Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Eli Said is primarily the work of Paul Sentz, a Boston-based musician who collaborates for the project’s first EP with musician Putnam Murdock. After playing in some more electric-rock projects, Sentz uses Eli Said for his more folk-influenced work. The result is a nice blend of bands like Wilco and Sufjan Stevens, with some gorgeous acoustic guitar and a nice mix of electric as well.
Sentz’s voice may not be as pristine as many singer/songwriters’, but it helps to evoke a kind of ennui that fits the song nicely. Starting quiet and light, with some country-esque guitars in the backing, the chorus is surprisingly yet effectively poppy. It gives the song a much lighter and more playful tone that works quite well. By the song’s ending, the guitar really wins me over, extremely tight and perfectly mixing the acoustic in the foreground and the electric in the back.
That poppiness and layering of vocals almost reminds me of an artist like Ben Kweller, if he fronted an alt-country band. It makes me smile, because without the more playful rhythms and upbeat style, the song likely would suffer from the sameness that plagues many singer/songwriters these days. Fortunately, Sentz has mixed styles nicely and allowed his own unique voice and strong songwriting to come into play, making this a fine tease for the band’s self-titled EP.
- Delusions of Adequacy by Jeff Marsh
A subtle, folk-like romantic sound that only a true believer of heart and soul can absorb what this band has created. To me, Eli Said's music is a marriage of Iron and Wine meets radiohead without the blurps and bleeps, just a melodic dreamy portrayal of emotion and honesty worth closing your eyes to and closely listening. - Mike Borgia altsounds.com
Discography
Eli Said. self titled EP 2004
purchase at www.cdbaby.com/elisaid
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
"Really nice writing...innovative and quirky" -Livingston Taylor
Eli Said came to fruition when Paul Sentz transformed musical ideas into delicate and melodic pop songs. The sincerity in his music speaks for itself. There is no tolerance for gimmicks or flashy disco balls.
It is now time to make a mark on the musical spectrum. The soft spoken 25 year old has been playing music for nearly a decade, from his early electronic rock beginnings to his now mainly acoustic indie folk pop style. He has played in various bands
toured in the DC/ VA/ MD area. Paul collaborated with Putnam Murdock who has an extensive musical background, touring with his band Chief Broom with the likes of Neil Young on the 97 H.O.R.D.E tour and playing Red Rocks Amphitheater. Paul decided to go into the studio with Putnam to record the five song EP. The self titled EP was self released in the spring of 2004. Pauls home in small town Virginia has a heavy influence on the record where a pedal steel layers softly in the background on track 2 Meet the Pace. Paul has been doing some writing with Putnam and is currently living in Boston.
influences: Radiohead, The Cure, Belle and Sebastian, Bjork, Nick Drake, Outcast, Phil Collins, punk, folk, blues, motown, thrash, pop, U2, The Police, Paul Simon, Beatles, Nirvana, Elliot Smith, Ben Folds Five and so on.
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