Kathy Taler
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Kathy Taler

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"Not Guilty - Album Review"

Kathy Taler released her first full-length album Not Guilty on Two Jack Records recently. Taler looks just the opposite of the title on the cover of this CD, looking every bit the mischievous rascal that shows up in the ten tracks on this CD.
The Parental Advisory Warning is for one thing, she uses the F word on the lead off track, and I never heard anything else derogatory after that. Taler does paint the image of the rebel without a cause quite well. The visual statement is definitely intact at this point with her CD covers and the images all over her website suggest that there is a hard core edge to her persona, but does all the music follow?

Not Guilty is a fun album. She is comparable to a female Alice Cooper if you will with just not as much horror and shock. All I kept thinking of while listening was Joan Jett’s first band The Runaways and in particular the song “Cherry Bomb.” Taler has that Jett and Lita Ford tough-as-leather rocker vocal style. The music does follow her lead for the most part, so it does work.

What I found interesting after making my way through this CD was the title track closes out the recording and Taler’s voice is suddenly more pop and smoother. I thought this was some of her finest moments on the album. Therefore, what I ended up realizing about this female rocker was that there is much more behind the tough chick mask she wears for her music. Taler has talent and her band is not that bad either. She provides lead and background vocals, acoustic and electric guitars and keyboards. David Buland (bass, electric guitar), Bill Martin (piano, violin orchestration) and Alex Mine (drums) afford the rest of the instrumentation to fill out the sound and help to bring Taler’s songs to life. This artist has something to say, note “Life Stinks” and “Justice.” Each track packs a powerful punch, so much that the music is secondary.
Taler reminded me of The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again” and the line “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss”, “Justice” gives us food for thought with words like…

For centuries of injustice
It wasn’t so long ago
They killed the ones that were different
A slave, a witch, a foe
You think the world has changed
Well look hard and know
‘Cause viciousness remains
Inside the human heart

And from “Life Stinks” a similar express of grief…

Makes you wonder are you a puppet and who or what is pulling the strings?
Is it the president, you own parents ‘cause you know what…life stinks

I did not hear too much variation on the theme or the music on this album with the exception of the closer “Criminal Mind.” This is a good album and Taler has the potential to be much better than a flat out good. Her penchant for writing on the dark side may be more powerful and effective with some heavier music to support the lyrics and then if the artist decides to soften it up a bit a go the pop route then certainly success would be attainable as well. Not every artist has that kind of talent and flexibility. It will be interesting to see what the next incarnation of Kathy Taler will be but in the meantime, there is a socially conscious effort put into this project and plenty of music to enjoy on Not Guilty.

Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck

June 16, 2008© MuzikReviews.com
http://www.muzikreviews.com
- Muzikreviews


"Un plaisir coupable"

Je ne sais pas si cette critique sera juste et bonne, mais elle viendra du fond de mes “tripes”. Je m’explique : je connais Kathy depuis 1989 et je savais qu’un jour elle serait ce qu’elle est, mais je ne pensais jamais qu’un jour je serais chroniqueur, et que je vous parlerais de ce talent hors de l’ordinaire.

Kathy Taler de son « Vrai » nom Kathy Dostaler est originaire de l’Abitibi-Témiscamingue et habite maintenant la grande ville de Toronto. Kathy n’a jamais fait les choses comme les autres et c’est pour cela que son parcours l’a emmenée à passer quatre ans à jouer dans les cafés-bars et les clubs les plus crasseux de New York. L’année 2000 fut pour elle la sortie de son premier démo I Never Bled, qu’elle co-réalisa. Sa voix rauque attira l’attention de Lulu Records qui donnèrent une place à la chanson titre sur leur compilation Women in Williamsburg , laquelle se vendit d’un coin à l’autre des États-Unis.

Prêtant sa voix à divers compositeurs et découvrant différents styles de musique, Kathy figura dans le vidéo du rapper Sin Messiah, chantant en duo le refrain de Child Abuse. Grâce à ce vidéo, elle fut remarquée par Capstone Records, qui réalisa son deuxième démo Unclassified. La chanson titre prit place sur la scène universitaire et se fit entendre sur les stations de radio collégiales de New York et du New Jersey.

Un plaisir coupable

Depuis son arrivée à Toronto, Kathy a été invitée sur les stations CHRY 105.5 et CKRG 89.9 et a participé activement aux concerts-bénéfices : « Libérez le Tibet », « Mindscape » et « Concert pour les droits de l’homme ». Depuis que je connais Kathy elle a toujours dénoncé haut et fort ses revendications et ses droits, ce n’est pas surprenant que Not Guilty parle d’abus de tous les genres, de la guerre et la politique.

Qu’est-ce qu’il faut pour réaliser qu’une société s’écroule?
Lorsque des innocents meurent par commande,
Où est la compassion?
Pas dans les médias
Pas dans les affaires



Un ange avec des cornes…

Vous retrouvez 10 chansons, dont la reprise du sublime Criminal Mind de Gowan. Comment d’écrire cet ange cornu ??? Un mélange d’Alice Cooper, Lita Ford, Lee Aaron… Bref, c’est une fille qui a du chien.

