Sarah Pierce

Cowboy's Daughter - August 2008
Midwest Records Reca
LITTLE BEA
SARAH PIERCE/Cowboy’s Daughter: It might seem like she’s an under the radar princess that only recently got her eye on taking the crown away from Nanci Griffith as the Lone Star songbird, but this Illinois transplant has been at it a while, learning lessons, making contacts and getting it down right. Like a novelist that has blossomed in obscurity while waiting for lightening to strike, this set will seem like it came out of nowhere to the uninitiated. While it leaves them thunderstruck, long time fans will be able to grin the knowing, smug grin that comes when their darlings finally hit it. A delightfully stellar folk/country flavored set that doesn’t have a wasted track or moment and certainly delivers the goods. The kind of set that too many of the old reliables haven’t been delivering lately, fans of solid songwriting and performances that really connect will be glad to have this come their way. A winner throughout
1428
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Sarah Pierce - Cowboy’s Daughte
Little Bear Records 1428
Format: C
Released: 200
by John Crossett- Sound Stag
Musical Performance ****
Recording Quality ***
Overall Enjoyment ***

Many artists start strong and fade as their careers near their end. Others begin well and continue to grow, producing better and stronger albums as time passes. Cowboy’s Daughter is Pierce’s sixth album and by far her most consistent. By taking her music back to its roots in the country, folk/rock, and singer/songwriter sounds that she grew up with she writes a list of songs that do justice to all facets of life – from the good to the less desirable. You’ll hear songs about love ("What Would You Do"), roads taken ("I Thought I Knew You"), roads not taken ("Wish It Away"), family (the title track) and trying to stay optimistic in a world gone crazy ("Radio"). Backed by a solid group of Austin session musicians -- and the occasional ringer (Niitty Gritty Dirt Band fiddle player Al Garth) -- Ms. Pierce, in partnership with producer/engineer/drummer Merle Bregante, weaves a finely crafted and choreographed album that bounces a listener’s emotions up and down like a yo-yo, all the while keeping attention riveted on the music

Oh, and there’s a real possibility of being able to order one-off 24/96 DVD-As of the album in the future. I have one and it’s great. Now isn’t that a sweet notion to ponder
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Folk Bulletin - Fabrizio Poggi
COWBOY’S DAUGHTER
SARAH PIERCE
Producer: Merel Bregante
Little Bear Records 14282, 2008
Contemporary country Folk - USA - ****

I met Sarah Pierce in Austin - Texas in 1998 during the recording of Chicken Mambo’s album ‘Nuther World’...a record produced by her husband Merel Bregante legendary drummer and producer (Loggins & Messina, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and many others). I immediately liked the music of Miss Pierce and decided then and there to organize her first tour in Italy. Since then Sarah Pierce has become a musical favorite in Italy returning often to perform for her many fans.

Cowboy’s Daughter is Pierce’s newest offering and as the name implies, this album returns her to her musical roots. That being traditional country and folk. An essential recording, Cowboy’s Daughter allows her incredible voice and songs to shine brightly. To help her in this, a group of great musicians joined in. Among others Cindy Cashdollar (Asleep At The Wheel) on steel guitar and dobro and John McEuen (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band) on banjo, mandolin, and acoustic guitar.

This is an album filled with great songs and great performances. Among my favorites are Radio, a
convincing, acoustic, country folk ballad, What Would You Do, an elegant waltz featuring the fiddle of Cody Braun (Reckless Kelly), and the title cut, Cowboy’s Daughter. Yet another splendid song reminiscent of Chris Hillman (Byrds) or The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band with effective
banjo by John McEuen and an uproarious solo by Ms. Cashdollar.

Other songs of interest include Charlie - a somber ballad written in the style of Bruce Robison and Lucinda Williams. Effective use of the harmonica and a deeply felt violin solo by Al Garth (Eagles) make this one of the very best songs on the album. Jacqueline is a notable country folk/bluegrass song featuring piano (Reilly Osborne), mandolin (Doug Hudson), and the perfect interplay between dobro and acoustic guitar. Very nice as well is track nine, I Thought I Knew You, a classic ballad driven by piano and violin. Last Real Cowboy, a roots country song, is a
Johnny Cash train beat driven by the expressive electric guitar of Rosie Flores. The record concludes with an incredibly powerful vocal rendition of Three Cigarettes. This is Pierce paying
homage to the unforgettable Patsy Cline. Three Cigarettes is preceded by the song that I consider the best on the album. Tumbleweed Dreams is a beautiful, minor chord ballad with a refrain that is memorable from the first listening. The violin (Garth) and the drums and percussion (Merel
Bregante) are both excellent but for me the frosting on this beautiful cake is the intense acoustic guitar solo of Maurizio Fassino (Chicken Mambo). Along with Alessandro Adinolfi on acoustic and electric guitar, this song represents the Italian soul of the record. Tumbleweed Dreams is, by
itself, worth the purchase of this beautiful album. Welcome back Sarah Pierce

