Brendan O'Shea
Brendan O'Shea,
from Killarney South West of Ireland, has written and
recorded a beautiful bombshell of a record. It's understated
in comparison to the power-pop rockers that command the
airwaves but confidently delivers radio friendly, real
deal songs that wrap around the listener, enticing them
to contentedly hum along, shuffle their feet and smile.
After leaving Ireland in the late 90's, O'Shea has by
now become a veteran of New York's East Village songwriter
scene. He's shared stages with The Cowboy Junkies, 10,000
Maniacs, Elliott Smith Interpol, and in 20008 with the
oscar winners THE SWELL SEASON as well as with many Irish
indie superstars on both sides of the Atlantic.
With or without a guitar in hand, O'Shea excels at drawing
people in, using a palate of warm colorful moods and phrases.
Whether on his newest release, "Be Here Still",
his follow-up to the well received 2003 debut,
"In the Light", or on stage in a club on the
Lower East Side of Manhattan, he is the consummate host
and creates no less than a menu of chorus laden delights.
With it's supremely uncluttered production, courtesy
of Ed Tinley, Karl Odlum, and Ike Reilly, "Be Here
Still", recorded in Chicago, NYC, and Dublin is
up there with David Gray's "A Century Ends",
with its grounded stories of ordinary peoples' lives.
It evokes images of candelit conversations with friends
and lovers past and present. It's melodic, warm, and
imbued with quietly rousing arms in the air of immediacy,
thanks to a tight, yet dynamic rhythm section, and strings
by Julia Kent and Rob Moose of Antony and the Johnsons.
The opening track "Tired Eyes" is a sauntering
tale that plants Irish immigrants in the hustle of NY
yet firmly represents, not the lost, but the young,
savvy, cosmopolitan Irish and their integration and
advancing in the New World. Throughout this record,
there appear touches of this new american home, with
faint nods to southern roots songs, which seamlessly
attach to hints of O'Shea's past musical affilliations.
You'll see the shadows of Irish rockstars of late, Irish
traditional melodies and the poetic flair of the countryside,
as on the track, "Still", but it's not soaked
with sentimentality and none of it ever wielded so much,
as to hide the man himself.
"Be Here Still" is like the jumper you always
reach for first when the autumn comes around. It's all
very late Saturday and into Sunday morning, when you've
had your fill of all the fuss in the city; any city.
It's inviting, familiar, yet quietly invigorating, like
a slow motion dance of such power that it fixes you
where you stand....
Picture an Irishman, in New York, standing with arms
open wide....telling you the kettle is on and he's got
something he wants you to hear. And having toured EUROPE
in july 20008 brendan has started tracking for a new
record due out 20009 .
Brendan's album "Be Here Still" will be available
in January at CD baby and local independent records
store for sale January 2007.
Instrumentation
Brendan O'Shea - Vocals and Guitar
Discography
"In the Light" 2003
"BE HERE STILL" 2007
Links
http://www.myspace.com/brendanoshea
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