Le seul « hic » de ce disque, est sa voix qui est quelques fois trop douce pour ce style de musique. Je m’attendais à une voix plus rauque plus « grafillé » plus « boucane de bar » de la part de Miss Kathy. Mais la dureté de ses paroles fait de cette chanteuse une grande Rockeuse. Préparez-vous, dernière cet ange il y a… NON ! c’est vous qui allez la découvrir.




- Info-Culture.Biz


"Women of Williamsburg"

"Kathy Taler finally provides feedback and alternative rock (think Matthew Sweet, Pete Yorn, and eighties new wave)".

Grant Moser, The Brooklyn Rail - Brooklyn Rail


"Kathy Taler Sings About Suicide, Sexual Abuse and Violence"

By Yvon Audet

“It was a first for me, and I am relieved that this show is done” has confessed the artist after her performance. “I am happily surprised with the open mindedness of the people.” added Taler, referring to the Gothic style show presented and to the explicit lyrical content.

The singer/songwriter brought up themes such as suicide, sexual abuse and violence of all forms in her songs. She presented to her not so numerous but very attentive audience that a lot of suffering, of misjudgments and injustices are occurring throughout the world, that Quebecers living in a bubble of comfort are clueless about. “I hope that this album will bring people to think, to open their eyes to reality – and that hopefully solutions will arise to solve the problems that affect millions. I wish people would start paying attention instead of judging.” declared the free-spoken signer.

The rocker with the raspy voice is working on some projects over the next few months, some of which are a 30 minutes DVD planned to come out around Christmas 2008 and a Montreal show in January 2009.
- L'Écho Newspaper


"The Dark Side of Rock Arrives in Town"

By Mary Poulin

Fourteen years after having left the area, Kathy Taler releases her first album Not Guilty en Abitibi-Témiscamingue, because it is the place where she feels most comfortable. “I wanted to release my album in a place where I would feel at home. There’s nothing better than to go back to your hometown to find your roots and the wellbeing of the early years,” she declares.

She will be officially releasing her album Not Guilty at La Salle Desjardins of La Sarre, October 3rd. The Rouynorandians will be able to catch her pre-release concert on October 2nd at the Cabaret de la dernière chance.

A Dark Album
Kathy Taler offers to Temiscamians an album which stands, in her words, between Marilyn Manson and good old rock. “I’ve been doing rock for a long time but I wanted to go to a darker side with this album. I wanted to bring rock music to a weirder place, less comfortable. The lyrics are serious: important social issues are brought up,” says the one whose face is covered with blood inside the album cover.

Also a Style for Women
It is also as a woman that Kathy Taler crosses to the dark side. For her, this album is the proof that women can also offer something out of the ordinary musically. “I am tired of the little blond dolls who keep on spitting out the same stuff. A woman also has the ability to go to a new place musically and to offer something different,” proclaims the young woman with convictions.

The Market Targeted
The CD is first and foremost addressed to teenagers to whom Taler wants to give a voice. “I consider myself a teenager. I had a taste of the adult life and I can’t say I’ve been impressed. With this album, I want to reach out to those teens that get dark ideas and play with drugs to keep their mind busy. We need to stop pointing the finger at them. I think a young mind is required in order to appreciate this album,” she finally volunteers.
- Le Citoyen


Discography

Not Guilty - 2008 (Two Jack Records)
Unclassified - 2001 (Capstone Records)
Women of Williamsburg - 2000 (Lulu Records)
Kathy Taler - I Never Bled - 1999 (EP)

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Bio

Kathy Taler

With the release of her new album "Not Guilty" in the Fall of 2008, Kathy Taler has become the Bad girl on the Canadian Independant music scene. The raspy voiced rocker from Quebec has spent years playing New York City’s best and raunchiest coffee bars and Clubs. She performed on various recording projects as a backup vocalist before releasing her first original EP "I Never Bled". Her unmistakable vocals on the track resulted in the song being picked by Lulu Records for their compilation album called "Women in Williamsburg", which sold with National Distribution in the United States.

Her travels have inspired a gritty punk rock attitude that shows itself clearly in the music and also in her live performance. Always one for onstage theatrics and visuals, her shows seem to be on the verge of crashing and bursting into flames but she manages to hold on for dear life and walk away smiling like a bloodied prize fighter who just KO’d the opponent in the 1st round. Audiences are often shocked, and always surprised, but never seem to be able to look away out of fear that they may miss some of the excitement. She is kind of like 105 pounds of “kick your ass…” Not someone whose purse you would want to snatch. And that’s just the theatrics part. The music speaks for itself, and on its own certain terms.

Since relocating to Toronto, Kathy has appeared on CHRY 105.5, CKRG 89.9, KJAG FM, and IndependantScene.ca, has been featured in Canadian Musician and T.O. Night and will be part of the soundtrack of the movie "UpDownEve". Taler’s music might just be the wake up call that the Canadian Music Industry needs right now. With song titles like "Life Stinks" and "Criminal Mind" expect to be surprised.