|
| |
|
|
 |
|
|
In July, I was attending The Cult / Monster Magnet show at
Nautica Stage in the Flats of Cleveland, OH. At 7:00PM or so, a band took stage
with a female singer. What I thought to be a local Cleveland band actually was
Arista Records first hard rock signing in years (probably since Every Mother’s
Nightmare), Lennon Murphy from Hendersonville, TN. The band was quite
intriguing, musically very heavy with Lennon’s clear vocals weaving stories of
desperation. Live, the band came across much like the late Dawn Crosby’s Fear
Of God. Outside the venue, we received a 2 song CD sampler which included the
tracks “Property of Goatf**ker” and the bands first single “Brake Of Your Car”.
During the long ride home, we listened to the songs 4 or 5 times each and found
the eerily haunting tracks embedding their way into our heads.
Upon
receiving the full length CD by Lennon, “5:30 Saturday
Morning”, I was impressed with the dark somberness of the songs and the
emotions from anger to inquisition in Lennon’s lyrics. ”My Beautiful”
is a masterpiece hard rock ballad, which can perhaps be compared to Tori
Amos in regards to composition. The beautiful piano and chilling vocals of
Lennon on “My Beautiful” may be too substantive for radio. Lennon’s
songwriting and arrangements suggest a much older and harder life than her
mere 19 years. With a velvet voice that is soothing as it is powerful,
“Asking You” is another deep ballad of a potentially lost relationship.
The past year has been extremely difficult for Lennon as she lost
her career-supportive mother to an allergic reaction, been involved in a battle
to gain custody of her younger sister, graduated from high school and negotiated
with several labels before signing with Arista Records. “5:30 Saturday Morning”
is scheduled for release in September 11, 2001 and is highly recommended for
those are willing to invest some time in listening to a disc several times as
opposed to going for instant gratification. Soon, you will find yourself
entwined in Lennon’s web of misery.
(Pictures from http://www.lennononline.com
)
Lennon’s Homepage:
http://www.lennononline.com |
|
