Peggy Atwood
Shokan, New York, United States | SELF
Music
Press
“Renegade of the Light Brigade”:
This CD is cool, funky and it rocks.
I like music that demands my attention, that says something to me that's meaningful. And it's got to have at least a pepper shake of grit. Peggy Atwood's CD "Renegade of the Light Brigade" does, and it rocks. "Eve" balances the I Am Woman swagger of its lyrics with an almost gospel appreciation for the sound of grown men's voices. The mix is interesting and brings some funk: the haunting power of the 1940's country classic "Riders in the Sky" spiced with reggae. "The River" tells a story of resolute desire to move on and follow destiny that Atwood seems to know in all its facets. "I Want to Be Jane" puts a Helen Reddy sensibility to a nice island beat. "We Made Love" wraps hammer dulcimer tone and Middle Eastern atmospherics around some tender afternoon delight.
The songs are like poems of passion between men and women, the passage of time, the pull of fate, life's relentless rush into the future and the unshakable voices of the past. Atwood's voice is smooth and creamy and she sings with a kind of humility that is disarming considering her vocal range and strength. It's like she knows she doesn't need any tricks, she's got the goods. She's a fine guitarist and her licks, which sound so clear and catchy on the CD, sound even better live. And her band proves live that they have the best special effect of all: skill. My friend the jazz guitarist would call her stuff great guitar songs -- songs you can tell were written by someone who really knows the guitar. Atwood's earnestness, determination, experience and humor come through. Like the character in "Sail Away," I want music to send me whimsy, love and chance. This CD delivers. - David Beazer, MSNBC
I like music that demands my attention, that says something to me that's meaningful. And it's got to have at least a pepper shake of grit. Peggy Atwood's CD "Renegade of the Light Brigade" does, and it rocks. "Eve" balances the I Am Woman swagger of its lyrics with an almost gospel appreciation for the sound of grown men's voices. The mix is interesting and brings some funk: the haunting power of the 1940's country classic "Riders in the Sky" spiced with reggae. "The River" tells a story of resolute desire to move on and follow destiny that Atwood seems to know in all its facets. "I Want to Be Jane" puts a Helen Reddy sensibility to a nice island beat. "We Made Love" wraps hammer dulcimer tone and Middle Eastern atmospherics around some tender afternoon delight.
The songs are like poems of passion between men and women, the passage of time, the pull of fate, life's relentless rush into the future and the unshakable voices of the past. Atwood's voice is smooth and creamy and she sings with a kind of humility that is disarming considering her vocal range and strength. It's like she knows she doesn't need any tricks, she's got the goods. She's a fine guitarist and her licks, which sound so clear and catchy on the CD, sound even better live. And her band proves live that they have the best special effect of all: skill. My friend the jazz guitarist would call her stuff great guitar songs -- songs you can tell were written by someone who really knows the guitar. Atwood's earnestness, determination, experience and humor come through. Like the character in "Sail Away," I want music to send me whimsy, love and chance. This CD delivers.
- Dave Beazer, MSNBC Reviewer
Discography
1. NORTHERN COUNTRY - 12 original songs by Peggy Atwood
2. RENEGADE OF THE LIGHT BRIGADE - 12 original songs by Peggy Atwood
Songs can be be listened to and downloaded at:
www.myspace.com/peggyatwood
www.itunes.com
Photos
Bio
From New York to Nashville, New England to California, Europe to the Middle East, Atwood has followed her muse and participated in music scenes at home and abroad. Based in the roots music of Americana learned on the military bases, to the wailing of the minarets, her international upbringing exposed her to musical styles which she used to shape her unique personal sound.
From the age of six, Atwood sought out many forms of vocal expression to satisfy her passion for singing, from church choirs to ethnic toning, classical training to singing backup for hip-hop and rock bands. In college, she pioneered being a female DJ, exposing little-known artists, as well as running a campus coffee house and booking the live performances. She has continued to produce and perform in concerts, coffee houses, roadhouses and festivals. Lately, Atwood has been involved in a new group, “The Jesse Janes”, who recently opened for the subdudes in Woodstock, New York. Other “Janes” include folk-blues legend Elly Wininger, and the original biker goddess Terri Massardo.
With Grammy-award winning co-producer John Guth (“Harry Potter” soundtrack), Atwood produced two of her own CDs, “Northern Country” and “Renegade of the Light Brigade”, which have received national and international airplay, as well as being used for background music for film and television in such diverse programming as Oprah to the Travel Channel. Critics and fans have sung her praises, citing everything from “She sings Patsy Cline better than Patsy Cline”, to “ . . . high notes like Joni Mitchell, low notes like Bessie Smith”. Atwood has graced the stage as opening act for Tom Pacheco, Rod MacDonald, John Hall, Eric Andersen, Livingston Taylor, Tom Paxton, Odetta, Pete Seeger, John Stewart and Ronnie Blakeley, and Bailey and The Boys, and has been on the bill with many other folk and country legends such as Joan Baez, Tom Rush and Don McLean.
When not working for the “greening” of New York state and promoting the alternative form of construction known as the “monolithic dome” (she has built one that she lives in high in the Catskills), Peggy continues to follow her passion for singing and writing songs of places and people who look a little deeper, laugh a little harder, love a bit too much; perhaps for a life that is somewhere in your dreams.
Links
