Sarah Burton

Toronto based singer-songwriter has released her new album, “Make Your Own Bed” on March 17, 2015. This album is Sarah’s fourth release, and you can tell she knows what she’s doing, an absolutely perfect mixture of pop, rock and folk. Sarah’s silky smooth voices pulls you in and the flawless music in each song had me completely mesmerized.

The album begins strong with “From The Start” which is a great pop song that I found myself singing along with after the first listen through. I can’t get enough of Sarah’s voice, and I wish I had heard of her before now. This is the type of song that will pull the listener in, and make them want to hear more.

“Ocean Town” has to be my favourite on the album, mostly because I love the lyrics. The song really makes you want to be at the beach, in the sun. This song was stuck in my head for days, and I can’t say that I minded.

I love a song that tells a story, and that is something that Sarah seems to excel at. “I Will Be Free” takes you on a journey. Sarah has a way of delivering soft, yet fierce vocals that give me chills.

If you are on the lookout for a fresh, vibrant album for the summer months, this is the one for you. I know I will be adding this album to my collection.

Rating: 5/5 - Canadian Beats - Jenna Melanson

MAKE YOUR OWN BED
Sarah Burton
Toronto-based singer/songwriter Sarah Burton has impressed on three earlier releases, and new album Make Your Own Bed is another fine effort. She mixes up indie rock, pop and roots influences, and her songs have a nice range of tempos and feels. Valid comparison points would include Sheryl Crow and Jenny Lewis. The production values here are high, thanks to the work of engineer/producer Ken Friesen (Tragically Hip, Blue Rodeo), and producer Derek Downham (The Beauties, Samantha Martin). The decision to cover Treble Charger's rock classic "Red" here is a brave one, but her version is a fine one (TC's Bill Priddle guests on it). Her own compositions are equally effective. - New Canadian Music - Kerry Doole

Another little gem from Canada, 'Fire Breathers' is Sarah Burton’s second full length album and she’s stuffed it full of earthy and earnest sounds coming across at times like Lucinda Williams’ little sister. A little sassier, certainly more energetic but with a voice that leans back against the bar and tells it like it is while the bar band thrashes away.

The terrific country blues of the second song here, 'Round me Up' is a perfect example. While it opens with a cinematic flourish Burton then strolls on strumming her guitar before harmonica, garage guitar and some great sloppy sounding drums kick into gear. 'Winnipeg' clatters along in much the same way but with a fine twang fuelled kick as Burton posits the Manitoban city as akin to Las Vegas. She revisits the blues on the piledriving 'My Man' while 'Never Known' has a Neil Young type ferocity to it. There’s a gentler side to Burton on show also with a fine cover of The Low Anthem’s 'To Ohio' included and on 'Tell Me' she sounds tender and vulnerable on what is a fine little love song. Closing with a fine rendition of the traditional 'Wayfaring Stranger' Burton is well worth investigating.
- Paul Kerr, Americana UK

Toronto, ON singer-songwriter Sarah Burton earned critical praise for her debut EP, 2007's Love is for Pussies, and 2010's Mayflower. She ups the creative ante with this eclectic, but compelling release. Things start off in rockin' mode with "Raise the Bar" and the raunchy "Round Me Up," while country ("Tried Being Good"), blues and folk strains are audible later on. Burton's roots shine clearly on the final cut, a version of the traditional "Wayfaring Stranger" that breathes new fire into a well-covered classic. The other cover is the Low Anthem's "To Ohio," which is also done justice. Colourful characters and places in her original songs include outlaws, cowboys, the women who lust after them and drunken nights in Winnipeg. There's a slightly rough and ready feel to the instrumentation that suits Burton's vibrant and versatile vocals. She produced herself and recruited such fine guests players as Paul Reddick (his harmonica playing adds energy to a couple of cuts) and backing vocalists Andrea Romolo, Cindy Doire, Jenny Allen and Jadea Kelly. You get the sense they had lots of fun recording this very enjoyable disc. - Kerry Doole, Exclaim

"a country-dusted folk album of steel guitars and sweet sorrow" - Brad Wheeler, Globe and Mail

I'm well over halfway through this CD, sitting here at my desk with a cup of coffee and a blank Word document staring at me from the flat screen monitor. Every song on Mayflower so far has intrigued me and engaged me and left me with a torrent of conflicting words and emotions. I REALLY like the album. It's well thought out and the musicianship is excellent and the songs are well written and the vocals direct. So what's the problem?

Well, it's not really a problem. More of a dilemma really. Here is an album that seems to be a really well done statement (as in "Here I am!"), replete with what seem at first to be rough edges. Sometimes the vocals are a bit breathy. The harmonies may not be spot on. The songs, good as they are, seem to be almost stream-of-consciousness at times, and here and there a little schmaltzy. The instrumentation verges on cacophony in a couple of places! And yet I cannot stop listening to this woman and her band, because I want to hear what's next.

This is not a reaction I usually have to musical execution that is less than really tight. Well, I guess it is this time.

There is some precedent for this kind of damn-the-torpedoes reveal of a musical soul (and my reaction to it), although the music is completely different. The Band. The Grateful Dead. Janis and Big Brother. Early Bob Dylan. Lots of rough edges and a message: Deal with it. In those albums and in this one, once you get past the lack of regimentation, you're going to have a pretty good time, perhaps because of that very thing.

Sarah Burton's vocals remind me a little bit of a young Taylor Swift, before she donned the glitter and lipstick and took on the persona she has now. There is an undeniable honesty to the songs Burton has assembled here, some fast, some not so much. I would pick out a title or two for special praise, and they are there, but that would diminish the impact of the package.

Here is acoustic, rock, bluesy, torch, indie jive, country psychedelic, soul-baring beautiful music that those with a need to hear a new point of view ought to get off their butts and obtain. This album matters. - J.W. McClure, Victory Music Review

"The Sarah Burton Band is comprised of incredible musicians who bring a new, fresh sound to the music scene and Burton’s songs are well crafted, the lyrics are thought provoking and she refuses to settle for mere hooks or formula writing. This is a band that you should listen to, because it will not be long before they are headlining concerts in large venues. That’s how good they are and they are only going to get better." - Joe Montague, Rivettingriffs.com

"...a biting combination of timeless melodies and dark quirky, sharp-tongued lyrics." - Linda McRae, BC musician magazine

Sarah is explosive in the manner in which she delivers her message with a multi-dimensional personal ity and a heavy foot to keep her grounded. - Fernando Fernandez, Unchartedsounds.com