David Kleiner

Here's what they're saying about my latest release, The News That's Fit to Sing:
…among the best contemporary folk albums of recent years. It is very easy to locate musically: midway between Phil Ochs and Jack Hardy.
The production by Gene Goldsmith is a little jewel. Just listen to how he uses the harmony vocals of Jen Schonwald in 9 of the 15 songs or Steve Buckalew’s violin and David’s guitar in “Massacre on Lex Street” and you will be convinced. For me, this is one of the 5 best albums of the year! Jean-Jacques Corrio, Cry of the Coyote
Five Stars **** This CD is the kind of surprise that gets produced too rarely; it’s a true heart’s beat. …The CD engages (the listener) little by little. It approaches modestly. Then, after listening upon listening, it never leaves you. Sam Pierre, XRoads, October 2008, France
All the musicians on this recording are top notch as is the production. The graphic package not only enhances the theme by creating a newspaper from the lyrics but is one of the best CD designs I have seen. Musically, visually and production-wise the execution is flawless, but like the work of Phil Ochs, in the end it all comes down to the lyrics. Phil would definitely like this CD … Thoughtful and powerful songs that speak to the past, present & future. Rob Lincoln, cdreviewsonline.com
What I love about his songs is that Kleiner doesn't look down his nose at any of the people in his songs. He treats them with dignity. After relaying a horrifying story of crack addiction and despair in "Massacre on Lex Street" he sings, "If I lived down on Lex Street, I don't know who I'd be." One of my favorites is a satirical gospel tune sung from the viewpoint of the End Timers, a Christian fundamentalist group. "Stand Up for Freedom" is an uplifting folk anthem great for singing along and "Phil Ochs as I Knew Him" is a tender reminiscence of his musical hero. It's Ochs' work that I am reminded of when I listen to this disc. …What better tribute to someone you admire? And besides, like his promo material says, it's "news that never grows old." Jamie Anderson, Minor7th.com
Copies of The News That's Fit to Sing are available for digital download through ITunes. Copies of the CD are available from CDBaby at cdbaby.com/all/dakleiner. Just click on the link below.
cdbaby.com/all/dakleiner
Here are the complete reviews:
From The Cry of the Coyote
First, a warning: there are 2 David Kleiner who are songwriters: David or Dave Kleiner (depends albums!) from New Jersey and the David that interest today who is from Pennsylvania. With this 2nd album, we can even say that we are interested because it is among the best contemporary folk albums of recent years. It is very easy to locate (musically): midway between Phil Ochs and Jack Hardy. Phil Ochs for inspiration. Like Phil, David is, on all points, on left of the American political spectrum. He draws the subjects for these songs from newspaper articles, blogs, from interviews and that is how he confronts us with children of victims of the Afghanistan war, with the death penalty, and weapons of mass destruction, etc.. Also the title of the album and the first song openly copy the title of Phil Ochs’ album All the News That's Fit to Sing. Even the cover photographs the singers in the same position: the artist sitting on his guitar, newspaper in hand. The comparison with Jack Hardy is in the voice and several Celtic-inspired songs. It’s not my mere chance the album contains a song called “Jack Hardy's Brother” (Jeff Hardy, Jack’s brother, was one of the victims of the Sept. 11 attack in New York) and another “Phil Ochs as I Knew Him,” a song tribute to the man who was David’s hero. The production by Gene Goldsmith is a little jewel. Just listen to how he uses the harmony vocals of Jen Schonwald in 9 of the 15 songs or Steve Buckalew’s violin and David’s guitar in “Massacre on Lex Street” and you will be convinced. For me, this is one of the 5 best albums of the year!
