“Nicole has a big, dignified vocal character! She's a natural for big, heart-pounding ballads and seems at certain moments to be channeling Patsy Cline which is a VERY good thing.” - Bud Scoppa www.hitsdailydouble.com/Mix/Paste/Uncut
“Gordon’s no novice and her singing reflects an unflappable confidence! The common bond resides in Gordon’s savvy and sensuality, qualities that indicate stardom’s well within reach.“ - Performing Songwriter Magazine 2008
“Got the car running is magnificent! No other word will do. Gordon’s aching, sweet, & soulful voice drive the story forward… this is an emotional, beautiful, and rewarding album and a certain for 2007 Top Ten lists!” - Maverick Magazine
“’Songs of Shiloh’ is an emotionally affecting cycle of pop songs with pure melodic appeal and lyrical specificity. There’s the shivery beauty of Gordon’s voice, which echoes that of Sarah McLachlan and Kris Delmhorst.” - Bliss - Pasadena Weekly
Voted one of the TOP 12 DIY CDs of 2003 - Performing Songwriter Magazine
"One of the Top 25 Demos of 2003" - Music Connection Magazine
"Heavenly" - Jim Ladd DJ 95.5fm KLOS Los Angeles, CA
"I think Nicole's music is exactly what alternative country needs right now!" -Buzz Brainard KZLA fm Los Angeles, CA
"Gordon’s vocals are consistently appealing and reliable, if not especially unique. This mature artist has a solid vision of herself and articulates lyrics effectively." -Music Connection Magazine
"Nicole Gordon is a talented artist whose VOICE is perhaps one of the strongest on the LA Scene!" - Scott Dudelson The LA Music Scene
“I think you have a great career ahead of you!” – Gerry Goffin
Nicole Gordon: Press
Having refined her musical act since the age of eight, Nicole Gordon is no stranger to the stage. Tonight, the LA-based singer/songwriter brings her unique brand of Americana to the Echo, with songs that somehow sound both brand new and sweetly familiar. Her vocals could carry the show accompanied by a single washboard and the sound of spoons clanking against an old man's knee, but skillful guitar picking and charming organ contributions don't hurt. Gordon has drawn favorable comparisons to such varied songstresses as Sarah McLachlan and Shakira, but such far-ranging praise only affirms her astonishing range.
She’s been writing songs since the age of 5 and has 11 albums (both solo and with various groups) to her credit. She’s also racked up a bevy of kudos over the years, with Performing Songwriter magazine hailing her voice as “one of the strongest and most soulful in the City of Angels.” And on Sunday, Nicole Gordon will make a rare area appearance when she performs at Puck in Doylestown.
Though she’s a Philadelphia area native, having grown up just outside of the city, one of eight children, she’s made Los Angeles home for the last several years. But now she’s back east for the holidays and bringing her sultry, emotive blend of folk, rock, soul and country with her.
The Temple University grad started singing at the age of 7 and got her first professional gig the following year. She took voice lessons with the late composer Russell Faith, who has guided the careers of such stars as Andrea McArdle and Joey Lawrence (and who had a studio location in Newtown Borough), before going on to study jazz vocal performance at Temple.
Since her first solo CD, “Lost in My Head,” was picked as one of the Top 12 “Do-It-Yourself” CDs for 2003 by Performing Songwriter magazine and as one of the Top 25 Demos of the Year by Music Connection magazine, Gordon has kept busy with multiple projects.
She appeared as the singing voice of the character Madison on the Warner Bros. show “Everwood” and works regularly with Emmy Award-winning and nominated composers Ernest Troost and Blake Neely on film and television projects as well as Steve Edwards and Alex Kharlamov on library music and commercials.
Her album projects since her solo debut have included “Songs of Shiloh,” a concept record with Marty Axelrod; “All My Change,” a stripped-down Americana record featuring “It All Begins with a Song,” which was heard on the ABC hit show, “Brothers and Sisters”; and “Long Time,” a 1970s’ California country-rock record. Sunday’s show at Puck starts at 7 p.m. with Patty Blee opening.
If you live in Tennessee, when you hear the phrase "Shiloh," you might think of the Civil War Battlefield located near the Tennessee River. However, for this album, the name details the life experiences of a girl from California, which might very well be close to the life story of one Nicole Gordon, the vocalist featured on this album.
