Reviews of Reno Nevada (STR-716)
Reno Nevada was listed as one of the CDs of the Month in the August/September 2020 issue of InMusic magazine in Germany and was given 4 out of 5 stars! Here is the accompanying review.
The young country-pop singer Griselda comes from Ireland, who can cheer the listener on her first album “Reno Nevada” with her heartwarming and always very melancholy voice. All of the songs on the album were recorded in Nashville. The game board includes also new recordings of pieces by Richard Fariña, Randy Van Warmer, Lowell George and two ballads from Nashville in the 1960s. The wonderfully melancholy "Living on the Line" is recommended as a suggestion for a noteworthy album.
The following review of Reno Nevada, by Griselda (STR-716), appeared in Germany on the Medien-Info site on 6 April 2020. You can read it in German here, or translated into English below.
Spare Time Records is a brand new record label, founded by seasoned musicians and based in both Ireland and Nashville.
Consequently, the first release is the album "Reno Nevada" (STR-716) by the Irish singer Griselda, which was recorded in Nashville. In addition to songs by Richard Fariña, Randy Van Warmer and Lowell George and two ballads from Nashville in the 1960s, four songs were selected that were written exclusively for Griselda's first album. And Griselda's heart-warming interpretation of “Curragh of Kildare” acts as the icing on the cake.
What do Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, James Brown and Elvis Presley have in common? Their sidemen play here on Griselda's album “Reno Nevada”. Just listen to Elvis longtime pianist Bobby Ogdin, who hits the keys here! What an exclusive band! Producer Kirk Beasley was looking for other successful session musicians from Nashville and Ireland to create this exciting new music. They are all versatile, committed, charming, haunted, innovative, lovable and romantic. A musical bridge between the continents that connects. Great songs by an unusual singer who carries both worlds.
A great debut album!
The following review appeared in Good Times magazine in March 2020, translated here from the German.
The Irish singer Griselda Williams, who was trained as an opera singer, describes herself on her Facebook page as a country singer, which is not quite true. Rather, she is a charming, mature and expressive vocalist who has pop in her repertoire as well as folk and adult lounge music. The company, [Spare Time Records], … made its start in Nashville with renowned session people, and intoned song covers by Richard, Lowell George or Randy Van Warmer in a completely different way. "It's Been A Long, Long Time" comes along with strings (but no sentimentality), the more energetic "Put the Love Down" has pops and synthetic sound moments, "Making a Fool of Myself" acts as a crooner-number balladesque thanks to the reduced accompaniment, as well as "Winter Morning". All in all atmospheric, eclectic, in places almost ethereal.
Review in the German Rhein Main Magazine, May 2020. Read it below in English or in the original German here.
Spare Time Records is a brand new record label, founded by seasoned warriors from the music industry and with locations both in Ireland and in Nashville. Logically their first album release is "Reno Nevada" (STR-716) with the Irish singer Griselda and recorded in Nashville. In addition to songs by Richard Fariña, Randy Van Warmer and Lowell George, and two ballads from 1960s Nashville, four songs were selected and written exclusively for Griselda’s first album.
Review from the Jolly Joker’s Ohrenbalsam, 3 March 2020, translated below into English.
The GRISELDA album "Reno Nevada" will be released on April 3, 2020. The Irish singer's album was recorded in Nashville and features 10 songs. Versatile, committed, charming, haunting, innovative, lovable and romantic are all tracks that have been recorded with the help of very prominent help (including Bobby Ogdin). The exclusive band, complemented by other successful session musicians from Nashville and Ireland, create this exciting new music, which also features cover songs by Richard Farina, Randy Van Warmer and Lowell George.