Jean-Jacques Corrio
From Xroads (October 2008)
This CD is the kind of the surprise that gets produced too rarely; it’s a true heart’s beat. An unknown name ( there is another Dave Kleiner that sings with his wife Liz Pagan), but a familiar title. Even the photograph, modeled after the one that decorated All the New That’s Fit to Sing of Phil Ochs. The reference is not coincidental. David Kleiner ( by the way, man of the rare kindness )taught song writing for twelve years ( University of Virginia’s Young Writers Workshop), has been reviewing CDs ( Minor7th.com)and, all the while growing as an artist in Pennsylvania and other places. He wants here to pay an affectionate tribute to all CDs of singers and song writers from the sixties, especially Phil Ochs. The object , by itself, raises from an original concept ( and succeeds). Fifteen titles that are all from one newspaper’s articles, presented by heading. The booklet ( that deserves 5 stars) is an facsimile of this newspaper that gives us again the very rare pleasure of reading and listening at the same time like in the happy times of 33 tours. It if for Kleiner the third independent production. The previous one, This Human Heart , was focused on love and human relations. Here, all the subjects are addressed with a talent from which each listener discovers the subtlety. “That’s Why I Fight” inspired by the blogs, let the word to the soldiers engaged in the conflicts while “ To Kill In My Name” evokes the death penalty. “Jack Hardy’s Brother” is based on an interview of an unknown songwriter whose brother Jeff( also his bassist) died on September 11th 2001 in one of the Twin Towers. Other subjects are treated like sport with “Rooting For A Loser” the obituary headings (“The Anniversary Of My Death”) or various facts ( “Massacre On Lex Street”). And the disc closes with “Phil Ochs As I Knew Him” who is a tribute paid by David to his “ high school hero”.
Musically, this CD is not an copy of what was being done in 1965. From the first piece , Elliott Levin's flute ( came from Jazz) can divert. But the spirit remains folk dominated by David’s acoustic guitar and Charyl’s Prasher percussion. And there is also the harmony of Jen Schonwald ( Angel Band) and here and there , dobro ,harmonics ,banjo or violin. And first of all , this CD engages little by little , with the modesty creeps to you, listening after listening to never leave you.
Sam Pierre
From CD REVIEWS ONLINE: SUMMER 2008
David Kleiner's The News That's Fit To Sing
"Thoughtful and powerful songs that speak to the past, present & future"---Rob Lincoln, cdreviewsonline.com
It's a real privilege to be the the first to review this excellent and important CD from Philadelphia area songwriter David Kleiner. Kleiner, whose previous CD, This Human Heart, was a fine collection of original love songs, has outdone himself this time with a beautiful presentation of some outstanding original topical songs all revolving around the theme of a newspaper. Dedicated to Phil Ochs, the title is similar to that folk troubadour's classic 60's album, All The News That's Fit To Sing. All of Kleiner's songs on this CD address one or another part of a newspaper, from front page stories to the obituaries and sports pages. Not surprisingly, many deal with war and crime but a few are a bit more lighthearted. Some will make you cry, more often they will make you think and hopefully... act. Phil would be proud. The favorite songs are:
That's Why I Fight- This song rubbed me the wrong way the first time I heard it. But after hearing it again I realized that what I was hearing was nothing less than the truth. But the truth is sometimes not easy to hear when it is not from one's own perspective. What makes this great is this song is not even from the songwriter's perspective. It is from the perspective of the American soldier. He tells his sister, "I don't fight for the president. It's what duty calls me to. I fight for my buddies. I fight for you. I've got a friend on my left and a friend on my right. That's why I fight. That's why I fight." It is a song that makes you think about the nature of war and re-examine your own beliefs. A complex and profound song.
Nine Afghan Children- The first time I heard this I was blown away by the power of the song. And I still am. It is, like everything on this CD, a true song, and like many of the songs on this CD, it is based on specific facts. This one hits home for the songwriter. He does not tell the story of our military's accidental murder of children by preaching, nor is he detached. He relates it to his own two daughters. It reminds us of what is being done in the name of freedom, national interest and supposed self-preservation...and the long term impact.
Jack Hardy's Brother- The lyrics to this song are taken almost verbatim from an interview with the venerable Greenwich Village songwriter Jack Hardy who lost his brother Jeff in the World Trade Center on 9/11. It is a quiet tune with Irish harp, not unlike the musical style of Hardy who loves to write with a Celtic flavor. Yet this calm song is devastatingly powerful. It is a song you will never forget.
