what people are saying about Fresh Water In The Salton Sea
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- Read Drew’s interview with CMT.com’s Craig Shelburne (published on 12.6.11) here
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- In this modern age of music, artists are constantly looking for innovative ways to market their music and connect with fans. I think Drew Kennedy has found the best one yet. Instead of a couple pages of liner notes or an interview to explain the songs…he takes you on the road with the de facto him and draws back the curtain into his creative process. It’s an excellent book and an excellent album. Either would be strongly merited on their own, but when taken as a whole, Kennedy has created a masterpiece.
–Brad Beheler, galleywinter.com // full review here
- This realistic fictional travelogue offers some answers to any music fan who has ever asked after an enjoyable concert: “What does this guy do the other 22 hours of the day?” Drew’s a talented songwriter and novelist who almost bares Dan’s (or is it Drew’s) soul in this multimedia project any music fan will enjoy.
–Hal Bogerd, No Depression // full review here
- All 10 songs on Fresh Water In The Salton Sea fit seamlessly together. While its certainly not your typical “Texas Country” party CD, I would venture to say that it wasn’t intended to be. With a somber yet thoughtful tone, this album is full of songs that are meant to be listened to and not just heard. As great as this album sounds, it is best appreciated and most thought-provoking after you’ve finished reading all 221 pages of Drew Kennedy’s first ever novel.
–Scot Gray, TXRDR.com // full review here
- On “The Captain and The Highway” Drew sings in a deep resonant voice accompanied primarily by acoustic guitar. This along with the world weary nature of the song, the lonely and sad imagery, and the foreboding cello (?) combine to produce a beautiful song that is a standout on an album full of standouts.
–Craig Bonnell, songs:illinois // full review here
- “I had the verses written [to We've All Got Our Marks To Make], but they seemed incredibly incongruous,” says Kennedy. “There was a common thread there, but I couldn’t find it. Walt Wilkins…helped me find it in about an hour.” There’s something humanizing about the carvings made by these two men [George Washington and Hank Williams] who’ve since achieved near-mythic status leaving something of permanence, but Dan isn’t sure about his own work, trailing off with an “And as for me…” Kennedy is the same, admitting, “I still don’t know if I’ve left my mark in anything, but I’m trying.” …He needn’t worry. We’ve all got our marks to make, and with Fresh Water in the Salton Sea, Drew Kennedy has etched a deep one.
–Juli Thanki, Engine 145 // full review here
- The 10 songs on Fresh Water all riff in one way or another off the novel’s central “what’s it all about, anyway, and am I really doing the right thing with my life?” theme (“I can’t see the sunshine for the rays,” he frets on the gospel-tinged opener); but there’s no concept-album storyline to keep up with or get in the way of the music. Kennedy’s voice and melodies are exceedingly easy on the ears, strongly reminiscent of ’70s singer-songwriter fare (more Nilsson, Schmillson or Sweet Baby James than Waylon and Willie), but the wistful “Vapor Trails” goes down like prime Whiskeytown, and “I’ve Got Some Leaving to Do” blurs the line between country weeper and 2 a.m. blues. The toe-tapping “We’ve All Got Our Marks to Make” serves as the album’s rousing centerpiece, and also hints at why Kennedy probably felt compelled to explore long-form fiction in the first place; he stuffs so many words in the verses, he can barely keep up with himself. But he pulls it off with a devil-may-care verve. “Line by line and age to age,” he sings in the chorus, “we’ve all got our marks to make.” And with Fresh Water in the Salton Sea, he’s made a fine one — with an entire book’s worth of words to spare.
–Richard Skanse, Lone Star Music Magazine // full review here
- Jeg likte platen før jeg leste boken, men etter å ha lest boken så liker jeg platen enda bedre. Og når jeg så leste boken samtidig som jeg flettet inn låtene på korrekt sted så antar denne pakken helt dimensjon jeg sjelden har sett maken til. Musikalsk snakker vi saftig Americana med glitrende tekster. Han har med seg et sparsomt utvalg medmusikanter som legger til litt lette trommer, piano og gjerne en gitar eller en pedal-steel på akkurat de riktige stedene. Herlig koring løfter låtene, men det nedstrippede lydbildet viser også styrken til låtene og tekstene, og legger ikke akkurat skjul på det faktum at at Kennedy er en singer/songwriter som på samme måte som Dan Murphy reiser rundt i USA med kassegitaren og formidler det han ønsker uten å være avhengig av et band i ryggen.
