Review: 'Because We Can' Steve Lee Rich Sandy A

Subject: Review: 'Because We Can' Steve Lee Rich Sandy A
From: alanabit
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 09:25 AM

I hesitate to say a bad word about the work of a man who has been so generous and supportive of my own work. Fortunately, for the most part, I do not need to here. I did not like everything on "Because We Can", the new album by Sandy Andina and Steve Lee Rich, but there is much to recommend it.
They are essentially a live duo. Indeed some of the cuts are recorded live. Steve and Sandy harmonise well, without overdoing it and Steve's fine guitar picking and rhythmic shifts give it all a bit more backbone. The upright bass of Doug Hamilton is pleasantly supportive and there is some fluent fiddle playing by Julia McConahay, which gives it texture, without ever distracting from the duo.
After the light hearted opener, the Jerome Kern/Dorothy Fields "A Fine Romance", comes a dark ballad, "Time Has No Mercy" by Steve. It tells of a man forced into becoming a drifter in his middle age. It is one of his best songs.
Sandy is back for, "Because We Can", which is about a fantasy of revenge on those who avoid responsibility for their actions by hiding behind litigation and bureaucracy. She is also on "Shira", her strongest song on the album. It gets inside the head of an Israeli border guard, who is compelled to risk his life in front of people, to whom he bears no malice.
The story of "The Conman" moves along pacily, with understated backing vocals and strong guitar playing from Steve.
"Mudball", sung and played solo by Steve, sounds like the real thing. It is a essentially a blues about a character losing his self respect. It is one of the most disturbing songs on the album, which is why I like it.
"Safe Home" is simply ghastly. It is the nicest song ever written about soldiers at war. It is careful not to offend Republicans, Democrats, peaceniks, social workers or probably even Dick Cheney's cat. Everyone wants "our boys" back home safe and well and nobody can possibly disagree with such a wholesome sentiment. My teeth still hurt.
"My Grandfather's Clock", well performed by Steve, is a wicked parody of the old folk song about Grandad overstraining his pacemaker. It is written by Sandy and provides comforting proof that she, at least, still has teeth.
"Orange and Pink Prairie Sky" is a cheerful song, pleasantly performed. It could possibly be picked up by a pop/country singer, and reach an MOR audience.
"Buddy I'm Just Sick To Death Of Christmas" may have an easy target –the commercialism of the festival – but the zest of the writing and performance make it a classy tour de force by Steve:
"They make no apologies for overpriced anthologies of loud, obnoxious children singing carols.
When it's on it's just about time to get my shotgun out and let the TV have it with both barrels."
Tom Lehrer would have been proud of that. Regrettably, it is followed by, "Season of Hope", a song about about Hannuka/Christmas, which is so full kindness, charity and good will that I immediately ran outside and shot three traffic wardens.
The album closes with the cheerful gospel sound of, "You Can't Do It All On 'Your Own".
So that's it. The album is full of good singing, good playing and mainly optimistic songs. Andina and Rich are showing cool heads and big hearts. There are just times when I would like to see them show their teeth a bit more. The only way you can offend no one is by not really saying anything. That would be a shame, because I think they have plenty more to say.

Subject: RE: Review: 'Because We Can' Steve Lee Rich Sandy A
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 03 Jan 06 - 08:24 PM

"...I immediately ran outside and shot three traffic wardens."
Only three?

    It's obvious that you have a knack for prose as well as lyrics. Thank you for the honest (and entertaining) review.

Stephen Lee

Subject: RE: Review: 'Because We Can' Steve Lee Rich Sandy A
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 08:52 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Review: 'Because We Can' Steve Lee Rich Sandy A
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jan 06 - 08:57 PM

Just in case anybody is interested, clips from the CD can be heard here . BTW, alanabit, with all due respect, his name is STEPHEN Lee Rich not STEVE Lee Rich. Also when he's working with Sandy Andina the act is called "Andina and Rich". Great review .

