- Double A, Boston SoundCheck Magazine
MoreReviews
The Critics Praise Kelly Riley
"Her voice is amazing, like a blanket on a raw winter evening."
- Double A, Boston SoundCheck MagazineMore
"A voice that is capable of incredible highs and powerful lows."
- Doug Sloan, Writer/Reviewer, Metronome Magazine More
"She's an original; I can't think of anyone else that sounds like her."
- Barbara Jordan, President, Heavy Hitters Publishing More
"Writing, singing, performing, she has it all."
- Pat Pattison, Head Songwriting Professor, Berklee College of Music More
Praise For "live and you learn"
"...passionate songs passionately sung."
- Joshua Resnek, Vice President/Writer, Chelsea Record More
"...an absolutely beautiful singing voice..."
- A.E. Yeager, Northeast Performer More
"...her varied approach brings to mind the music of Don Henley..."
- Richard Kamins, The Hartford Courant More
"Singer-songwriter Kelly Riley puts her best foot forward on this new recording..."
- Doug Sloan, Writer/Reviewer, Metronome Magazine More
"Her songs spin volumes of stories in but a few memorable words and melodies"
- Don DeCesare, President/General Manager, WLIS & WMRD, Connecticut More
"The songs on Kelly Riley's Live and You Learn burn with sincerity, stellar musicianship.."
- Peter Spellman, Director, Career Development, Berklee College of Music More
"Live and You Learn is perfectly produced imagery deserving as much exposure as possible. It's a beautiful work."
- Joe Viglione ( allmusic.com )More
"An amazing musical talent ... with a mesmerizing voice capable of hitting the high places easily. Her voice resonates for those of us who like our music to take us far away. (Her) CD is very intense, intelligent, highly evolved... they are songs about love and life, about love lost and gray winters. They are passionate songs passionately sung."
Joshua Resnek, Vice President/Writer, Chelsea Record
"Kelly Riley is a wonderful talent. Writing, singing, performing, she has it all. A great package." "Kelly Riley's debut CD, Live and You Learn, is a smartly crafted group of original songs ... there are songs that would sound good on `alternative rock' radio and others that could easily please country music lovers ... her varied approach brings to mind the music of Don Henley, especially the way he takes disparate influences and makes them his. Riley has already found her voice and (is) doing her best to find an audience." "Kelly Riley's appearance on WLIS & WMRD was our Spring Highlight. Her personality, and, most
importantly, her songs spin volumes of stories in but a few memorable words and melodies. She is welcome with our
audience at any time."
"The songs on Kelly Riley's Live and You Learn burn with sincerity, stellar musicianship
and vocal performances up there with the best. Keep 'em coming!" " ... an absolutely beautiful singing voice... (her lyrics) tight in rhythmic structure... Her
song, Love Bug... with its speak-sing intro, draws immediate attention... Kelly has a knack for using incredible
musicians... the lead guitar is always driven and always precise... Songs, such as Gonna Take Some Time, that include
strings, come off as elegant and well arranged... the elements are there, being excellent singing and musicianship..."
"Singer-songwriter Kelly Riley puts her best foot forward on this new recording, featuring her gutsy
vocals, multi- instrumental talents and songwriting savvy. Her voice is capable of incredible highs and powerful
lows ... this is an effort of merit."
"I'm writing regarding (this) wonderful CD. I really, really like it and would like to sign some of these
songs. She's an original; I can't think of anyone else that sounds like her. And believe me, that's a real feat,
because I've heard it all."
"Live and You Learn" is an overpowering title track on an overpowering album by Boston-area singer Kelly Riley. The song subsides into "One Kiss for the
Road," a real heartbreaker, and the wide scope of this artist spans across the disc, with "When All Else Fails" working like the best of Dan Fogelberg,
only from a woman's point of view. The blend of jazz on the fourth track's "See You Again" goes deeper into the introspection; one can learn as much about her
passion from the nuances of her voice as they can from the lyrics. There are some amazing women songwriters out there — fellow Bostonians Les Sampou
and Deb Pasternak. New York's Deena Miller, L.A.'s Cynthia Catania — all repaving the path Didi Stewart and Aimee Mann pioneered.
Much depth is embraced by "See You Again," but an equally important point about this recording is that the moods change like the channels on a television
without disrupting the flow of the music, a real balancing act. Riley pulls it off, the muffled Lynda Stephens sax the perfect complement to the cascading \
piano lines of "See You Again." Alongside the singer/songwriter is former Joe Perry drummer Joe Petruzelli, former Willie Alexander bassist Brandon Pritchard, and
Jeannie Deva guitarist Joe Mac. "Love Bug" continues shifting scenes, a Rickie Lee Jones-type vamp with a New Orleans feel, background vocals slinking
through the mix. "Nothin' Left to Do," yet another song bidding adios to a lost love, has sharp lyrics and equals the title track for intensity. Deb Pasternak
works these themes, and like Pasternak, Les Sampou, and the remarkable You Know Me album by Jackie DeShannon, Live and You Learn is perfectly
produced imagery deserving as much exposure as possible. It's a beautiful work.
"This debut album by singer songwriter
Kelly Riley is impressive throughout! Touching on many aspects of musical styles, Kelly Riley is very adept in
blues, soul, pop, and she performs her ballads beautifully. This album contains some very intense and catchy
songwriting with equally strong lyrics. I was very impressed with the depth of the songwriting. Strong and
emotional tunes about love and life that really take you in are immediate in Kelly's songwriting. A former
Berklee student, Kelly has great knowledge of song crafting and avoids being a "cookie-cutter" songwriter with
interesting chord changes and melodies. Her voice is amazing, with a smooth delivery that wraps you like a blanket
on a raw winter evening. Kelly Riley, also a successful voice teacher, utilizes great control from beautiful soft
passages to powerful "epic" choruses. The musicians are strong on this album and support her songwriting with
great conviction. Kelly Riley has really caught my ear and I'm excited to hear a debut album this mature and
polished. Faves are "Just Say You'll Be Mine," "Live and You Learn," "Gonna Take Some Time," and the beautifully
done "When All Else Fails." An outstanding album by an up-and-coming artist that has the potential to be another
"star" from New England!"
Pat Pattison, Head Songwriting Professor, Berklee College of Music
Richard Kamins, The Hartford Courant
Don DeCesare, President/General Manager, WLIS & WMRD, Connecticut
Peter Spellman,
Director, Career Development, Berklee College of Music
A.E. Yeager, Northeast Performer
Doug Sloan, Writer/Reviewer, Metronome Magazine
Barbara Jordan, President, Heavy Hitters Publishing
Joe Viglione, ( allmusic.com )
Double A, Boston SoundCheck Magazine