Rooting For A Loser- Turning to the sports page we have a wonderful baseball song, inspired by the melody of Take Me Out To The Ball Game (but not actually copying it). This one has a bit of humor, though it is still a tad poignant. Anyone from Chicago and Philadelphia should have no problem relating. Let's go Phillies!!
Busted- Kleiner, (whose voice is occasionally reminiscent of Cat Stevens) seems to be channeling Jim Croce on this cut, which is hands down the best vocal performance on the CD. You can almost hear him launching into Bad Bad Leroy Brown after playing this song about a bad guy selling drugs on the street. This is one of a number of songs straight out of the crime pages.
The Anniversary of My Death- This peculiar song inspired by the obituary pages articulates a strange thought that has occurred to me from time to time. As he puts it, "this could be the anniversary of my death...every year we pass the day, but we never know it."
There are lots more fine songs, 15 in fact, but the ones above are my favorites. I believe the first 4 sited are truly exceptional songs. Also another song not mentioned, God Be With Us, is exceptional, but simply not my personal taste. The last two songs on the CD are also memorable: Stand Up For Freedom and Phil Ochs As I Knew Him. The opening cut (title track) has a killer groove enhanced by the great percussion of Cheryl Prashker and nice bass playing by Aaron Goldsmith. All the musicians on this recording are top notch as is the production. The graphic package not only enhances the theme by creating a newspaper from the lyrics but is one of the best CD designs I have seen. Musically, visually and production-wise the execution is flawless, but like the work of Phil Ochs, in the end it all comes down to the lyrics. Phil would definitely like this CD for the lyrical quality as well as its sentiment. For more information on David Kleiner, go to www.myspace.com/davidkleiner.
http://www.cdreviewsonline.com/cdreviewsonlinesummer2008.htm
Rob Lincoln
From Minor7th.com
David Kleiner, The News That's Fit to Sing 2008
There was a time when troubadours brought us the news set to song. While these days we get most of our news from the net and other sources, there are still those singers who give us the news of the day. David Kleiner is one of those and like the title says, he's got a lot to tell us -- from war to drug busts, all with a set of characters taken right from the headlines. There are even birth announcements and an obit page. The lyrics are really the focus here, with his folky guitar and pleasingly plain voice in the center, surrounded by arrangements of banjo, Dobro, harmonica, light drums, bass and more. In fact, the band could've come straight out of a 60's coffeehouse (if they had drum kits). The title cut sets up this theme disc well. Following that is "Rooting for a Loser." It muses about why we might keep supporting the home team even if they don't win. An article about an American air strike inspired the moving "Nine Afghan Children." A challenge from a talk show host brought "That's Why I Fight." Loosely based on the blogs at www.soldierlife.com and bootsonground.blogspot.com, it speaks to the real experiences of military life: "I don't fight for the president... I fight for you. I got a friend on my left and a friend on my right. That's why I fight." In the liner notes for "A Stranger at Christmas Time" he offers, "Only the technology has changed since Joseph and Mary arrived in Bethlehem for the census. The Romans still rule." In the song he poignantly sings, "Mary and her kinfolk showed up inconveniently, what with the baby and their poverty. Accepted the fate they were assigned: the first strangers at Christmas time." What I love about his songs is that Kleiner doesn't look down his nose at any of the people in his songs. He treats them with dignity. After relaying a horrifying story of crack addiction and despair in "Massacre on Lex Street" he sings, "If I lived down on Lex Street, I don't know who I'd be." One of my favorites is a satirical gospel tune sung from the viewpoint of the End Timers, a Christian fundamentalist group. It proclaims, "Pray for famine in South Africa, AIDS in Ethiopia, floods in Russia, fires in Arizona. When these things come to pass, we will be lifted up at last. Redemption is drawing near." Hallelujah. "Stand Up for Freedom" is an uplifting folk anthem great for singing along and "Phil Ochs as I Knew Him" is a tender reminiscence of his musical hero. It's Ochs' work that I am reminded of when I listen to this disc. To some, the arrangements may sound dated but maybe that's what Kleiner wanted. What better tribute to someone you admire? And besides, like his promo material says, it's "news that never grows old." © Jamie Anderson