THEM PLAY AT THE NY PUBLIC THEATRE IN THE SPRING OF 2006 - AND THEY ARE LOVELY! I HAVE TWO OF THEIR CDS AND LOVE, LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Their best yet; solid start to finish.......2006-04-10

Anyone remotely intrigued by the darker elements of feathermerchants' last two releases, "Unarmed Against the Dark", and "Street Theater", will be knocked out by "Last Man on Earth". Gone are the occasional upbeat, even danceable tunes like "Temporary", "Heartbreak Beat", and "Best Regards", in favor of songs in the heavier vein of "Ursuline" and "Farmers Night Out". (O.k., I suppose you could waltz to "Hitchcock Blonde" but it would be more than a little weird.) Songwriters Pete Veru and Shannon Kennedy have crafted unresolved short stories of longing, self-doubt, regret, anger, paranoia, and panic. Kennedy plays each part perfectly, her vocals layered over the always excellent feathermerchants rhythms and arrangements, highlighted by Jim Chapdelaine's spacy, ambient, and pervasive Robert Fripp-like guitar work, a new touch that truly sets this album apart from the group's earlier titles. This is one of those increasingly rare records that I can play without reaching for the remote control to skip a track here or there. Whether I'm trying to find some new insight into the fate of the songs' protagonists or just wanting to hear some quality, unique music that's literate *and* has a decent hook, this one's been in very heavy rotation at home, in the car, and at work. Good thing it's not vinyl, or I'd need a new copy already.

Average customer rating:

SEE THEM, HEAR THEM THEN YOU'LL KNOW!!!!!
Pleasant folk-pop
no sophomore slump!
Alluring medoly lines and amazing vocals.
Music that you feel...

Unarmed Against the Dark
Feathermerchants
Manufacturer: Innocent
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Contemporary Folk | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Last Man on Earth
Feathermerchants
Eye To The Telescope

ASIN: B00009LHX8
Release Date: 2003-07-08

Tracks:

All The Way Home
9th Ward
Dan
Temporary
Farmers Night Out
Brooklyn Ferry
Daffodils
Sitting Henry
Reptile Mind
Heartbreak Beat

Customer Reviews:

SEE THEM, HEAR THEM THEN YOU'LL KNOW!!!!!.......2006-06-26

I LOVE THE FEATHERMERCHANTS. AM A BIG FAN OF SHANNON. MOVE OVER NORA JONES.....

LOVE THE SEXINESS OF THE MUSIC.

IF YOU ARE MELLOW, THIS IS FOR YOU!

Pleasant folk-pop.......2004-03-27

Feathermerchants' latest album is one of those pleasant indie albums that you won't really remember too vividly afterwards. With nice vocals, passable songs and a backdrop of indie-folk-pop, "Unarmed Against the Dark" is an enjoyable but unexceptional listen.

Starting off with the soft "All The Way Home," the Feathermerchants blend together downtempo folky songs (the pensive "9th Ward," the downbeat "Dan" and "Reptile Mind") with vaguely poppy tunes (catchy "Daffodils"). From time to time they break out of the folk-pop mold with the vaguely gothic ballads (prayerlike "Ursuline") and a few dashes of country.

"Unarmed Against the Dark" is a nice album. Not a great album, but a nice one. It mixes a few genres and tosses in some poetry, sung with sweet vocals and with some decent background accompaniment. Except for the lead singer, there isn't anything that really stands out about Feathermerchants -- it's all okay, but not great.

The biggest musical weakness of "Unarmed" is that most of the songs sound more or less the same. The tunes are somewhat different, but they're almost all downtempo arrangements of guitar and percussion, with a dash of bass and bouzouki. For that matter, the guitar and drums aren't that original-sounding; they're capable, but not really noticeable for anything too good.

Shannon Kennedy's voice is the strongest part of Feathermerchants: assured, melodious and capable of holding up through every song. Those songs themselves tend to be quite evocative and poetic. At times the poetry stumbles in a big way ("I've come to talk before your nails get too long..."), and becomes too repetitive (the pointless "Temporary like a..." lines). But the lyrical sweetness of "Dan" and "Heartbreak Beat" make up for those.

Feathermerchants' "Unarmed Against the Dark" isn't terribly varied or unusual, but is worth a listen if pop-folk is your thing. It lacks in texture, but is still a pretty listen.

no sophomore slump!.......2003-11-19

I got the chance to see Feathermerchants live a few years ago and I've been a fan ever since. Their music is refreshing, and their live show is awesome.
The new CD is no disappointment, I was amazed from the first listen. Be sure to give it a listen, it's like nothing else you've heard, and their sound is unique compared to what is out there currently. Two thumbs up!

