Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Alli Rogers first came onto the scene as an artist in 2002 with a single, "Boxes," on Word Records' Pure Pop compilation. Unfortunately, when Word was bought by Time Warner, Alli was one of those artists lost in the shuffle. Looking back, this chain of events can be seen as a bit of a blessing, since as an indie artist, Alli was able to exercise more creative control over her debut CD. One of the ways she took more control over the album was by helping produce the project--a rare moment for a new artist--and by writing every song on Always Eden. Remember how "Boxes" was all teen bubble gum pop sounding? Good, now throw that sound out the window because this CD sounds nothing like that song. That is one of the first impressions listeners will have with this album. Another impression many listeners will have is that something is missing on this project; when they look at the liner notes for the CD, they see exactly what is missing. Many of the songs feature only Alli on vocals and possibly acoustic guitar backed by acoustic guitar and percussion. Very few instruments are used on the whole album. The lack of instruments on this project creates a very stripped down, almost acoustic sound that makes this CD of the most unique sounding projects of recent memory. It also gives Rogers' voice a chance to shine, and shine it does. This CD is also helped by Bebo Norman stepping in to supply background vocals for "Eden" and "If I Ever." This disc is one of those calming CDs that people will want to listen to when they are relaxing or enjoying a cup of coffee. The soothing feel of the project will be appealing to many listeners. While independent releases usually vary in quality, this one is topof-the-line and should be in most people's collection. The only thing that is working against this CD is its brevity. Clocking in at just under 40 minutes, this CD is one of the shortest this year. Despite its short length, this project is one of the best independent recordings of recent memory and easily one of the top 10 CDs of this year.
Burton Wray August 12, 2004 - Phantom Tollbooth
Alli Rogers first came onto the scene as an artist in 2002 with a single, "Boxes," on Word Records' Pure Pop compilation. Unfortunately, when Word was bought by Time Warner, Alli was one of those artists lost in the shuffle. Looking back, this chain of events can be seen as a bit of a blessing, since as an indie artist, Alli was able to exercise more creative control over her debut CD. One of the ways she took more control over the album was by helping produce the project--a rare moment for a new artist--and by writing every song on Always Eden. Remember how "Boxes" was all teen bubble gum pop sounding? Good, now throw that sound out the window because this CD sounds nothing like that song. That is one of the first impressions listeners will have with this album. Another impression many listeners will have is that something is missing on this project; when they look at the liner notes for the CD, they see exactly what is missing. Many of the songs feature only Alli on vocals and possibly acoustic guitar backed by acoustic guitar and percussion. Very few instruments are used on the whole album. The lack of instruments on this project creates a very stripped down, almost acoustic sound that makes this CD of the most unique sounding projects of recent memory. It also gives Rogers' voice a chance to shine, and shine it does. This CD is also helped by Bebo Norman stepping in to supply background vocals for "Eden" and "If I Ever." This disc is one of those calming CDs that people will want to listen to when they are relaxing or enjoying a cup of coffee. The soothing feel of the project will be appealing to many listeners. While independent releases usually vary in quality, this one is topof-the-line and should be in most people's collection. The only thing that is working against this CD is its brevity. Clocking in at just under 40 minutes, this CD is one of the shortest this year. Despite its short length, this project is one of the best independent recordings of recent memory and easily one of the top 10 CDs of this year.
Burton Wray August 12, 2004 - Phantom Tollbooth
Over morning coffee, Alli Rogers’ Always Eden project echoes through my house, bringing with it the simple elegance of poetry. It is loose and unapologetic. It’s raw, under produced, built around Alli and her acoustic guitar. It’s textured and accurate, with a knack for phrasing familiar words in unfamiliar ways. But it is only an association, not an imitation because Alli has her own voice – both on the record and, apparently, behind the scenes since she co-produced this lovely record with Donnie Boutwell. Sometimes they all find the downbeat together, sometimes they don’t; and it’s brave. It’s right. It’s real. But all in all, it is her message, her Solomonesque leanings that have earned her an extended invitation on my 5-CD lazy susan. I believe her when she says: “It’s more than a choice than a feeling, It’s more than a wound, than a healing, the act of believing in you.” I shrug with her when she tackles the deeper issues and finds herself simply with words such as: “Sometimes I look too hard at the big things, when the best thing I can do, is love you.” Alli Rogers is a poet. Listening to her music makes me want to try harder at my own craft.
