NEWS. PRESS. MUSIC. SIDE PROJECTS. CD BABY. ITUNES. CAFEPRESS. PHOTO. CLIP. THINK. DONATE. LINK. INFO. PRESS. Daniel Gannaway - OP-ED: Environmental / Social / Political [2006] Review of OP-ED: Environmental / Social / Political @ Indie Music: Reviews: Daniel Gannaway ~ OP-ED: Environmental / Social / Political Posted on Saturday, June 03, 2006 @ 04:18:25 EST Topic: Reviews Artist: Daniel Gannaway CD: OP-ED: Environmental / Social / Political Home: San Francisco, California Style: Political Folk Quote: "Perhaps politics might actually catch on if Gannaway were doing the singing, instead of John Ashcroft's barbershop quartet." By Todd Beemis The aptly titled Op-Ed by Daniel Gannaway is a baker's dozen of quietly heartfelt, earnest and musically accomplished screeds against ecologically damaging development, war, coastline preservation and New Zealand's student loan program, to name but a few of the topics. Unlike some bald-faced political albums however, Gannaway matches political passion with folk-pop chops and a voice that I could listen to singing the phone book. Like Paul Weller's Style Council, Gannaway uses the clever approach of hooky music to sugarcoat the impatient pill of his call-to-action lyrics. Recorded in Hawaii, some of the instruments reflect a tropical influence. The strummy ukeleles of "A Just Senator" could be heard at any tourist-trap luau on the Big Island, but they accompany a thoughtful j'accuse of hawkish politicians. Thankfully, Gannaway lets a spare arrangement and his own mellifluous voice carry the record, never resorting to bombast or cereal filler "big" sounds designed to pander to an MTV ear. Perhaps politics might actually catch on if Gannaway were doing the singing, instead of John Ashcroft's barbershop quartet. It's a thought. But until the Republican or Democratic National Convention is converted into a Broadway musical, we'll have to make do with Daniel. And that's going to be just fine for fans of indie folk pop with a message. >> Link to Indie Music Review of OP-ED: Environmental / Social / Political @ NZ Musician Magazine: Sitting somewhat to the left of the political spectrum, Daniel Gannaway's songs examine current environmental, social and political events as they apply on bth a global and more personal level. Even though the songs are placed in stripped down acoustic settings with just guitar, voice and harmonica, this is not really the music of a protesting folkie. More the explorations and observations of life in a new century and how, for Gannaway especially, things could be different. It's a straight up and down approach that leaves little for interpretation and places the songs in a definite time and space with references to 9/11, the Tampa refugees and local environmental issues. There's enough of an edge in his performances to keep this album from being just another strum along acoustic folk record, although with the recording done in Hawaii it's no surprise a laid back surfer vibe surfaces now and then. Maybe Gannaway's next album will contain the answers to the many questions raised. Tim Page >> Link to NZ Musician Magazine >> BUY OP-ED: Environmental / Social / Political @ CD Baby Quick links: >> MP3s & CDs @ CD Baby! >> Apple iTunes >> Rhapsody >> iSOUND >> MP3tunes >> Napster >> eMusic >> myspace >> VIRB >> ReverbNation >> CafePress ^ top ^ thankyou for supporting truly independent music