Gordon proves her mettle very quickly on this disc, being very eclectic as an artist. On the opening cut, "Get The Car Running," she possesses a moxie that Sheryl Crow would be proud of, but she turns on a musical dime, going bluesy on "Waiting On Me." I love the Johnny Cash-meets-underground vibe on the title cut, which has its' share of humorous moments. There's a lot of sarcasm that comes forth in the songs on this disc, such as "Gotta Love Me," where Gordon will definitely put a smile on your face.
She channels her Nanci Griffith for the coffee-house sounding "Our Little Talks" and plays the Eagles card on the easy sounding "Quarter Century." The album ends with the hopeful story of "The Boy From Crooked Creek," which will give single people everywhere hope that their dream is coming from around the corner…..or maybe a few miles away!
Nicole Gordon and Flash Gordon - Getting Naked
December 27, 2009 at 11:51 PM by Andrea Frazer |
I am the first to admit that I'm hopelessly unhip when it comes to music. If it's not retro, musical theatre or country, then you can find me dancing (hey, I love to dance) but you won't find me singing along to the music. I'm not ashamed of it. It's not like I'm sitting at home cranking out John Denver's Greatest hits on my 8-Track Tape player. But if I weren't married to Rex, I just might be. And even with my blue tooth, pod cast, all-things-wireless streaming hubby, I still have an antiquated CD collection that could do damage should the next earth quake hit this evening. (Truth be told, I think Rex is a computer. If only I would come to terms with the fact that my belly button is not, in fact, the front side of what kept me connected to my children for nine months in-utero, but instead some intergalactic docking station for all things Rex related, I'd be that much more in sync with my husband.)
Despite being behind the times musically, I do have children that can keep me up to date. And while they aren't personally responsible for broadening my musical tastes, the parents of their friends are. Due to the liberal public school my kids attend, it's not uncommon to see two mommies, two daddies, a single mama of four or a happily married man of 2 wtih a red headed afro talk to me about their favorite artists.
Let me paint the scene for you.
Time: 8:30am (I'd love to say 8:10 because that would mean I was on time for school, giving me ample time to chat with well meaning parents who care enough about their offspring to not scream "GET OUT OF THE CAR OR WE'LL BE LATE FOR SCHOOL GXD DAMNIT!" on the way to home room. Not that I'd ever do that. Moving on.)
Scene: Outside the kindergarten classroom.
Characters: All of the above, but most importantly, a red headed afro guitar player who has a daughter as sweet as the review he gives me for the following artist.
Joe: "Have you heard of Nicole Gordon? She's awesome -- really worth a listen."
I have no idea, of course, and given I'm in my pj bottoms, I'm too tired to pretend I know who he's referring to.
Joe: "I'll bring her CD tomorrow. You should try her out - just for a few songs."
Me: "Fine, I'll listen," I sputtered, forgetting about it a moment later.
But Joe didn't forget. He gave me a sample CD the very next day. And, like my intention to get my kids to school on time for the month of December, I actually followed through and stuck her CD (not a download, people... an actual CD) in my car.
And by golly if he weren't right! Her music appealed to the folk artist in me with a deep, raw sense of understanding in way that only someone who has lost and fought in love and life can do. Like the best kind of sex, her songs were naked and real - no pretense. With tracks like "Every Night About This Time", "Bittersweet" and "My Hearts Broken" it's clear that Nicole is an artist who is not just a one-hit newbie but someone who has been around long enough to write a song that can make us all nod our head and say, "Yeah. I get that."
The holidays are now over. I've eaten to excess, laughed to excess and spent money to excess. Along the lines of the last song titled mentioned, do ya'll get that? Yeah? Because I am done. But with Nicole Gordon now playing in my portable CD player, and me doing my best Flash Gordon impersonation for my husband, I can face the new work week with a smile. Happy pre-New Year's to you all!
PS: For those of you who want a change from your boring music, check out Nicole Gordon. For those of you who want to surprise your computer surfing husband, just lift up your shirt on your way to the kitchen for a second cup of Yuban. Flash Gordon! Works like a charm every time!)