Joe Songwriter Live - Perfectly Imperfect

#		Title	Length
1		Intro	0:22	Play
2		The Flame	4:39	Play
3		Far Away	3:52	Play
4		How Lovely	3:09	Play
5		Song For Emma	3:14	Play
6		Climb My Tree	3:48	Play
7		Blue Skies	4:25	Play
8		Chasing Joe Songwriter	3:57	Play
9		Your Song	2:55	Play
			30:21

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Description

REVIEW OF "PERFECTLY IMPERFECT", From Indie-Music.com

Written by Kenny Hart

Joe Songwriter chose to release his first album, aptly titled Perfectly Imperfect, as a live recording of his November, 2004 performance at Stain Bar in Brooklyn, New York. The beauty of a live recording is that it captures every nuance of the artist's performance, imperfections included.

Thank Heaven, Joe had an epiphany and returned to music after a long absence. The world is better for his having realized his talent. But why the gimmick name? It sounds more like an album title than a stage name, a bit too flippant for a guy who writes every song from the heart. Maybe that's the point, though; an artist can get too serious about himself and his music. Songwriter is obviously enjoying himself, living the artist's life, doing what is most dear to him, and it shows in this lively performance.

At first listen, Songwriter sounds a bit like Cat Stevens. The similarity in the voice is striking, but there is a spiritual similarity as well. Like Stevens, Songwriter's music documents his spiritual journey and gives you a glimpse of what lies beyond his physical existence. You could call these songs "soulscapes," and that would sum it up. His lyrics are conversational, yet full of images; his guitar playing mimics the emotional highs and lows as he takes us on a heartfelt trip through his universe.

Too often, you hear songs in this style that may have a decent lyric but are set to music that merely serves as a clock for the verses - not so in Joe Songwriter's case. Following a brief intro, "The Flame" kicks off the performance with Songwriter pondering the whys and wherefores of the race for success in a material world. "Song For Emma," written for his baby girl, is a beautiful ode to fatherhood. "Blue Skies" stands out above the others, not only for its expressive finger-style guitar accompaniment, but for its vivid message: "Hold my clouds in your blue skies; grow your flowers in my sunshine."

In the final cut "Chasing Joe Songwriter," he pleads "Find me a magic way home ... to you." The "you" is symbolic, of course, representing a part of himself that he chases on his quest for self realization.

One complaint I have about this album is that the lyrics aren't included in the liner notes. They're not on Songwriter's website, either. Because of the less-than-perfect nature of this recording, the words are sometimes lost in the dynamics of the music, which forces you to replay certain parts of the songs; this detracts a bit from the listening experience. But for that, Perfectly Imperfect is perfectly listenable.

Note: Lyrics are now available at www.joesongwriter.com!

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ABOUT JOE SONGWRITER

"Thank Heaven, Joe had an epiphany and returned to music after a long absence. The world is better for his having realized his talent". Indie-music.com

Those words were almost never uttered...

I grew up on Long Island and lived my young years in pursuit of the dream of playing music for people. I went to college and studied photography; the whole time considering the process a "back up" in the event that music didn't work out for me.

After college, I moved with my best friends to play music in Boston. We had good chemistry, but no real "songs" and after a couple of years, it broke apart. Chronic tendonitis and the call of adulthood got me thinking about taking a break from music. So, I put down the guitar for, what I thought would be, only a short break.

Years later... After moving back to New York, starting a family and working in offices, studios and kitchens, I looked back and saw that a few months had turned into many unfulfilled years. I was trying to be the man I thought my friends and family wanted me to be. It was killing me.

I had acquired all of the comforts of life, but I was miserable, overweight, out of shape and completely ungrateful for all I had. Everyday was spent imagining a better future and thinking that if only I kept working, one day I'd be able to have some time to do what I loved.

A pain began to form in my chest. It was with me constantly. I couldn't concentrate and the anxiety was debilitating. The depression was undeniable. I felt like I had unfinished business with my life and couldn't put my finger on it. I was determined to find the truth of what was happening to me.

Then, something miraculous happened. I saw a spiritual mediator from Sedona, AZ; the reading was a Christmas gift from a dear family member. This woman knew nothing of me and yet she saw right through me and what I was going through. I was in the throws of a spiritual awakening. My soul was being reborn and was no longer content to be left in the shadows.

Thus began an aggressive time of healing for my body, mind and spirit. During this healing process, I started to hear music again. It was then that I started to feel confident enough to begin writing it down and performing it. The music was much different than that which I had written years before. It came from a different place. Not from my head, not even from me. It came from somewhere beyond and was passed to me right through my heart. It spoke of my journey, the confusion I felt, the faith, the hardship and the hope.

Music is my way of documenting my journey and processing that which can often be too overwhelming to deal with. I want to share this journey with others in hopes of, not only entertaining them, but also shining a light on their lives, so they might find their way home as well. I don't know where my journey will take me, but now I am armed with the faith that my path will be lit.

Thanks for listening!