Reviews

Reviews http://danwebstermusic.com/reviews.cfm Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:00:00 GMT http://bandzoogle.com 'NetRhythms' Review of 'Diamond Land' - September 2009 http://danwebstermusic.com/reviews.cfm?feature=884923&postid=94187 "Hailing from Scarborough and apparently born on a boat while mum was gathering lobster pots, Webster's part of the earnest singer-songwriter school and writes songs about how he's not a reliable relationship bet (Falling), the hidden agendas of war (Diamond Land, Superstore), romances broken or blossoming (Caroline, What Are We Doing Here?, Borrowed And Blue), war not being a good thing (Fishing), and looking back on unfulfilled lives (Playing Cards). His reflective lyrics often sounding more like those of someone three times his age and featuring characters in their autumn years, he sings with conviction and passion. And even if he does sometimes overplay the soaring vocal drama, he has an engaging voice (not, at times, like an amalgam of Damien Rice and David Gray) and the overall result makes for an impressive debut." Mike Davis <a target="_new" href="http://www.netrhythms.co.uk">www.netrhythms.co.uk "Hailing from Scarborough and apparently born on a boat while mum was gathering lobster pots, Webster's part of the earnest singer-songwriter school and writes songs about how he's not a reliable relationship bet (Falling), the hidden agendas of war (Diamond Land, Superstore), romances broken or blossoming (Caroline, What Are We Doing Here?, Borrowed And Blue), war not being a good thing (Fishing), and looking back on unfulfilled lives (Playing Cards).
His reflective lyrics often sounding more like those of someone three times his age and featuring characters in their autumn years, he sings with conviction and passion. And even if he does sometimes overplay the soaring vocal drama, he has an engaging voice (not, at times, like an amalgam of Damien Rice and David Gray) and the overall result makes for an impressive debut."

Mike Davis

www.netrhythms.co.uk

]]> Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:00:00 GMT 4450885309182461CE9F7833BD73458F 'Maverick Magazine' review of 'Diamond Land' - September issue - 2009 http://danwebstermusic.com/reviews.cfm?feature=884923&postid=66751 "Offering a personal outlet for Webster due to the intimate details discussed, this is a sombre yet quality album. Born just a stones throw away from Scarborough shore, this twelve track album is full of personal insight that gives more than an inkling into what irks this artist into putting pen to paper and, at times, can be moving that leads the audience into an escapist world which many should visit now and then. With an intriguing picking style to begin its proceedings, Waiting in line starts slowly but then builds up to a pace which is worth waiting for. With a stonking electric guitar solo in its middle, this track is certainly one which will, or probably does, get the crowd going into a mass frenzy. With a start similar to the one already mentioned, the enticing Superstore is full to the brim of electric guitar goodness which doesn't fail in stopping the foot from tapping. Superstore allows Dan to truly demonstrate his singing talents to probable audience appreciation. It has a feeling and glow of being perfect to play at the end of the night as it preaches, in a good way, some strong social comment which might leave the audience pondering on a few points which they might have otherwise missed. The undisputable and irresistibly beautiful Caroline is one track in particular which, if the world would end tomorrow and all that was left was this song to act as evidence of human existence, would not be a bad thing whatsoever. It has harmonies and lead vocals to match even the most successful of groups or artists, which begs the question that why has this song not been played on the radio before? An artist who asks of utter concentration when hearing him ply his craft, this album is evidence of yet another soul singing the material which he is proud of doing so. Judging on the twelve songs here, they sure are a great way to spend an hour or, in a live setting, an evening." RH <a target="_new" href="http://www.maverick-country.com">   "Offering a personal outlet for Webster due to the intimate details discussed, this is a sombre yet quality album. Born just a stones throw away from Scarborough shore, this twelve track album is full of personal insight that gives more than an inkling into what irks this artist into putting pen to paper and, at times, can be moving that leads the audience into an escapist world which many should visit now and then. With an intriguing picking style to begin its proceedings, Waiting in line starts slowly but then builds up to a pace which is worth waiting for. With a stonking electric guitar solo in its middle, this track is certainly one which will, or probably does, get the crowd going into a mass frenzy. With a start similar to the one already mentioned, the enticing Superstore is full to the brim of electric guitar goodness which doesn't fail in stopping the foot from tapping. Superstore allows Dan to truly demonstrate his singing talents to probable audience appreciation. It has a feeling and glow of being perfect to play at the end of the night as it preaches, in a good way, some strong social comment which might leave the audience pondering on a few points which they might have otherwise missed. The undisputable and irresistibly beautiful Caroline is one track in particular which, if the world would end tomorrow and all that was left was this song to act as evidence of human existence, would not be a bad thing whatsoever. It has harmonies and lead vocals to match even the most successful of groups or artists, which begs the question that why has this song not been played on the radio before? An artist who asks of utter concentration when hearing him ply his craft, this album is evidence of yet another soul singing the material which he is proud of doing so. Judging on the twelve songs here, they sure are a great way to spend an hour or, in a live setting, an evening."

