Reviews Archive

Album Review By Lee Howard: Herald Sun

Scanned article reviewing the "Sassified" album. By Lee Howard: Herald Sun - Saturday, 23rd November 2002 RARELY has an album been so aptly named, assuming "sassified" means sassy to the fullest. Andrea Marr is a blues shouter the likes of whom we have seldom seen in Australia. It is a quality that allows her to sing out with conviction on Surgarpie De Santos's sexy Use What You Got, bringing the inderlying humour to the fore. In fact, it is almost possible to hear a smile in some of the songs, Marr leading a tight band of cohorts that would overwhelm a lesser singer. The horns of Ken Mailing, Steve Williams and Brian Stafford drive the singer to be at her best and Chris Wilson's keyboards and production are spot on. It all coalesces on the slower tempo of a Bed Full of Blues, one of the fine, self-penned songs on the 14-track album. This again is brassy in a way a couple of American labels would do well to emulate. LEE HOWARD  Click here for the full story  Posted: Sat, 23rd November 2002

ANDREA MARR'S BLUES TRAIN GET SASSIFIED

Album Review By Werner Martin: Inpress Magazine Issue 694 The sassy Andrea Marr has been part of the Melbourne blues scene for some years now and finally people are sitting up and taking notice...and rightly so. Whilst her first release a couple of years ago was a bit patchy, her newest outing is anything but! Laced with Marr's sensuous and soulful vocals, Sassified has an inner strength that not only emanates from her own musical journey over the last few years but also from her choice of material, musicians and her song writing collaboration with guitarist/saxophonist Brian Strafford. Right from the opening track - the funky superwoman (a Marr/Strafford collaboration)- the scene is set for a soulful album. The Blues Train don't disappoint and stop at all stations without ever leaving the tracks! Marr knows how to deliver a tune and she's got the nuances, the inflections, the wails down pat and whether it's a blues, soul or gospel tune, whether it's an up tempo number or a ballad, Andrea Marr has stamped her vocal authority all over it. Sassified delivers 15 tracks in all and my faves are the opening track, the innuendo laden Sugarpie De Santo cover Use What You Got, Sweet Southern Blues and Marr's original tune It Takes A Woman To Sing The Blues. Marr has been knocking on the door for some time and with this release she's opened that door and is damn well delivering the goods. A great album and one that I can thoroughly recommend. Posted: Wed, 9th January 2002

Album Review by Glenn Nelson from

One wonders what rock was big enough to hide the immense talents of vocalist Andrea Marr. With a voice suited to blues, jazz, soul and gospel (all of which Andrea performs), one struggles with the realisation that this artist has been around for some time. With an impressive independent release, titled "Inheritance", featuring a strong emphasis on original material with some decidedly impressive arrangements, Andrea is well poised to make herself known on the national front. On this album, Andrea not only proves herself a gifted vocalist but also a talented lyricist, having penned a majority of the tunes. There is some very impressive harmonica and saxophone work courtesy of Steve Williams, with Billy Kavanagh (ex-Tin Pan Alley) contributing some guitar. Chris Wilson adds keyboards and bass (Chris also recorded Inheritance at his Studio 7), while a number of other guests also make appearances. The solo saxophone (Steve Williams) intro of the jazz-infused "Summertime", followed by the keyboards of Chris Wilson with rhythm section and guitar open and set the mood for the album. Following is the very funky "Shaky Ground", with decidedly commercial leanings. The bluesy jazzy "Pray for Rain" (an album highlight) sees Billy Kavanagh lend some tasty guitar, with Williams' saxophone and harp also making strong contributions, as Wilson's keyboards back the rhythm section. "When I Laid My Eyes On You" has a Little Willie John "Fever" feel performed as trio plus voice. "It Takes A Woman To Sing The Blues" is straight-ahead blues, with sax and guitar solos by Brian Strafford and Peter Healy respectively and keyboards by Wilson. The title track "Inheritance" is performed a capella gospel style. R & B surface on "When You're Gone", with female backing vocalists. The slow blues "Heaven Sent", again with Kavanagh and Williams making strong contributions, will demand air play on any self-respecting blues program and is another album highlight. "What's Wrong With You" adopts a more rock/blues approach devoid of sax or harp. The Thomas Dorsey "Precious Lord" sees keyboards to accompany voice, as does the laid-back original ballad "Words Cannot Express", with a decidedly mainstream feel to finish this album. While diverse in nature, the album is also focused and a fine example of a debut release for an artist wishing to expose and promote themselves. Andrea Marr is currently working up a straight-ahead blues outfit in hometown Melbourne, known as "Hideaway," and we here at Highway 49 will be watching closely for activity within this camp. Copies of Andrea's album may be obtained by posting cheques or money orders for $23.50 inc within Aust and $25.00 overseas, to A & L Marr. (P.O Box 159 Noble Park Vic Australia 3174). Posted: Sun, 30th September 2001