Margaret Becker, May 2004 - CCM Magazine
Over morning coffee, Alli Rogers’ Always Eden project echoes through my house, bringing with it the simple elegance of poetry. It is loose and unapologetic. It’s raw, under produced, built around Alli and her acoustic guitar. It’s textured and accurate, with a knack for phrasing familiar words in unfamiliar ways. But it is only an association, not an imitation because Alli has her own voice – both on the record and, apparently, behind the scenes since she co-produced this lovely record with Donnie Boutwell. Sometimes they all find the downbeat together, sometimes they don’t; and it’s brave. It’s right. It’s real. But all in all, it is her message, her Solomonesque leanings that have earned her an extended invitation on my 5-CD lazy susan. I believe her when she says: “It’s more than a choice than a feeling, It’s more than a wound, than a healing, the act of believing in you.” I shrug with her when she tackles the deeper issues and finds herself simply with words such as: “Sometimes I look too hard at the big things, when the best thing I can do, is love you.” Alli Rogers is a poet. Listening to her music makes me want to try harder at my own craft.
Margaret Becker, May 2004 - CCM Magazine
Discography
Always Eden
1. Everything But Scared
2. Eden
3. Music
4. Choosing
5. Beautiful
6. Love You
7. We Were Wrong
8. Right From Wrong
9. If I Ever
10. Who Is This God
11. Nothing To Cry About
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Making her first full-length album was as natural a progression for singer/songwriter Alli Rogers as the transition from winter to spring. The changing of these particular seasons brings what Alli likes to call “sweater and sandal” weather, the time when warming temperatures bring people from their hibernation to time spent with one another outdoors. Alli’s debut recording “Always Eden” feels much the same way.
Over the course of the album's 11 songs, Alli invites the listener to leave their own isolation and join an ongoing conversation as she shares stories rich with unflinching honesty and quiet intimacy. The subjects of her songs touch upon divine love, relationships with family or friends, or a new romantic interest, but they all chronicle Alli’s committed search for the place where true interaction takes place.
That search is evident in the album’s title track “Eden.” The song begins as a personal story of grappling with the struggle between good and evil but then transitions into a contemplation of the longing common to all human existence. “I’ve always had a heart for the downtrodden or people that are hurting,” Alli says when asked what inspired the writing of “Eden.” “I don’t want to call myself a pessimist, but I’ve always been drawn to the sad stories. ‘Eden’ is representative of that mindset.”
Alli Rogers’ personal journey to the point of making “Always Eden” was in keeping with the natural transitions apparent in her music. She did not seek out a record deal or play an endless string of shows to gain the attention of talent scouts. Instead, Alli was singing in her father’s cover band when she happened to meet the coordinator of a talent competition held at Atlantafest, a major music festival. She entered the contest on a whim and won, performing an original song and a few covers. The festival win led to a record deal with a major label based in Nashville, TN. As a result, Alli began the process of writing and recording her debut album at the tender age of 16. Over the course of the next year, Alli traveled between Nashville and her home in Iowa, co-writing with professional songwriters and recording an album. In an all too common move for the music industry, Alli’s label was bought by a larger record label. Her album was shelved just days before it was completed.
Instead of lamenting the loss of two years’ work, Alli has seen her time signed to a major label as a blessing. The contacts she made while working on that album have formed the basis of her current circle of friends in her adopted hometown of Nashville. She enlisted many of these friends to help her realize “Always Eden.” This new project shows Alli to be an artist with a defined vision of how to present her music. She wrote every song, played acoustic guitar, and co-produced the album with friend Donnie Boutwell. Working with Donnie on the record was ideal because he allowed her to refine her artistic vision while building the songs around Alli’s guitar and vocal performance. Aside from the occasional jazz instrumentation or upright bass and percussion, Alli’s intimate, confessional vocal and guitar performance is presented just as it was recorded.
When asked about her hopes for what “Always Eden” might accomplish, Alli responds: “All I want is for the album to move people. There’s something about relating to somebody and recognizing how fragile we all are. I love hearing people’s stories, and I love being able to be really honest with somebody. I think that music is the most powerful tool when it comes to that. I just want to play and have people respond.”
2/27/04
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