RH

]]> Tue, 18 Aug 2009 10:00:00 GMT 5EB435D91FA17913E75296ED1D029862 'Americana-UK' review of 'Diamond Land' - 9th August 2009 http://danwebstermusic.com/reviews.cfm?feature=884923&postid=66768 "Folk Troubadour album - whimsical and gentle" "Dan Webster's PR notes compare him to a rare lobster - trading on the story of him being born at sea as his mother emptied lobster pots and how somehow this makes him 'earnest and confused, talking of love, loss, politics, corruption and war'. Isn't this what every singer songwriter writes about? Ignoring the guff of the PR, this album opens itself out as a strong set of songs driven by some impressive musical moods and a vocal delivery of some conviction. These sound like songs tried and tested on the road, they feel lived in and lived with. The production and song writing is not earth-shatteringly original but that is not the objective here. It is a collection of songs that demand repeat listens and in that it follows the singer song writer template completely.  With repeated listens certain things stand out - the delicacy and emotion of 'Like You Do' and 'Borrowed and Blue', the anger and passion of 'What Are We Doing Here' and 'Like Hell'. The crack in the voice and the commercial possibilities of 'Waiting In Line' and the repressed rage of 'Superstore' with its politics on its sleeve. Years ago this would be described as a bedsit album and that's no bad thing." <a target="_new" href="http://www.americana-uk.com">Americana-UK "Folk Troubadour album - whimsical and gentle"

"Dan Webster's PR notes compare him to a rare lobster - trading on the story of him being born at sea as his mother emptied lobster pots and how somehow this makes him 'earnest and confused, talking of love, loss, politics, corruption and war'. Isn't this what every singer songwriter writes about?

Ignoring the guff of the PR, this album opens itself out as a strong set of songs driven by some impressive musical moods and a vocal delivery of some conviction. These sound like songs tried and tested on the road, they feel lived in and lived with.

The production and song writing is not earth-shatteringly original but that is not the objective here. It is a collection of songs that demand repeat listens and in that it follows the singer song writer template completely.

With repeated listens certain things stand out - the delicacy and emotion of 'Like You Do' and 'Borrowed and Blue', the anger and passion of 'What Are We Doing Here' and 'Like Hell'. The crack in the voice and the commercial possibilities of 'Waiting In Line' and the repressed rage of 'Superstore' with its politics on its sleeve.

Years ago this would be described as a bedsit album and that's no bad thing."

Americana-UK

]]> Sun, 09 Aug 2009 10:00:00 GMT A8176763AD0A4165BFAD72249FCDAC85 'Acoustic Magazine' review of 'Diamond Land' - June 2009 http://danwebstermusic.com/reviews.cfm?feature=884923&postid=66737 "Singer/songwriter Dan Webster is an insightful lyricist with a great voice, simultaneously youthful and mature, that I think I've fallen a little bit in love with. The opening track, 'Falling', is an immediate hook, and some of the more emotional aspects of the album meant that halfway through I needed a little lie down; it's been too long since an album did that to me. Diamond Land should be glued to your summer playlist." Kate Lewis <a target="_new" href="http://www.acousticmagazine.com">   "Singer/songwriter Dan Webster is an insightful lyricist with a great voice, simultaneously youthful and mature, that I think I've fallen a little bit in love with. The opening track, 'Falling', is an immediate hook, and some of the more emotional aspects of the album meant that halfway through I needed a little lie down; it's been too long since an album did that to me. Diamond Land should be glued to your summer playlist."

Kate Lewis

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