Music
Press
"he sings like he feels every note...each song tells a story of which he relates astonishingly well" - boston globe
Fans of Reed Foehl’s other project, the popular Acoustic Junction, will already be familiar with the deep and melodic songcraft on Spark. Newcomers can expect pure, well-crafted pop.
Over the halting rhythm of the opener “The Remedy,” Foehl sings, “Somewhere over make believe / You came along to rescue me,” and an intimate, nearly confessional experience begins. Foehl’s lyrics, particularly on songs like “Cataleen,” recall a haiku-like quality, creating tightly focused images from short, simple bursts of words.
Foehl expands on this aesthetic with songs like “Give You More,” which calls to mind a 1970s Harrison or Lennon post-Beatles. Musically and sonically, Spark tips its hat to David Gray’s White Ladder, punctuating heart-rending acoustic ballads with drums, loops and synthesizers fitted into just the right places. —CS
- Performing Songwriter Mag
"If "Spark" had been released five years ago, the timing had been perfect. Nowadays his beat- and electronica-singer-songwriter-pop is as out of fashion, as David Gray is rich.
Which is a real pity, because Foehl is a brilliant songwriter, as good as Tom McRae. His voice is very reminiscent of Gray's, and even some melodies has hints of David Gray's
music. But where Gray is doing it for the wallet, Foehl is definitely doing it for the heart. "Spark" is a perfect example of perfect singer-songwriter-pop!"
- Musik mag
"Here we’re talking a more sort of well produced beautiful singer songwriter pop somewhere between Duncan Sheik, Teitur and Coldplay. All spiced with a mature touch a’la Paul Simon. And yes, it is sure a good hybrid. Just lovely. And it’s not easy to fail with such a lovely voice as Reed. But that is just one good ingredient. The others are the lovely production and the solid songwriting. I have just listened to the album twice and my feeling is also that it grows. And with that in mind I’m sure I’ll have a nice friend in this album for a long future. Reed is a hero."
- Pär Winberg Editor In Chief, www.melodic.net
"That'll probably make my best of the year singer/songwriter list; great stuff."
- Eric Alan,Music Director, Jefferson Public Radio
"i just listened to Spark in it's entirety,...thank you reed, you beautiful man...you're like john lennon, the sasquatch, the dali lama, and the beastie boys rolled up in a rice paper with sassy sauce..."
- David Gelfand -former lead guitarist of water
"If it is the assignment of artists, authors, and songwriters to make sense of our emotions, then the work of reed foehl represents the very pinnacle of the craft"
- Donnie Moorhouse-WRNX
Discography
Leo's song 1995
Spark 2004
Stoned Beautiful March 7th 2007
Photos
Bio
Reed Foehl first jumped onto the music industry radar as the lead singer of the Boulder CO based jam band Acoustic Junction. Their first two independently issued albums, Love It for What It Is (1991) and Surrounded By Change (1994) along with a relentless touring schedule won them both critical acclaim and a devoted cult following. As the band developed and survived several lineup changes the "acoustic" description no longer fit all of their material. Foehl, along with Acoustic Junction's core musicians Tim Roper, Curtis Thompson and Matt Coconis went on to sign with Capricorn/Mercury Records and released their major label debut under the name Fools Progress (1997). A return to the better-known Acoustic Junction moniker preceded the 1999 release of Live 5-4-99 and Strange Days appeared early the following year.
A prolific songwriter, Foehl penned much of the material on the Acoustic Junction/Fool's Progress albums while still finding time to compose many songs not intended for the "band" repertoire. In 1995 what began as a brief getaway to Crested Butte CO. turned into informal recording sessions which then became Leo's Song, his first solo album. Still committed to his work with Acoustic Junction, he realized that writing and recording of his more personal material was always on the horizon. In 2001, Acoustic Junction parted ways and Foehl launched into a full time solo career. The charismatic performer soon found a devoted audience turning out for his appearances at well-heeled venues in Boulder, Denver and Los Angeles. In 2004 he released his second solo album Spark through his own NFR label. Born in Boston and growing up in Dover, MA, Foehl has always maintained ties to his native New England and frequently returns there on tour, along with stops in Philadelphia and New York. He has opened for a number of today's noteworthy recording artists including Patty Griffin, Taj Mahal, Dave Matthews and most recently on several shows with Ray LaMontagne. Along the way, Foehl has caught the attention of motion picture/television music supervisors and his original songs have been featured in a number of productions including the feature film Just Friends (New Line Cinema), Laguna Beach (MTV), The Biggest Loser (NBC), and Breaking Bonaduce (VH1).
Reed Foehl's latest album is entitled Stoned Beautiful. It is composed of 11 stunning original songs, which are straight from the artist's heart. " I think it’s the first record that I’ve recorded that comes the closest to a true representation of my music and where I come from. There was a great vibe happening on these sessions. Although it’s a studio recording all the songs were basically live takes…there is no fancy cover up just the raw, real truth." -Reed Foehl
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