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Hard Road
Karl Valentine
Karl Valentine delivers a solid repertoire of bluesy material with a slight country influence. His vocals are reminiscent to Tom Petty, blended with impressive and yet simple instrumentation. Karl produces very catchy rhythms and provides songs and a voice that allows listeners to be captured in the flow of the melody. The simplicity of the albums melodic feel makes it easy for one to relate with the bright and positive sound that is consistent throughout the CD.
Tr. 1 Hard Road – Great opening upbeat track with great guitar work and catchy chorus
Tr. 4 She Needed Me – Slower more laid back love song providing diversity with in the album
Tr. 7 Another Point of View – Powerful guitar with great intro perfect middle album song
Damon Kellard at Bryan Farrish Radio Promotions - Bryan Farrish Radio Promotions
This is a contemporary folk-based pop album, very much in the vein of James Taylor, Suzanne Vega and
David Wilcox. The instruments are limited to acoustic guitars, vocals, electric guitar, bass and mandolin. With a very spare, non percussive sound, the music will appeal to people who enjoyed folk/pop from the 70s as well as more
contemporary artists. The lyrics are very narrative, with tales of love, loss, adventure, spiritual renewal and philosophical reflection. There is a special guest appearance on the album by noted guitarist Joel Tipke. - Amazon.com
Discography
Three albums have been released. Addison Street 2007, Hard Road, 2006 and Missouri River 1999. All are streamed in parts through myspace.com/karlvalentine and have been played on KBCS.
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Bio
Karl Valentine is a singer/songwriter who was born in New York and raised in Philadelphia during the height of the folk scene on the East Coast. Studying with folks like Chris Smither and Danny O'Keefe, Karl has played a long list of clubs from coast to coast--among them the Tin Angel in Philadelphia, the O.K. Hotel in Seattle, the Sioux City Folk Festival in Iowa, The Pacific Northwest Folklife Festival and Sweetwater in Mill Valley, CA.
Currently residing in Seattle, Washington, Karl has completed four albums, each available online at Amazon.com and Apple iTunes.
His key influences have been Neil Young, Stephen Stills, James Taylor, Chris Whitley, Tom Waits, Suzanne Vega and Cat Stevens. Karl tours mainly in the Pacific Northwest and the East Coast northern seaboard. He plays a 1957 00-18 Martin and an Olson SJ when playing solo, and a Tom Anderson Strat when touring with his friends.
His lyrics are very narrative, with tales of love and loss, political outrage, sociological and philosophical reflections, forged in the crucible of late 20th century rock, spiced with equal measures of blues, jazz and folk. Karl has teamed up with Joel Tipke, a guitar prodigy from Spokane, formerly lead guitarist for Inflatable Soule, now based in Seattle. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll break a few lamps, you'll be happy if you're in love, and you won't need to ask why.
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