Kate Myers

Kate Myers
Introducing the Ghost
Reviewed by Jon Rogers on 03.21.2013

Kate Myers's 4th full-length is a somewhat mellow collection of introspective folk-pop, featuring lots of fleshed-out band arrangements (including strings!) to keep things interesting. "Introducing the Ghost" shows Myers at the height of her powers as a songwriter, and the production is outstanding. The vinyl package has been carefully conceived and executed, and it displays the crucial attention to detail necessary for a self-releasing artist. Pop-country ballads, great vocals, indie rock influences, and plenty of climactic moments combine to make a strong release by this talented and underrated Indianapolis musician.



Ratings are based on a scale from 0-10.

OVERALL SOUND: 9.00

Outstanding sound quality. Crystal clear production, balanced mix, upfront vocals - the album sounds great throughout. Some songs lack low end, but that's more from composition than recording quality. Engineer Tyler Watkins continues his long-running pattern of incorporating subtle studio touches to enhance the songs. Myers and her collaborators display technical skill and contemporary pop sensibilities.

PRESSING QUALITY: 8.50

No major complaints. The record is 180 gram, high quality vinyl. Packaging and materials are strong, including recycled board for the jacket. Tasteful and well-made. No warping, weaving, or other manufacturing flaws.

VINYL NOISE: 9.00

Virtually no vinyl noise (pops, crackles, or static) were detected. An uncommonly quiet pressing in terms of extraneous noise.

OVERALL ARTWORK: 8.50

Strong package with tasteful design and some excellent photography. From the cover images to the record's center label and the lyric sheet, everything about this package is done right. The art and design retain a classic feel through a gloomy grayscale motif. At times this "old" look doesn't quite match the glossy, contemporary sounds of the record, but that's just nitpicking, isn't it?

OVERALL EXTRAS: 7.50

Includes a lyric sheet and download card. The music is strong for fans of heartfelt folk-pop with country inclinations, and the 180-gram vinyl is a nice touch. Always like to see recycled materials being used as well. No crazy extras, but enough to score pretty high. - Record Geeks

"On the few dates I caught Kate Myers live I found her absolutely enchanting and I can't even say exactly why. I think I'm a sucker for that sort of artist who quietly slinks onto a stage with no sort of presence whatsoever, an almost apologetic charm, and as soon as they start to sing the room stops to watch what is going on. Her voice is smooth but with rough overtones, most likely a natural talent with no training and whilst her guitar lines are simple and fairly similar across songs they compliment her voice brilliantly and succinctly. On Blanket Sky & Live you lose the presence that comes from seeing her in the flesh, but you can still hear the strength of the song writing and the inherent beauty of her music. It won't suit everybody, it's very American (something that normally puts me off) in style, sound and lyrical content, but give a few tracks a listen and try to catch Kate Myers live, then maybe you might see what I mean." - Chris Chincilla (ex- Art Brut member) - Angry Ape Creative Blog

Kate Myers new release “Introducing the Ghost” is a beautiful balance of sonic-angel vocal melodies Eskimo kissing calm but gripping music. Sarah Mclachlan needs to pass the torch to this bright and gorgeous young woman…And Norah Jones needs to hang up her microphone so Kate can pick it up. I had the pleasure of purchasing the LP version of the album which came with a downloadable format as well. The album art is poetry, as if the pictures are trying to tell you something. Like you’re expecting to be told the story of Kate… which she clearly does by opening her heart and throwing it right on top of the music. As an artist I find writing songs like this very nerving and scary because letting people that far into yourself comes with a sense of vulnerability, but Kate masterfully maintains musical elegance while stamping ‘autobiography’ on each song. “Introducing the Ghost” has a very smooth flow to it. Its easily listenable the whole way through. The mixture of the overlaying voices on “For My Family” are spellbinding and playfully Adele-ish while mixing in just a pinch of twang for Indiana flavor. “Meggie Blue Eyes” is notably my favorite song. If I dont hear that song on the radio within the next year, then radio doesn’t deserve its genius. And as soon as that tune is done “Cold Town” spins you around like a dancing ballerina… I could track by track talk about how bad ass it is, but you should really just get off your ass and buy it. Artists like Kate Myers are the reason people like YOU need to be interested in catering to your local music scene. Beautify crafted music from genuinely good people. A++ with sixteen thumbs skyward - The Dozens

*Third release captures singer-songwriter's skillful mix of light and dark *




"Saudade." The versatile word and concept has the denotation of sad and happy, but it can apply to many contexts.

For this critic, it's having had the privilege of seeing Kate Myers perform in various regional venues, but knowing her reliable presence on the regional music scene is gone. I'm happy for her growth and striving as an artist, but still sad to see her leave for L.A. to continue it. The Portuguese word has that element of loss built in its connotation.

