Tawny Ellis: Press

A Genuinely Impressive Album

Comparisons can be useful when trying to review music – they can be an initial reference point for potential fans, an indication of reverence (being linked with a hero/heroine of the reviewer etc) or a complete millstone round the neck of the artist being reviewed. What hit me immediately in the first track ‘Is It Me’ was how Tawny’s voice reminded me so much of Maria McKee – a coincidence given that both have had albums titled ‘Shelter’?! This, in my book, is a reverential comparison as Lone Justice were a fine band, and McKee a hugely talented singer. For a reference point I think that ‘Shelter’ comes across on the whole as something Sheryl Crow fans who prefer a bit more rock than country would find appealing – there is an underlying relaxed air to the songs although this breaks free with ‘Hollywood Tragedy’, my own personal favourite, which opens with a rocky riff and continues in that vein. If anything the middle of this album provides the more upbeat tunes but I think that is possibly a deliberate ploy in the order the tracks appear – there’s a peak halfway through but more in terms of the pace of the tracks as opposed to the quality which remains a constant throughout. Two other female vocalists sprang to mind as I listened to the album – a little bit of Siouxsie Sioux and also a hint of Cinder Block (more so when she was in Tilt) so Tawny Ellis is certainly not a vocalist stuck in a rut! The songs are engaging and the lyrics worth listening to (and reading), which is always a bonus as so many songs these days come across as bland and un-interesting. I’ve been humming the tunes since first playing the album and it’s one which to me is not a grower as it’s already reached its maturity in the first listen. I have to recommend this album and do so without classifying it to any genre – it’s simply a damn fine album and does not need to aligned with any type of music. I now have to buy the first album and see if that matches up to Shelter.

Tawny Ellis roars with her CD, "Shelter". Her latest effort is strong and with personality. Ms. Ellis is a star on the rise

Shelter is an album that gives me hope for the future of rock. I love the edge, the emotion, the raw, full notes. The production takes me back to a time when solo instruments could be heard in a composition. Not like much of today's over-dubbed, three-cord-crunch. So to you and your band-mates, a well-deserved tip of the hat.

"Shelter" is the Tawny Ellis second album, and she seems to be musically grown up a great lot from her "Kneegirl" of 2002. This attractive artist, born in Savannah, Georgia, moved around Us quite extensively when she was a child because of her father in the Air Force; but when she reached her teenage period, she went definitely to LA and after a while started to write, record and perform live in California. Tawny surely rocks but her basic influences, Blondie and Chrissie Hynde of The Pretenders fame, make her always sailing in passionate and touching melodies, the ones you don't forget for a long time. The lyrics are engaging and significant, her songs are easy and catchy, the voice sensual but aggressive at the same time. The music production is at high quality level, trade marked by the clever excellent hands of the well known Skip Saylor. Giovanni Loria,Tawny's musical director, co-writer of the songs, plays bass and great guitar solos. An important album, to be listened several times enjoing it every time. I've chosen to play the most up tempo song of the album, "Hollywood Tragedy", a real sweet.

Went to hear Blondie, went to hear Patti both live and you and your band are way beyond any comparison. I haven't heard anything quite as much fun or quite as good in a long time. Nice to hear something real with a little passion for a change. CHEERS

TAWNY ELLIS – Shelter: Tawny Ellis is a young independent Pop artist from the USA and while this genre of music isn't really my thing I have to give credit where it's due and give this the thumbs up. While so many female Pop artists rely on looking the part the same can't said of this lady. OK so she is very pretty and in a commercial sense very marketable but there's one plus that Tawny possesses which so many of her counterparts haven't got and that is having a great voice. Every song on this release just shows what an excellent voice this lady possesses and it's her voice that just draws you in. Musically many of the numbers could have been a bit more upbeat but that shouldn't really spoil your enjoyment as Tawny's voice more than makes up for that little misdemeanor. However there's some songs that the backing band got it right and they include 'Let Me Sleep beside You', 'Hollywood Tragedy', 'What Kind Of Man' and 'Shelter'. Given the right backing any of those four songs would proudly sit highly in the commercial charts. I'd love to hear more from Tawny Ellis but in the meantime I'll enjoy what she has on offer on this album. What's more for a self financed album this is well packaged release that any artist should be proud of.