Love and Other Words

Collection Contents

#		Title	Length
1		Winter Blues	2:43	Play
2		In Your Arms	4:37	Play
3		While Trees Fall	4:49	Play
4		Say Goodbye	3:17	Play
5		Cutthroat	3:20	Play
6		When I Get There	5:34	Play
7		That Was Then	4:12	Play
8		Calico Creek	5:03	Play
9		I'm in Love	3:56	Play
10		Glad to Hear the Rain	5:54	Play
11		My Amazing Grace	3:14	Play
12		Closing Time	4:32	Play
13		Kiss/met	2:41	Play

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Description

"For those of us who've been already been enjoying Short and Sweet at festivals and concerts, here's what we've been waiting for: a beautiful collection of their original songs. The studio work is excellent, and at the same time, it sounds just like their live performances: their shiny-smooth vocal blend, emotional impact, and really cool instrumental arrangements. The songs cover a big range of feeling, from the inward and personal to the intense and outspoken political. Some songs are quite contemporary, and a few--like "Calico Creek"--sound like they could've been written one hundred years ago. What a treat it is to finally have them on CD."
- LINDA WATERFALL, songwriter, producer, composer, musician and acclaimed recording artist

* * * * * * *
Recent news:
* Robyn was a finalist (one of 6 nationally) in the 2005 Suwannee Springfest Songwriting Competition for "While Trees Fall"
* Robyn is a finalist (one of 10 nationwide) in the 2005 Tucson Folk Festival Songwriting Contest for "Winter Blues" and "Say Goodbye" (the latter co-written with Steve--and Short & Sweet is also playing a set at the festival--see www.shortandsweetmusic.com for a full spring/summer schedule!)

* * * * * * *
This exceptional debut release by Northwest-based acoustic duo Short & Sweet introduces a gifted pair of singer-songwriters to the indie folk/Americana scene. Thirteen original songs (some penned by lead guitarist Steve Amsden, others by rhythm guitarist Robyn Landis, some co-written) manage to gracefully and effortlessly traverse a diverse musical landscape stretching gently toward the borders of rock/pop, country/bluegrass and even jazz/torch while holding on to its clean contemporary folk thread.

Consistently intelligent, commanding and even cunning lyrics--ranging from matters of heart and soul to those of church, state, and world--are framed by confident, heartfelt vocals and ambient, sparkling guitars. Amsden delivers a passionate Springsteenesque baritone; Landis's clear, slightly wistful soprano reveals husky depths and an occasional surprise bite. On harmonies, the two produce a pleasing blend that's sweet indeed.

With emotional resonance and character, the partners cover ground from love's first blush to its impending demise, from political to personal hubris--never too literal, rendered smartly in dexterous verse.

While relatively spare in instrumentation, the music is strikingly textured with the brilliant, breathtaking fiddle work of virtuoso Paul Elliott. Bassist Cary Black (formerly of the Kingston Trio and other great bands) raises the bar with understated but exceedingly solid backbone on every song. Steel guitar by Dan Tyack--sometimes high and lonesome, sometimes rocking David Lindley-esque--rounds out the impressive musicianship represented here.

Amsden's lead playing reflects a gift for creating signature hooks which, coupled with both writers' ability to craft appealing and accessible melodies, gives each song a quick and lasting imprint.

From the riveting, muted fury of the eco-political indictment "While Trees Fall" to the quiet, haunting resignation of "Say Goodbye"; from the yearning called forth by the richly-imaged, mesmeric and meditative "In Your Arms" to the restrained menace in the chillingly prophetic "Cutthroat"; from the impish hint of lounge lizardry in the clever, tautly wordsmithed "Closing Time" to the tender nostalgia of "Calico Creek"; and from the bittersweet stirring of awakening evoked by "When I Get There" to the buoyant, unabashedly sticky "Kiss/Met" (a bright popsicle of a song telling the couple's own story in three head-bobbing verses)--and more--each of these 13 tunes is distinctive, honest and engaging.

While the duo have been performing together for years--and Amsden was a Nashville regular before taking a decade off to singlehandedly raise his three children--this is their first full-length CD release (self-produced on the artists' own label, Take One Again Music). Enigmatically named (they're of identical height, and not all the songs are especially short nor purely sweet), this is a talented pair of musicians, offering a formidable recording debut sure to satisfy fans of the genre. You'll want to hear more from these two--and you will.