Andy Flattery
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Andy Flattery

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"Hello 1984 CD Review"

If a hot groupie, Pete Yorn, Mathew Sweet, and Jeff Buckley had a bastard child, it would be Andy Flattery. Though not nearly as mopey as Yorn, as “pop� as Sweet, or as operatic as Jeff can be, Andy has a strong voice and sensitive, insightful lyrics that beg to be read. “Catherine RealEstate Broker� is nicely produced and shows Andy at his “pop� best, yearning for a remax cougar. “Songbird,� a girl-killing, little number that I guarantee gets him action in the sack – I would imagine any guy that buys this CD plays it for his lover. My favorite is the title track, “Hello 1984,� a powerful yet wistful cup of reminiscent espresso, and the best track overall. X

- Doug Anderson - Colorado Music Buzz


"Article/Review of Hello 1984"

On Christmas Eve 2007 the entire Dave Flattery family of Fort Dodge, Dave, Debbie, and their five kids, Andy, Tim, Joey, Neil and Megan came to visit. I was recovering from surgery at home and they came walking into the bedroom singing "We Wish You a Merry Christmas!" My wife along with my folks, who were here for the holiday, really enjoyed the family singing, but just before they left the Flattery family did "Silent Night" and it was the most beautiful version I had ever heard. There is nothing like the harmony of a family.



During the visit the oldest of the Flattery siblings, Andy, revealed he was recording a CD. I asked him what kind of music he was recording and he said, "Good Music!" I thought what a good answer. He has ideas that are his own and won't let them be pigeonholed into one genre or another. Now, that the CD is finished, I have discovered a truly great CD of "Good Music."



Andy Flattery's "Hello 1984" has a very mature sound made with obviously seasoned musicians. Andy's voice is strong and there is a conviction in his singing that I really take seriously. Andy says the idea of "Hello 1984" is a metaphor for approaching a new place in his life. Andy was born in 1984 and so the metaphor is of being born again with the music of his new CD. Optimism and the newness of adulthood are the themes of this new album written entirely by Andy Flattery. This writer would call "Hello 1884" a truly romantic rock album about today's younger generation and their struggles, happiness, and honest look at what is going on in their life and even how life evolved as the second track, "Get it Back" is about Andy's mother.



The first track, "Catherine, Real Estate Broker," is an up-tempo rock song Flattery calls the "biggest musical step he has made," from the production aspect. "I think this was the best example of how I was able to take advantage of a studio and producer to record a great rock track, while still holding onto the earnestness of the song and letting my voice take front and center," said Andy.



As mentioned above the second track is Andy's look at his mother and her ability to see him as her baby boy no matter, as Andy candidly says, "No matter what kind of person I am sometimes." "Get it Back" has a roots music sound and Andy said they called it the 'Dylan song" while in the studio. I definitely heard the Dylan sound in the song. In fact, I thought I heard the sounds of the Traveling Wilbury have as Andy's vocal started. It is obvious from the vocals and the tempo that Andy's mom holds a wonderful place in his heart. She should be proud.



"What I Do" the third track is Flattery's attempt to tell a heartbreak song and he pulls it off. The grouping of chords, give the song a feeling that a decision has been made and there is no going back. Andy says, "A lot of the songs I try to write are pop songs with some folk sensibilities. This one embodies that the best of anything I've done. It's a song with a story that is lyrically bittersweet." Andy hit the mark with this song. Well done on the 'bittersweet.'



The fourth track is an ode of sorts to women and their confidence, which Andy says makes them even more attractive. The lyrics of "Songbird" speak to a woman's beautiful sound. Andy describes it as, "An incredibly simple song and it's probably the best I've written. Again, it's sad and sweet at the same time, which is what I think makes it interesting." Andy puts a lot of emotion into this song making his ode to the Songbird truly sweet.



"You Can't Run Away Forever" has a neat guitar riff I like at the beginning and throughout the song. According to Andy this song really came together in the studio. "Donnie (Donnie Schexnayder lead guitar player) and I wrote the riff together right before we recorded it. The backup vocals that I did weren't rehearsed at all but were just a quick idea that was recorded and ultimately turned out to be necessary for the song." A rocking song about being together, "You Can't Away Run Away Forever," is an appealing love song that many of us can relate to.



Discussing track six Andy says, "If you're in my generation there is a pretty good chance that you are confused about how men and women are supposed to interact with each other." I thought, gee Andy, welcome to my world. But he does a great job of explaining something a lot of us older folks do often wonder about the current "younger generation." Andy says, "We aren't a generation that wants to marry young and yet marriage has its appealing qualities to us. We are obsessed with the idea of 'hooking up', which completely dismisses romance, even though romance has its appealing qualities to us." "Heart So Blind" does help, bridge the gap, between generations as the title tells an age old story.



"Wish That I Could Feel Your Love" is a guitar ballad that really shows off Andy Flattery's talents as a singer/songwriter, but more so the singer as the song is produced the way Andy performs it, stripped down with out all the production elements. This raw production hangs in there as a great piece and gives a close look at the performer. You will like this song and will appreciate Andy's talent through it. It is very honest musically and it is my favorite track.



"I'll Get There" is a song Andy wasn't sure he wanted to record until he worked out a piano line with his producer David Lee, who played all of the keyboards on the record. "David did a great job and helped the song turn out to be a really beautiful tune." The keyboard underlines the entire song to give it a bit of musical direction away from the other songs on the album.



Andy says the title track "Hello 1984," "Is an idea that had been stewing in my head for almost 2 years before I recorded it and a lot of it didn't come together till we were actually in the studio. This was actually the only song that I wrote on the keyboard instead of the guitar. True to its title, it captures the whole idea of the record



In "Patience is The Hardest Part of Love," some of Andy's strong religious background shows up, even though is about making love work, and failing. One lyric, "Patience is the hardest part of love, patience is the hardest part of faith..." speaks to me of Andy's faith since I know his family background, but it is a good lesson to be remembered. Who would know about the role of patience in faith if they had not lived it themselves? Andy says, "I think in every new relationship there inevitably comes a point where you either have to do some relationship-maintenance to make it work long term or make a decision to stop it before you're just wasting time." Mature words for a young man and this song shows he is growing and learning, a theme that is carried out through the entire work.



Hello 1984 is a mature musician's work, but yet it shows continued growth and a life that is still learning about human foibles and their effect on love and relationships. It is a good look at life for all of us, no matter what our age, and yet very musically entertaining.



Hello 1984 was recorded at Not Roth Studios. Colorado Springs, CO, not far from where Andy now lives. - Bob Wood of Twist and Shout


Discography

Bull in a China Shop: 2006

Hello 1984: 2008

Available in CD Format on andyflattery.com

Availabe in MP3 Format on iTunes and Amazon MP3

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Bio

Existing in the space between indie, soul, rock and folk-fusion, Andy Flattery's music template draws from a variety of styles all with his own unique stamp of personality. In the tradition of the greatest artists, he sings his songs with heart and commitment and without hesitation making him an exceptional young artist on the rise.

Like many artists, Flattery was first exposed to music through the church and through his family. Andy is always absorbing music as an artist and listener. After releasing his latest album, Hello 1984 in 2008, Andy moved to Colorado where he continues to play crowd pleasing venues including the locally famous Toad Tavern, Cricket on the Hill and Meadowlark. He is always growing his audience through heartfelt and intensely personal lyrics.