Geoff Smith
Nashville, Tennessee, United States | SELF
Music
Press
I’m getting a little tired of making Ben Folds comparisons. Doing a search on previous posts, I’ve noticed that on no fewer than 10 occasions over the two months I’ve been running this joint Folds has been used as a point of reference. But then I get this disc with a guy from North Carolina (check) who plays well-written uptempo piano-based pop songs (check) with a lot of energy and sass (check), and what I am supposed to do, compare him to Godsmack?
So there you have it - if you like Ben Folds, you’ll love Geoff Smith (or should that be if you love Ben Folds, you’ll like Geoff Smith?). Credited to either Geoff Smith and The Tonewheels (the spine of the cd packaging) or Geoff Smith with The Tonewheels (the cover), this piano man from Charlotte definitely has an excellent debut on his hands. He hits you right away with the leadoff track “Not on the Radio”, an accurate take on today’s music-listening zeitgeist. “Does anyone here still have a radio”, Smith asks as he describes the iPod-listening legions out there “with their earbuds jammed in so far” over a Beatlesque melody reminiscent of Folds’ “Where’s Summer B?”.
“Stuck in the Middle” (not a Stealers Wheel cover) complete with “na na naa naa”s doesn’t disappoint either, and “Take Me Back” has a slinkier melody that had me thinking Randy & The Bloody Lovelies. Smith is capable of pulling off the slower numbers as well; “Rose”, “Slightest Blue”, and the album closer “So I’m Waiting” remain melodic without being cloying or sappy.
I don’t see a myspace page for him, but you can sample the rest of the tracks at cd baby, and buy it there for a mere $9.99. With Ben Folds not even making decent Ben Folds albums these days (Songs For Silverman, bleh), it’s always refreshing when someone like Smith or Justin Levinson keeps the subgenre going with good material.
Absolute Power Pop - absolutepowerpop.blogspot.com
Discography
Geoff Smith and the Tonewheels
Ones and 0s
Christmas Tunes
That's Gravity
Photos
Bio
Geoff Smith
The same irresistible Power Pop you'd get if you mixed the Beatles, Squeeze and Mike Viola into a band together.
Geoff Smith is an independent artist based out of Nashville. He first gained international acclaim in 2005 as the jingle writer for some very high profile podcasters and new media companies. His work includes music for Adam Curry’s Daily Source Code and No Agenda Podcasts,This Week in Tech with Leo Laporte, and iJustine’s Ask iJ. His catchy pop jingles have been used on spots for Go Daddy, Honda, Mevio, Crayon Marketing, etc. He won the Big Gig Jingle contest in 2008 for The Nashville MTA.
In April 2008 Geoff launched RingtoneFeeder.com, providing original ringtones via rss feeds to the iPhone. The ringtones are essentially short 20 second pop songs
Geoff’s pop songs are just as hook laden as his jingles and ringtones, and the recent album, That’s Gravity, is his most polished release to date.
"Geoff Smith's, 'That's Gravity,' is an airtight collection of great pop-rock melodies and stellar musicianship. Whether he is singing, playing the piano, or the guitar, Geoff makes it sound effortless - in a very good way. A highly enjoyable record." ---JOHN LEFLER, GUITARIST, DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL
“Smith has some serious keyboard chops and a sharp knack for writing song-after-song of songs that could be all over the airwaves. Extremely Highly Recommended, big time!” --- NOT LAME RECORDING COMPANY
“it's always refreshing when someone like Smith...keeps the subgenre going with good material. --- ABSOLUTE POWER POP
“He’s an amazingly talented musician who made his mark on the new media world” ---- CALI LEWIS, GEEKBEAT.TV
Geoff Smith is also a crowd pleasing entertainer at live shows and is known to attract thousands to his live web concerts.
“About 7,500 people joined us on the Ustream throughout the night, and thousands more watched the recorded version as we streamed the concert during the holiday season. It was a night we’ll never forget!” --- CALI LEWIS, GEEKBEAT.TV
That’s Gravity is a collection of nine catchy power-pop songs that is due out in August 2010.
Contact Geoff Smith:
geoff@thegeoffsmith.com 615-319-4035 www.thegeoffsmith.com
Links