Subject: RE: Review: 'Because We Can' Steve Lee Rich Sandy A
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 09 Jan 06 - 06:07 PM

Thank you guest.

      While I'm grateful for the kind words from alanabit, I feel the need to defend my partner. Sandy, as you have heard, is quite capable of writing sharp, satyrical songs (Because We Can) and of doing insightful and moving character studies (Shira). She does not limit herself to that. There are so many other things about which to write songs. The lighter songs, one hopes, provide a bit of balance against the dark ones.

      "Season of Hope", specifically, was included for that reason. What with songs like "Shira", "Time Has No Mercy", and especially "Mudball" (which is nothing short of a suicide song) we HAD to include songs which were in a happier mode. Dakness and light, after all, have no meaning except in contrast to one another. We used Sandy's light songs because I have no talent for writing such things. Through this inability I have learned that time is the only diiference between an angery young man and a crumudgeon.

      As for "Safe Home", yopu are quite right. It will offend noone. As such it runs the peculiar danger of being adopted by either side of the issue. Fortunately the anti-war people have given it a running start on thier side. One has to ask, however, if it is absolutely manditory to express an opinion in an offensive manner? Is it not the very stance of confrontation which causes wars?

Again thank you for your observations and opinions. They are always welcome.

Steve

BTW, there's a link in the Catter's Cd permathread to the CD baby page for Because We Can.

Subject: RE: Review: 'Because We Can' Steve Lee Rich Sandy A
From: GUEST,Sandy Andina
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 03:36 AM

Just wanted to reinforce what Steve said and reassure all here that I am perfectly capable of writing songs with the express intent of offending (humorously or seriously) those who deserve to be offended; if anyone would like an example, I'd be glad to slip them an .mp3 of, say, "Trim The Shrub," "We Belong to the World," and "Dead Animals and Leaves." For dark and/or edgy, may I direct you to "Devil Wind" and "A Man Could Hurt Himself," on my CD "Ghosts and Angels;" lyrics are on my website www.sandyandina.com. Have yet to record "Anonymous Dead Anglo-Saxons," which is probably guaranteed to offend traditionalists, popsters and alternafolkies equally, but can send anyone the lyrics if they'd like to e-mail me. And rest assured I have quite a supply of introspective wrist-slitters, but for the most part, that's what I pay my therapist for--I don't expect an audience to pay me for the privilege of being my surrogate shrink.

"The Con Man" came about after I had finally been subjected to one too many horribly butchered open mic versions of "The Dutchman;" after coming up with the smartass chorus, I decided to run with what would happen if Michael Smith had decided to write not about an aging boatman in Amsterdam but rather about someone a bit closer to home: a fading Mafioso in Smith's own native New Jersey. (Lest anyone find me too reluctant to offend, I have encountered more than a few hardcore classic folk fans who are profoundly insulted that I would dare poke fun at such a beloved song). In case anyone is wondering about other dreadfully overexposed open mic staples, well, all I can say is that I have declared open season on those multitudes who have murdered "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald." Have yet to record that one either, but lyrics are available.

In defense of "Season of Hope," let me say it was written (specifically by request for a holiday showcase I was invited to play) as an interfaith holiday song that was more than yet another puerile invitation to play with dreidels. Growing up decades ago in a majority-Jewish neighborhood in NYC, I was spared the lifelong experience of having the commercialization of Christmas shoved down my craw (or more precisely, I have other priorities and far more important things to get riled about, and Stephen has filled that niche quite nicely anyway). But I felt frustrated that there weren't any songs that addressed those of us who fall between--or straddle--the cracks of what may be mutually exclusive but not diametrically opposed celebrations. (I also wanted to respond to those who would pillory me for having both a tree and a Menorah). If I wanted to write an angry holiday song, I certainly could--but Stephen just happened to beat me to it and I didn't want to reinvent the wheel. Moreover, I have had so many requests for copies of "Season" by people who'd like to perform it that I decided to record it, and it was included on the CD both for that purpose and as a counterpoint to Stephen's darker and more cynical song. It never occurred to me to write a cynical and edgy interfaith holiday song, and I suspect the world does not need one.