–Rune Letrud, musikkbloggen.no // full review here // english translation here
- 13. Drew Kennedy – Vapor Trails (Fresh Water In The Salton Sea) – With a voice both oddly distinct, immediately relatable, and admirably flexible, Drew Kennedy continues to give you your money’s worth with every syllable and every nuanced, carefully-considered line. In a perfect world more folks are buying … if you’re new to this, his newest album is actually arguably the best place to start.
– Mike Messick, Best Songs of 2011, Texas Music Scene // full list here
- This was really a treat. Drew Kennedy released an album AND a book. Both called “Fresh Water In The Salton Sea”. The book, which is really a great read, focuses on the fictional singer/songwriter Dan Murphy and his experiences while on the road to finish up another tour – while dealing with a bad breakup and his mind killing off his ex-girlfriend in brutal ways. The album consists of the songs Dan writes during his travels, and the lyrics to them are printed in the book at the aproximate point where Dan writes them. Brilliant concept, and it really works!
– Ninebullets.net’s 13 Musical Reasons Why 2011 Was A Good Year // full review here
- After the initial run through, I start listening to the lyrics, melodies, phrasing and other technical aspects of the music. Drew is an amazing story teller with a great ear for detail and melodies. I especially like the hauntingly beautiful melody on “I’ve Got Some Leaving To Do”. This is a great CD to listen to at the end of a hectic day, and definitely a great mood changer.
– Laurie Petricka for Roughstock.com // full review here
- Fresh Water In The Salton Sea comes in at #14 on Farce The Music’s Best Albums of 2011
–FarceTheMusic.com // full list here
- Home To Me makes Farce The Music’s Best Songs of 2011
–FarceTheMusic.com // full list here
- Fresh Water In The Salton Sea comes in at #5 on Texas Music Scene’s 30 Albums Of The Year: The fact that he co-released it with an original novel of the same name highlights the ambition the still-young veteran of the Texas songwriter scene brought to this project, but (as with any of his recent albums) these songs really speak for themselves. Kennedy’s emotional honesty continues to serve him well, but it’s his knack for detail and a touch of wry wit that allows him to hit up those old themes of heartache, travel, and regret for one more dance with his distinctive baritone drawl.
–Texas Music Scene // full list here
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what people are saying about Alone, But Not Lonely
For those who may not be aware, Drew Kennedy is as engaging of a talker as he is a singer. As a traveling, Texas-based troubadour, Kennedy falls into the lineage of Guy Clark, more than say, Pat Green, and his albums, specifically, Dollar Theatre Movie and last year’s excellent An Audio Guide to Cross Country Travel, contain ample amounts of wit and plain ol’ common sense conveyed in very uncommon ways. His rich, nasally twang is distinctive without distracting, and it only adds to the rest of what makes Kennedy stand-out in the crowded river of Lone Star State singer/songwriters. Kennedy, who can write a compelling story to go along with telling and singing them, has been ahead of the artist-blogging curve for while now. Finally, he’s joining the ranks of those who release well-done videos. It’s hard not to really dig red high heels, isn’t it? –Kelly Dearmore, DC9, Dallas Observer
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what people are saying about An Audio Guide To Cross Country Travel
Hickory Wind- Hal’s Top 10 albums and concerts of 2009
Americana Root’s Top 20 of 2009
four stars from cheapo.it translation here – 3.2.10
Farce The Music’s Top Ten of 2009
There’s Always Someone Cooler Than You- 12.7.09 (translation here)
4 out of 5 Stars from Karlie Justus and the9513.com- 10.29.09
New Braunfels’ Drew Kennedy travels around Texas quite often, sharing stories and songs in the grand folk singer tradition. But there’s more in Kennedy’s bag than just some vagabond ideal. Kennedy comes across as a cleaner and less political version of Steve Earle; he’s released three solid efforts of not-quite-alt country that feature songwriting that balances serious romanticism with a healthy dose of self-depreciating humor.
–Daryl Smyers, Dallas Observer
