Lucky Clark/DISC-CHAT 34
AN INDEPENDENT RELEASE SCORES A GRAMMY NOMINATION FOR PACKAGING...THE MUSIC IS PRETTY GOOD, TOO!
(For the 12/25/03 issue of "Northern Light")
Yeah, I know...usually this column space is for local artists, I try to shy away from the national acts that don't really need a lot of free press. For today's column, though, I'm covering an independent artist who's newest CD has been released nationally on her own Cash Rich Records label (available, with her other five albums and one EP, at www.CRBand.com) and it came to my attention courtesy of a PR firm in Beverly Hills, CA. It seems that Ms. Richardson, a multi-award winning singer-songwriter has just received a Grammy Award nomination in the "Best Recording Package" category for her work on the design of her "The Road to Bliss" album, and as a former art teacher, I can attest to the excellence of her co-design (she worked with commercial artist Bill Dolan). It's a six-fold case that opens up revealing a dashboard with the CD as the steering wheel and the truly neat aspect is the functioning glove compartment complete with a "road map" that unfolds into a CD booklet complete with lyrics, photos and pertinent band information. But what's really great is that the music is also excellent: roots rock with strong lead vocals, tight musicianship and provocative, thoughtful lyrics that lead the listener on a trip through Richardson's creativity. I always enjoy discovering new music makersäespecially ones like the Cathy Richardson Band.