To apply the concept of saudade to Kate Myers the artist, her strongest songs on previous releases explore the light and dark, such as Blanket Sky's ruminations on death and loss, "False Interpretation" and "The Sun and the Snow," and the melancholy take on an adulterous relationship, "Scarlet."

Instant Clarification builds on this strength with several personal and powerful songs in which she and/or her protagonists affirm their identity and deal with adversity. The defiant woman on "Just Try Me" emphatically states "I'll eat your words and drink your filth/Just try me/But I won't move/No, not for you." Another song expresses her need to "Cry" and pull herself out of the darkness ("Light will heal the suffering/And make you Kate again"). On "Shift in the Stars," the artist grapples with fate and the nature of being a singer-songwriter, promoting herself but trying not to sell her soul, becoming "A passion wrapped in ribbon given on the holidays."

Myers' chiaroscuro writing technique also serves her love songs well. The human raincloud protagonist of "Hello" pays tribute to a lover who accepts and embraces the real her. "With Me" is perhaps the song most dappled with dark and light, with Myers singing of a past love who has "branded my body with footprints as memories," but she holds a pragmatic hope that "Things don't have to fade away/If true, they'll come right back to prove/That fate knows way more than we do." In the same vein, having Stephenie Meyers' Twilight lovers Edward Cullen and Bella Swan inspire the darkly romantic piano track "The Meadow" just makes sense.

Sometimes the chamber pop intensity is abandoned and the change-up works on tracks such as the idealistic and anthemic opener "Peace," and the playful and "naughty" novelty closer "Sexual Autopsy," a favorite at her live shows (her attempts at an evil laugh are a hoot). But even when tracks are misses, for example the mundane round of "Everybody love each other, come together, let's be happy" on "Just for Today," or the bordering-on-precious "Sleep Sweet," there's still Myers' crisp guitar work or skilled piano phrasing to grab a listener's attention.

The production by Ryan Herma at Valparaiso's Alley Recording Company makes much of this "crispness" possible. This is the first of Myers' full length releases that really captures the sonics of Myers' live performances. Herma's bass (and electric guitar work) and Will Schnabel's percussion compliment and appropriately color the songs. The rhythm section doesn't overwhelm what is rightfully the central focus, Myers' lyricism and musicianship.

This focus continues with the visual design by musician and graphic artist David Lubarski (Kindle, Blue Birds & Bright Lights). He takes Myers out of the shadowy layouts of previous releases and features her profile in his cover photography, and provides space for all her song lyrics within the eco-friendly packaging.

Even though the nature of saudade is bittersweet, there are memories to be savored from that state of mind. Such is life, and such as it is with the best words and music on Instant Clarification.

My rating: A-.

Kate Myers, Instant Clarification. An independent release available at Kate Myers' shows and all major online retailers.

A recent interview with the L.A.-bound singer-songwriter can be found on the Mad Artist Blog under "Blogs" on Heyregion.com. - The Mad Artist Blog at Heyregion.com

Every now and then, amidst the hustle and bustle of your everyday life, you are by chance, offered an oppurtunity to experience something purely joyful and life affirming. This happens quite rarely as life generally is so hectic, when these oppurtunities do come along we mostly never even realize they are there.

Last night was one of those nights for me, as I was invited to see a show at Uncle Fester's in Bloomington, IN. The headliners were a band called Planetary Blues, a phenomenal band, of varied and impressive talents. With them I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Something I have not been able to say for a number of months.

But there was something else there last night. Her name was Kate Myers and she was something truly unique and special. She lives her life solely ( one could argue its spelled SOUL-LY in this case) by her drive to create and perform music. Her talent exceeds much of what is seen on anything remotely contempory and initially that was the most refreshing part.

But I must comment on a few things, her voice was breathtaking. It actually moved me to tears. Now as many of you on my list know, my parents have both passed away and tears were things I didn't shed even on the days of the burials. This moved me beyond my facilities to understand. Often in entertainment they refer to performers that are great as "triple threats". Well it is this man's opinion that our state of Indiana twenty one years ago gave birth to one.

Along with her voice, her piano and guitar skills are equally "threatening". I look forward to her next passage through Bloomington as well as any other show I may attend within the area. If there is any justice in the world, than we will stop seeing Paris Hilton on the radio and start seeing Kate.

I implore all of you to look her up on her website.
www.katemyers.com

As well attend any shows you may hear about. If you enjoy music masterfully performed, a lyrical quality that is hauntingly poetic, and show performed in an intimate, darkened atmosphere then check her out. - Justin M. Lindley