A DENI BONET REPRISE (BY REQUEST) !

Good Morning, Everyone. Here's what has happened since my last Deni Bonet Blog post. My e-mails from the post I had written made me realize--at the risk of sounding like a Carlton Sheets infomercial--"the sheer power of The Internet"! Later, it dawned on me that in New York and into the Northeast where Deni is a well established headliner at so many local venues, she has a tremendous following! And from the "lurkers" who e-mailed me en-mass (all kind, by the way) the basic question posed to me was why I didn't comment on Deni's three CD releases. So, I just shrugged my shoulders last night and thought, "Okay, I'll give it a shot". So, here we go!

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How amazing it is for me to know a musical artist who is literally out there creating music in a way that is heads above the proverbial crowd (and mind you, without having to stand on any one's shoulders). To begin with, this CD is what The Beatles producer George Martin would call "A new phase CD". A few words about a few stand out selections (actually they're all stand-outs). The moment I heard Deni and her band perform "Too Much Fun" at a small concert hall and later at an outdoor Music Fair, I felt a bit like "a scout" who could pick out a single that would take off like a rocket ship. This tune is a mix of humorous sensibilities, then it grabs you by the collar with a rhythm section and a strong melodic hook that will have you singing the chorus at the top of your lungs!... "Is This A Test" is a strong opener that leaves little doubt that you are in the midst of a serious rock artist who can play tight and loud with an expressive pulse of what lies ahead. This accounts for why the stats are so high for downloads. "Life Isn't Fair" is a message Steve McQueen imparted on his son Chad, from his own life's journey. It is a message that resonates with all of us who have suffered a loss (of any kind) and closes with a surprising reassuring humanity that leaves little doubt we are all in this life together. It is reminiscent of the title (and the reality) of Beach Boy Brian Wilson's son title "Love and Mercy". I'll limit my comments to one more: the title track with a little secret. Deni includes a "Bonus" full band track. Here's what I love about "Last Girl On Earth": this selection. Deni wrote this with a brave dose of confidence and vulnerability and puts her "cards on the table" about life's choices in love. The ending will cause you to pause the CD and just reflect quietly; that is to say, the song really stays with you and becomes "parked" in your heart. It's unforgettable and very beautiful. The three panel fold out is the loveliest CD design I have ever seen. Proof positive that this CD was not created overnight. Far from it. This one took years and the results are just astounding. There. You have my comments on this. AND: It's very affordable! Song List: 1. Is This A Test? 2. How Far Can I Push You? 3. Word Up 4. Small Talk 5. Gold Plated Diapers 6. Too Much Fun 7. Don't Turn Away From Love 8. Last Girl On Earth (NOT the band version which is up there) 9. I Want To Get Arrested 10. It Sucks But It's True 11. Fuck It ( Yes, there is a "Family Friendly" version included on Track 15) 12. Don't Make Promises 13. Life Isn't Fair 14. Last Girl On Earth (Full Band Version) 15. Stuff It

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MTV "Unplugged" couldn't have matched this effort. Deni actually sponsored a contest on her blogsite for visitors to submit names for a short Acoustic CD and this was a fun treat (if not a "Deni Fix") while work continued to evolve on "Last Girl On Earth". Deni's vocals are so strong on these selections and she actually pulled off a n Acoustic set of gems that is really a celebration of life. This one is memorable also when Deni invited bloggers to submit questions she posted on Index Cards and asked New Yorkers on Video. I pulled the line from "Too Much Fun" where Deni sings "Michael does my taxes". Deni spots an unsuspecting man on camera who quickly picked up on the fun of it all; he read the card while Deni filmed him, and then ad libbed with his own answer (which was just hysterical). "Cheat On You" was a selection that was actually filmed during a performance Deni gave and it is particularly strong here along with "I Scream Your Name". Song List: 1. Cheat On You, 2. Alone, 3. Too Much Fun, 4. Don't Turn Away From Love, 5. I Scream Your Name and 6. Use Me.

Finally, this is a sentimental CD for me because I first caught Deni's tour in support of it and later we became friends. Let me just reiterate that "Alone" quickly and firmly establishes what Deni does with the Violin that differentiates her not only from other Violinists I am familiar with, but present day musical acts in general. No one is doing what Deni does! That is as succinctly as I can state the matter. In "Bigger Is Always Better", I felt Deni to be blazing a path and this CD is filled with very strong and soulful selections that pull you into the inimitable "groove" that she creates with her uniquely identifiable vocals for example on the reflective "Time To Make A Plan" and "Violin Girl" with plenty of stretching out with solos on "Sunshine" and "Lie, Lie, Lie, Lie". Speaking of solos: I first heard "The Goddamn Violin Solo" during the Cyndi Lauper Tour where Deni steps forward on stage and solos. In a blazing hot few minutes, she firmly establishes herself as a major talent who can bring down the concert house (which she did with 3,000 people), and then rebuild it from the ground up; this composition, written during Deni's West Virginia days is a consummate concert show-stopper and itself worth the price of the CD. Overall, I must say that Billboard magazine and others did hear this CD and overwhelmingly loved it. You will too. It rocks. It's pure Deni--"tongue in cheek" and a marvelous debut filled with optimistic energy. Moreover it gives you and I a glimpse of what lies ahead for this talented lady straight up to the current release, "Last Girl On Earth". Song List: 1. I Scream Your Name, 2. The Girlfriends of Dorian Gray, 3. Alone, 4. Bigger Is Always Better, 5. Sunshine, 6. Time To Make A Plan, 7. Then I'll Really Love You, 8. Violin Girl, 9. Tic Toc-edit, 10. Phat, Stoopid, Totally Deaf (a Northeast Radio talk show host had Deni explain this title to great comic relief!), 11. Our Love's Got An Attitude, 12. Lie, Lie, Lie, Lie; 13. The Goddamn Violin Solo, 14. Please De For Me, 15. Sunshine--the Love Mix.

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THERE YOU HAVE IT
(BY REQUEST)