Alluring medoly lines and amazing vocals........2003-09-23

A great new sound with neat bass lines and an awesome female vocalist. My favorite is "Daffodils" - great lyrics! I saw them once in Hartford Connecticut and they are a captivating live performance. One can't be disappointed!

Music that you feel..........2003-09-23

Wow, if you have any shred of emotion in you, you have to listen to this cd... this is not music that you hear-this is music that you feel. How do you define this music? Complex in thought & style - simple in heart. Between the lyrics, variety of instruments and a beautiful voice, there is always something new to hear. I first got this cd because it sounded like something different and new, and amazingly, it has grown to be so much more. The unique sound brought me in, the lyrics capture me...

Average customer rating:

Street Theater

Manufacturer: Innocent 12th St. Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Last Man on Earth

ASIN: B0001Z82JU
Release Date: 2004-04-12

Tracks:

Ursuline(words & music by J. Peckman, from the album Unarmed Against the Dark)
Ursuline Dance(remix by Nick Forte)
Ursuline Chaos(remix by Nick Forte)
Farmers Night Out(Shannon Kennedy vocals)
Best Regards(Shannon Kennedy vocals, remix by Jim Chapdelaine and Pete Veru)
Ludlow St.(Acoustic)
Bonus Video "Dan" from the album Unarmed Against the Dark

Average customer rating:

Where's the Other Singer?
Where's the Other Singer?
Feathermerchants breathe new life into music world
Feathermerchants or bust!
Cowboy Junkies Redux

Feathermerchants
Feathermerchants
Manufacturer: Innocent
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

Contemporary Folk | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Unarmed Against the Dark
Last Man on Earth

ASIN: B000034D5W
Release Date: 1999-11-01

Tracks:

Ludlow St.
Runaway
Water and Dreams
All Shook Up
Black Dog Smile
Jazz America
Syracuse
Best Regards
Confusion
Crazy Girl
The Poet
Strange

Amazon.com

Folk-pop-meets-world-music group the Feathermerchants have crafted an exotic musical atmosphere by inventively combining Eastern European instruments with song arrangements that recall Dead Can Dance. Overlaying a rich tapestry of instruments are the swirling and seductive dual lead vocals of Erin O'Hara and Alison Winston and special guest Moroccan gnawa singer Hassan Hakmoun. The mesh of folk and pop sensibilities gel with "Syracuse," and by "Crazy Girl," with its chiming guitars and vocal performance eerily evocative of Fairport Convention's Sandy Denny, the group hits its stride. With bouzouki and bagpipes complementing the usual rock & roll lineup of bass, drums, and guitar, this mature debut successfully manages to be at once eclectic and cohesive. --Michael Wells

Album Description

Ethereal, female fronted alternative pop with a decidedly Middle Eastern vibe.

Customer Reviews:

Where's the Other Singer?.......2000-08-29

saw this band live in Boston & couldn't help but notice that the lead singer was different than the one on the album! Erin was good on some things, but she didn't sing any of Alison Winston's songs nearly as well as Alison did. There was no explanation of illness or anything & I felt kind of deceived. Did anyone else notice this? The CD is a good one, but I didn't like them live.

Where's the Other Singer?.......2000-08-29

Feathermerchants breathe new life into music world.......2000-06-08

Too many bands sound similar in today's music world. You turn on the radio only to hear the same bubblegum pop or yet another "alternative" song. But thanks to the Feathermerchants' unique sound, such will not be the case for long. What makes them so amazing is their use of a Greek bazouki, coupled with Erin O'Hara's angelic voice. The notes simply float. "Best Regards" is my favorite track; once you play it, you cannot get the tune out of your system. A must have CD for your collection, and if you have the privledge, see them live!

Feathermerchants or bust!.......2000-06-08

I recently had the opportunity to check out Feathermerchants live in Boston at the Lizard Lounge....as well as a live in-studio radio performance (WXRV in Boston) .... words cannot explain how awesome this band is! They put on an amazing show, and they are all great people, to boot! I urge you to run, not walk, to your local music store and pick up their CD! You won't be disappointed. They have such a unique sound, its hard to even pinpoint a particular artist to compare them with. This band is here to stay! Come back to Boston soon! :o)

Cowboy Junkies Redux.......2000-03-19

If you like the Cowboy Junkies, as I do, you'll probably enjoy this group. I bought this disk because of the promised Middle Eastern influence, but it is so far in the background as to be barely audible.

As with the Cowboy Junkies, the lead singers (apparently there are two) are so strong that it is difficult to listen to all twelve cuts at one sitting -- they soon become monotonous. On the other hand, all of the cuts are good standing by themselves.

Judging from the reviews posted by other listeners, this may be one of those bands that is great in concert but is not a studio band. Having not been to one of their concerts, I wouldn't know.

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