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Carolyn Edwards

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About Me

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HERE'S WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING: "On her self-titled solo debut, Carolyn turns in a set of sophisticated, keyboard-based tunes that draw upon elements of everything from sunshine pop to soundtracks for Western movies."
William Ruhlmann, Allmusic.com (full review at http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:lqf8zfd5 ehpk)
"Carolyn Edwards has a clear and pleasant voice and on many of her songs brings to mind singer / songwriters like the early Catherine Howe. . ."
- Paul Martin, Shindig Magazine (full review under "new reviews" at http://www.shindig-magazine.com)
". . . heady piano-based pop."
- Kevin Bronson, L.A. Times "Buzz Bands"
". . . a Silverlake-soaked Carole King for the 21st Century . . ."
- Greg DaPonte, KCRW 89.9 FM, Los Angeles
"On her self-titled 2005 solo debut on the True Classical label, Edwards makes a charming plea for redemption on behalf of a shamed presidential intern on the countrified waltz Monica and gets pinned to the floor by her boyfriend during the playfully romantic love song Wrestling Match. Themes of loneliness and agoraphobia flicker within the warm glow of Edwards elegantly restrained, 60s-flavored pop, especially on the yearning idyll Factory Moon and the spare hymnal Beauty Wasted, with its subdued, churchlike organ and downward-cycling piano chimes. Its all quite (and quietly) enchanting."
- Falling James, L.A. WEEKLY 8/3/06
"Carolyn Edwards has long proven herself as a jill-of-all trades: first with the bouncy, fun power pop of 3D Picnic, followed by the angular, melodic indie-rock of Spindle, and currently with her debut solo album. Carolyn Edwards is a beautiful disc from start to finish, a combination of instrumental arrangements and songwriting styles which make it a palpable modern day song cycle a la Van Dyke Parks. Edwards writes and sings mellifluous lyrics that sound free associated (but aren't), a technique that is put to particularly good use on cuts like "Lunacy," "Solace," and the taut, mysterious "The Argument." Others like "Monica" and "Lazy" are lilting slices of Americana, adding more credence to the song cycle, while both "Shrink" and "Leave" would make Burt Bacharach swell with pride. The production values, courtesy of Edwards and the ubiquitous Steve Stanley, create a kind of dark mood that still carries an undercurrent of optimism, something that's rather difficult to pull off. Carolyn Edwards boasts appearances by luminaries like Brian Wilson bandmates Nick Walusko, Probyn Gregory, and Nelson Bragg, along with Kristian Hoffman. Definitely file this one under: `not to be missed.'"
- David Bash, Amplifier Magazine
"Put away the pink Paxil pills and listen to the new self-titled album by piano princess Carolyn Edwards. Her therapeutic lyrics blended with 60s-style sounds will help the mildly depressed realize they are not alone. Song like Beauty Wasted and Solace are more effective than local support groups, and Lazy is perfect for a rainy spring day when getting off the couch seems like a daunting task. Dont let the cheesy, hippy image on the CD cover fool you. This Californian is thought-provoking and talented enough to collaborate with the Wondermints, Brian Wilsons band. SMILE."
- Deirdre Walsh, Highbias.com
"Interesting piano pop, with intelligent chord changes and melodies that manage to avoid intellectualism. Some of the lyrics are a bit arch, but that's part of the schtick here, I think. This is a really strong record that deserves to be listened to in its entirety. Check it out!"
- Pandora.com
"The first solo CD from Carolyn Edwards, best known as a member in the bands The Negro Problem, Spindle, and 3D Picnic. Ms. Edwards' seasoned efforts working with her previous bands has certainly helped her to refine and focus her sound. This is a short album clocking in at just over 37 minutes...but no time is wasted as Carolyn presents soft, soothing, pensive pop that is unique and immediately effective. Her unorthodox approach to songwriting may not be apparent at first. But upon closer inspection, the listener is likely to notice all kinds of subtle intricacies that make this music more substantial and effective than mere generic slop pop. Ms. Edwards music blends mature knowledge with childlike innocence...creating a soothing and intoxicating environment. Eleven killer tracks here including "Lunacy," "Lazy," "Wrestling Match," and "Beauty Wasted." Psychologically rewarding...and highly recommended." (Rating: 5+++)
- BABYSUE.COM
"Carolyn Edwards is a veteran of the indie scene; she has been in her fair share of bands in the past decade or so. Playing for such bands as 3D Picnic and Spindle, she has now advanced into a solo career. Her sound is quite an interesting one; combining a country twang with a hint of 60's psych-pop, her music is bound to turn heads".
- Indiechristophblogspot.com
"Carolyn Edwards has a past in the bands The Negro Problem, Spindle and 3D Picnic. This is her solo debut and it's multi-layered and gorgeous. `Monica' has her playing her piano in a honky tonk style. It's a charming country ditty with smart lyrics. `Solace' is a great ballad with lovely vocals. Edwards reminds me a little of Aimee Mann here. `Factory Moon' is another gem. It's old-fashioned sounding like an alternate universe Doris Day with a more realistic view on life. `Shrink' is a bossa about an obnoxious girl trying to befriend the narrator. Edwards' sense of humor really shines here. Her debut is a classy record."
- Anna Maria Starnell, Collectedsounds.com
"These are songs from the garden, but the very best kind of garden, more than just a bunch of pretty flowers, a place of shadow and mystery and warped American earth, thorny in its corners, not immune to poisonous growth, inhabited by creatures desperate for connection (for better or worse and often thwarted regardless) yet reveling in solitude, who sing in voices like Broadway and old-school AM radio pop and European cinema soundtrack and the contemporary art-song. Oh, and also of note: this garden is planted unmistakbly in the middle of Los Angeles, an oasis in the smog. But enough of the long-winded analogy. Simply put: this shit's exquisite!"
- Barry Smolin, KPFK 90.7 FM, Los Angeles
BIO