As to "Safe Home," my intention was not merely to write something inoffensive, but to reassure the military that no matter how angry we may be at the $%^&*( who got us into this war, we're not angry at THEM and just want them to come home in one piece, sooner rather than later. Nobody else seemed to be singing about that at the time. As I said earlier, I have splashed plenty of musical political vitriol in my time; but this CD just did not seem like an appropriate project for it. (Perhaps if I can afford it--or someone stakes me to it--I will release a one-off disc of my political and protest songs; but I have neither the money, the equipment, the skills nor the time at present to record them properly, especially songs that if they prove effective would have a short shelf life). I have had many more people (most of them who share my own antiwar leanings) come up to me and thank me for playing it than those (and the term "those" is an exaggeration) who have expressed to me a need to stock up on insulin after hearing it. As Stephen said, it's possible to express an opinion without anger. (The song has also been cited several times by leaders of songwriters' circles in response to those who have clumsily wielded topical lyrics as blunt instruments).

I perform in various permutations and combinations, with different purposes. My own solo work is more stylistically varied, because as a soloist I have more latitude to be provocative. In that setting I do not have to accommodate the output and wishes of a musical partner, nor do I have to provide any stylistic balance with anyone but myself. My work with Stephen and in SASS! is more about harmonic and instrumental symbiosis, mutual energy and entertainment. Both my singing partners are as prolific as I, and the last thing either duo needs is for me to start a p***ing contest over how many of whose songs get recorded. Of necessity there have to be some compromises. Moreover, there are time, money and disc space constraints as to just how many songs can end up on a given CD, and balance and variety are important. (This is as true of selecting the songs for a duet album as it is in structuring a live set with a partner with an equally prodigious output). We just happened to have had more duet recordings of Steve's darker songs than of mine, and needed to provide some contrast and pacing. Perhaps the next release will see the tables turned.

Subject: RE: Review: 'Because We Can' Steve Lee Rich Sandy A
From: alanabit
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 04:06 AM

Hello Sandy! I am the main offender who is being addressed here. So first up, welcome to Mudcat.
I would not be able to say anything honest about any music, without running the risk of causing offence. I have said enough in the review, so there is not much that I want to say to your forthright and literate defence of your work. All criticism can hurt, I know. I review the work - not the artist.
I certainly do not have a low opinion of your writing ability. I simply thought (rightly or wrongly) that there were two weak songs on the album. I recall W.somerset Maugham's comment, "Only a mediocre writer is always at his (her?) best."
I have written plenty of material, which I hope never reaches the ears of Mudcatters. Indeed, I hope it never afflicts my own ears again.
I am off now to oput ice packs on my ears. That was one mighty telling off!

Subject: RE: Review: 'Because We Can' Steve Lee Rich Sandy A
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jan 06 - 08:36 PM

Alan, no need for the icepacks--'twasn't my intention to tell you off, just let you know there's more to me than the songs in question and why that "more" didn't happen to make it on to this particular CD. Won't be my last. No hard feelings--I figured you wouldn't have consented to co-write with anyone whose writing you truly couldn't stand. If you are ever in the Midwest, or if I am ever in the UK, I hope to regale you with my "toothier" stuff (songs that have apparently "bitten" their intended targets). Much of it, alas, is either local to Chicago or so topical that mayflies outlive it.

Subject: RE: Review: 'Because We Can' Steve Lee Rich Sandy A
From: Stephen L. Rich
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 02:33 AM

I should point out, at this juncture, that while Sandy and I tend toward the edgey as individual performers, as a team we tend to bring out the lighter and more whimsical qualities in one another (both as performers and as writers). The team of Andina and Rich tends to be quite a different sort of performance and stage identity than anything the either of us do as solo entertainers.

Stephen Lee