Fabrizio Poggi - Folk Bulletin - August, 200
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Sarah Pierce - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Time
“Sarah Pierce seems a likely candidate for contemporary music fame. She has a most impressive instrument, as they say, potent of force and certainly no stranger to nuance. She is a smart and gifted musician not lacking for either ambition or a larger sense of purpose.
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Sarah Pierce - WUMB - Women In Music
Women In Music-WUMB Boston, M
"I love Sarah's music...she touches the heart and soul of every listener and she is a great addition to my national radio show anytime I get her into the mix ;-) " —Laney Goodman, host of nationally syndicated radio show Women in Music
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Sarah Pierce - Love's The Only Way
Midwest Record Reca
“SARAH PIERCE/Love's the Only Way: One of the queens of the back 40, part singer/songwriter, part folk-rocker and part Austin good old girl, Pierce continues to solidify her skills. With a ton of roadwork between releases, you can feel what Pierce has absorbed along the way making each new outing a real new outing. Fueled by sharp writing and keen observation, this set is going to grab ears of singer/songwriter fans with both hands. Solid work from an artist with a lot on the ball and a lot to show for her effort.
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Sarah Pierce - Love's the Only Way
Cosmik Debri
I'm quite taken with Austin, Texas' songbird Sarah Pierce. She's got a crystal clear voice, and Sarah reminds me of Karla Bonoff, Emmylou Harris or Eliza Gilkyson. Sarah's CD, produced by Merel Brigante (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Loggins and Messina), is a baker's dozen of competent songs that range from the folk rock of "Calliope," the upbeat title tune, the softly introspective "I'm Not An Angel," or the harder-edged "Hard Road." This month, Sarah's touring schedule includes New Orleans, Louisiana (Virgin Megastore), to New York (The Bitter End), and Chicago (Uncommon Grounds), and if she's appearing near you, check her out, ‘cause Love's The Only Way has a nice mix of country, folk and rock
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Sarah Pierce - Birdma
Suite101.co
Suite101.com
May 2001's Best New CD
Author: Chad Bowar
The first thing that jumps out at you when listening to Birdman is that voice. It’s powerful and emotional, a little bit country, and a little bit rock and roll. Pierce’s voice has been compared to Emmylou Harris, Nanci Griffith, Joni Mitchell and Shawn Colvin. That’s pretty impressive company. Birdman is an eclectic mix of pop, country, folk and rock. From the opening notes of “My Street” all the way to an amazing cover version of “What A Wonderful World”, Birdman is a delight from start to finish
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Sarah Pierce - Birdman
Soundstage by John Crossett
johnc@soundstage.co
Musical Performance - 4.5
Recording Quality - 3.5
Overall Enjoyment - 4.5
Maximum of

Every once in a while, it’s fun to be one of the people building the bandwagon that everyone else will eventually be jumping onto. Sarah Pierce’s Birdman offers one of those opportunities and should do very nicely as the floorboard for said bandwagon. This album, a mixture of pop/country/rock/folk tunes, adds up to a very musical disc, one that should go a long way toward garnering Sarah Pierce the appreciation of a much wider audience

Within Ms. Pierce’s singing and songwriting, you'll hear echoes of many diverse musicians. Influences from the likes of Emmylou Harris (listen to songs such as "My Street" and "Marjorie"), Joni Mitchell (no particular song, just the overall writing style), Kate Bush ("Turn Around" and "I Don’t Know Why"), Nancy Griffith ("Anything Goes" and "Wind") and others, are pervasive, but they never overpower Pierce’s own voice. Her songs will grab and then keep your attention, because they need no outside help. She claims that her style owes more to pop/rock than country/folk, and while that may be true, you can easily hear what being raised in Texas and Colorado has done for her songwriting

There are no real rockers on Birdman (the closest is "Coffee Shop," which boogies right along). Song tempos range from ballad to moderately upbeat. Ms. Pierce is already a strong songwriter, a talent that should only grow with both time and better recognition. She owns a beautiful voice, one that allows you to feel as well as hear what she’s singing. And it’s perfectly suited to her musical style

The sound here is typical of most studio efforts today. This is a digital recording; ergo, there is very little ambience captured (none, really). Soundstage width is OK, but there is almost no depth, and the highs sound a tad rolled off. You can, however, follow each instrument with relative ease within the soundfield. And Pierce’s voice comes through the mix so you can hear every inflection in her singing. So while this is no audiophile effort, its shortcomings won’t get in the way of your enjoying the music. And the music is so strong it overcomes any problems in the recording quality

I'll go out on a limb and declare that I think Sarah Pierce is a rocket about to take off, and Birdman is the launching pad. Pick up a copy and grab a good seat on the bandwagon. If you choose not to, well, start getting your legs into shape, because you’re going to be doing a bit of jumping very soon. Now, where did I put that hammer
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Sarah Pierce - Birdman
Midwest Record
SARAH PIERCE / BIRDMA
Wow, here's a young comer that has captured the
industrial side of Emmylou Harris and has a better
handle on it than Harris

While it's always rough to follow in someone's footsteps,
the world wise Pierce brings her own stuff to the table
and makes you wonder how the majors have missed
out on her

Dazzling set that singer/songwriter fans will have to take to heart.