Carolyn Edwards was one of the founders of the popular L.A. post-punk band, 3D Picnic, and also fronted Spindle, an alternative pop band who played to rave reviews. She has also played keyboards for Silver Lake pop heroes The Negro Problem.
Carolyn now performs as a a singer/songwriter/pianist, whose darkly humorous, piano-based pop songs range in subjects as diverse as Monica Lewinsky, romantic disappointment, werewolves and the Prozac generation. She has just released her self-titled CD on True Classical CDs, home to L.A. pop-art luminaries WACO, Listing Ship, the Lullabies and Azalia Snail. The CD features performances from some of L.A.'s finest:
Nick Walusko (Brian Wilson band)
Nelson Bragg (Brian Wilson band, The Now People)
Steve Stanley, also co-producer (The Now People)
Probyn Gregory (Brian Wilson band)
Heather Lockie (Listing Ship/The Eels/WACO)
Paul Lacques (I See Hawks In L.A.)
Dallas Don Burnet (Lutefisk, Thelonious Monster, 3D Picnic)
Marc Doten (Doublenaught Spycar)
Andy Sykora (Rubyfish, Weba World)
Kristian Hoffman (The Mumps, Ann Magnuson)

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 8/7/2005
Band Website: This is it; e-mail is [email protected]
Band Members: Carolyn's live band currently includes:
Carolyn Edwards - singer, pianist, songwriter
Carey Fosse (Atomic Sherpas, Possum Dixon)guitar

Probyn Gregory (Brian Wilson/Wondermints) trumpet
Heather Lockie (Listing Ship/Eels WACO)viola
Kristian Hoffman (Mumps, Ann Magnuson)keyboards
Bill Tutton (Geraldine Fibbers)bass
Jorge Barba (Now People live band)drums
Influences: Beatles
Joni Mitchell
Suzanne Vega
John Lennon
Throwing Muses
R.E.M
Negro Problem
Suzanne Vega
Stew
Listing Ship
3D Picnic
Spindle
The Now People
Beach Boys
Brian Wilson
Janis Ian
Judee Sill
Kristian Hoffman
Stephen Foster
Gershwin
Billie Holiday
Magnetic Fields
Belle & Sebastian
Decemberists
The Smiths
Paul McCartney
George Harrison
Johnny Cash
Patsy Cline
Stevie Nicks
Fleetwood Mac
The Byrds
I See Hawks In L.A.
Listing Ship
Bob Dylan
Margo Guryan
The Lullabies
Isobel Campbell
Neil Young
Kristian Hoffman
Patria Jacobs
Barry Smolin
EltonJohn
Carole King
The Association
The Zombies
The Monkees
Eleni Mandell
Cowboy Junkies
Dream Academy
The Go Betweens
Beck
Leonard Cohen
Elvis Costello
High Llamas
Philip Glass
Michael Nyman
Loretta Lynn
Syd Barrett
Pink FLoyd
Geraldine Fibbers
Norah Jones
Love
Randy Newman
Phranc
Squeeze
Patti Smith
Van Dyke Parks
Sounds Like: Beatles
Joni Mitchell
Suzanne Vega
John Lennon
Throwing Muses
R.E.M
Negro Problem
Suzanne Vega
Stew
Listing Ship
3D Picnic
Spindle
The Now People
Beach Boys
Brian Wilson
Janis Ian
Judee Sill
Kristian Hoffman
Stephen Foster
Gershwin
Billie Holiday
Magnetic Fields
Belle & Sebastian
Decemberists
The Smiths
Paul McCartney
George Harrison
Johnny Cash
Patsy Cline
Stevie Nicks
Fleetwood Mac
The Byrds
I See Hawks In L.A.
Listing Ship
Bob Dylan
Margo Guryan
The Lullabies
Isobel Campbell
Neil Young
Kristian Hoffman
Patria Jacobs
Barry Smolin
EltonJohn
Carole King
The Association
The Zombies
The Monkees
Eleni Mandell
Cowboy Junkies
Dream Academy
The Go Betweens
Beck
Leonard Cohen
Elvis Costello
High Llamas
Philip Glass
Michael Nyman
Loretta Lynn
Syd Barrett
Pink FLoyd
Geraldine Fibbers
Norah Jones
Love
Randy Newman
Phranc
Squeeze
Patti Smith
Van Dyke Parks
Record Label: True Classical CDS
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

come see me play keys with Riviera on 10/9 at the Silver Lake Lounge!

This only happens about evry two years, since Roland lives in Germany. I'm playing keyboards with Riviera, a German-based pop band, headed by siblings Julia and Roland. The show is Thursday, 10/9 at...
Posted by Carolyn Edwards on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 03:08:00 PST

recording

Hey folks - Just a quick blog to say I've started recording, and probably won't be doing any live shows for a while (except hopefully the odd tribute show here and there; I'm hoping there will be anot...
Posted by Carolyn Edwards on Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:41:00 PST

weird dream

I had a dream. A weird dream, that is. This morning, I dreamt that I was an apprentice of Picasso's. (If you have ever seen my attempts at painting, you would find this very funny.)  The tw...
Posted by Carolyn Edwards on Sun, 09 Dec 2007 06:37:00 PST

my new happy-go-lucky circus ditty

On Saturday night at Taix (the show, along with photos, will be discussed in another blog), I played a new song, a sort of "circus" waltz, that went over very well with the audience. It was ...
Posted by Carolyn Edwards on Tue, 04 Dec 2007 08:54:00 PST

show at Taix, Sat., 12/1

Sat., Dec. 1 FREE Carolyn Edwards 10:00 Anny Celsi 11:00 Taix, 1911 Sunset Blvd., L.A., CA 90026   Come to the lounge at Taix on Saturday, December 1, at 10:00. I will be starting off the night,...
Posted by Carolyn Edwards on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 05:00:00 PST

Bruce Springsteen at L.A. Sports Arena

Here is an excerpt from an e-mail I sent a friend of mine about the Bruce show last night; apologies for any errors there might be - it was just a quickly written e-mail and not a proper "blog" by any...
Posted by Carolyn Edwards on Thu, 01 Nov 2007 09:50:00 PST

air quality

Walking around West L.A. today (where I work) is like being in a giant, smoldering ashtray. The sky is a sickly yellow, the shadows on the ground are turquoise, and the air is oppressively bad; I coul...
Posted by Carolyn Edwards on Thu, 25 Oct 2007 04:22:00 PST

Hair

Okay, I feel old now. A woman and I were just trying to explain to a young girl in her early `20's about "Hair," the musical. The girl was completely mystified. "Hair? You mean Hair . . . SPRAY?" I sa...
Posted by Carolyn Edwards on Wed, 24 Oct 2007 11:38:00 PST

my taste in literature has gone south

Just received my recent Amazon order. What IS it with my fascination with southern writers lately? I've never lived in the south, nor really have a desire to; I think the south I'd want to visit ...
Posted by Carolyn Edwards on Tue, 23 Oct 2007 05:16:00 PST

R.I.P. Jerry’s Videos

I am so bummed. My favorite little neighborhood video store, Jerry's Videos, on Hillhurst & Franklin in Los Feliz, finally went out of business. About a year ago, I had a bad dream in w...
Posted by Carolyn Edwards on Mon, 17 Sep 2007 04:49:00 PST