Review
by WarriorGirl Music
I
popped on this CD today and was instantly taken on a journey.
It was like I was driving a cool convertible up the Pacific
Coast Highway heading from L.A to Monterey, wind in my
face, lost in thought, feeling the sunshine. You see,
Steven Andrew Kacsmar took me to another world with his
cruisy rhythms and drive-time songs. I was really at home
with the cd in the computer, but, wow, his music took
me somewhere magical. It's not hard to listen to this
cd. It just feels good all the way.
With
some James Taylor-esque feel-good melodies and intimate
lyrics, "Dreams and Destiny" has a southern twang mixed
with a definite Californian rock, that made me smell the
Pacific Ocean just listening to him. That's what I would
expect from a boy from San Francisco, right? Mind you,
his album cover is filled with pictures of him lost somewhere
in the mountains. Reminds me of Louisiana. Maybe that's
his intention. This touch of nature, though, is fitting.
Steven is a romantic at heart, and his voice shows maturity
and sensitivity, and is filled with emotion. There are
some great harmonies and the musicianship is excellent.
I'm somewhat taken back in time, almost to Credence Clearwater
Revival or the Crosby, Stills and Nash days, but there
are some rock sensibilities that definitely put it in
the new millennium.
"Time" is my favorite in so far as lyrics, metaphors,
feel and voice. But itŐs not necessarily the radio song.
A more radio friendly song would be "Don't Really Know",
placed as Track 1 for obvious reasons, but in my mind
this is more generic and heard before. I love Track 6
"It's our World" the most, for mass attack! By far the
best radio song on this album and a hit, especially if
you want a little southern edge and cruisy vibe. Plus
the lyrics are what I feel so many artists miss in their
music... Steven makes a contribution to the world in searching
to make it a better place. He writes,
"
It's our world and life is what you make it
I can't figure out just what we think we're doing
The world is a web of life and we're just about to break
it
Wake up can't you smell the coffee brewing"
These
are the kinds of lyrics we need in songs rather than just
silly old love songs. This has substance!
Also
worth crediting are Roberta Donnay's producion skills,
which come through big time in the sensitivity of the
melodies and use of space throughout the album. Plus the
musicians are versatile and authentic. With or without
his top-notch cast, Steven Andrew Kacsmar's songs shine.
Go take a listen and get your copy today!
by
Wrgrl - www.Songsalive.org
Review
by South of Mainstream (
http://www.southofmainstream.com )
You
know that song "Travelin' Man" by Ricky Nelson
(I'm a travelin' man I've made a lot of stops all over
the world)? What appeals to me most about that song isn't
him talking about his 'China doll down in old Hong Kong'
but rather, the predominant honesty throughout the song.
I found the same honesty in Dreams & Destiny by Steven
Andrew Kacsmar.
Kacsmar's
music is best described as a variety of folk. Some songs
sound a bit country, while others sound smooth and soulful.
At times it reminded me of a mixture of James Taylor and
Willie Nelson. Kacsmar's voice is great for this style
of music; it carries a twang as well as a soulful sound,
and is also sophisticated. Something about his voice brings
an intense honesty to all the songs (as I alluded to above).
I don't know exactly what it is that causes it to have
such an honest appeal, but it makes me feel like he is
baring his heart in his songs. Like he is sitting in an
old bar, relating his life story to everyone, and they
all understand and take part in it. I believe that this
honest expression is Kacsmar's best asset. The album carries
good musical styling as well as interesting guitar solos
and even some piano at times. Everything is perfectly
subtle, nothing over the top, nothing overdone. The nine
tracks composing the disk were a good listen.
Steven
Andrew Kacsmar is a talented artist and these talents
were well presented in Dreams & Destiny... I believe that
if Kacsmar really challenged himself, he could create
some astounding lyrics, and this will add so much more
to his astounding music.
Other
News
Two
of my songs, ("Don't Really Know" and "Time-Through the
Years"), from my CD "Dreams and Destiny" were chosen for
airplay on DJ Lord Litter's "Outlaw for Peace" radio show.
"Don't
Really Know" was also selected for The Lord Litter
Show on Cyberstorm Radio.
Lord
Litter is an Indie music DJ (and Icon) in Europe. His
weekly show airs on the FM band in Europe and on internet
radio. For a full list of airtimes, you can visit the
Lord Litter Website at:
