Here you will find reviews of Kristin's music and performances from various media sources.

Prior Reviews, click here.

Produced by Richard Gates Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Tom Eaton at
Thomas Eaton Studios, Newburyport, MA

With seeming ease, Kristin Cifelli accomplishes what most folk singers attempt to no avail; she is poignant. It is this rarified quality that has forgiven many an artist of the public's usual demands for vocal proficiency and stage prowess with musicians like Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash being fine examples. However, in the case of Kristin Cifelli listener can have it all.

She is truly a songbird, with a voice that stretch from a delicate warble to a vast soar, and her guitar style is lush when strummed and steady when percussive. There is not a moment on So Long My Love where she wanes from being consistently talented both as an performer and lyricist. Sure, she is not the first female singer-songwriter with a pristine vocal quality and fragile flip to head voice, but her originality is more in her ability to capture simple truths in her songs like in "Benefit of the Doubt", a standout track with a subtle hook," I found what love is all about. the benefit of the doubt."

Kristin is certain to see surface comparisons to the voices of Dar Williams and Patty Griffin, but when singers of the aforementioned artist's caliber are brought to mind, who can complain. So
Long My Love was produced by bass player Richard Gates (Paula Cole, Suzanne Vega) and is a feminine, autobiographical sketch of Kristin's experiences over the past 4 and a half years. The album overall has an observational, introverted feel and is definitely more on the folk than pop side of the hyphen. Fans of songs like "Savior" on her previous release, Silver Bowl will celebrate this album as it continues on a similar tone, but seems to preface Kristin Cifelli's evolution into an even more honest and emotive artist. (self-released)

Her voice is feminine and soothing; her sound a dreamy meld of acoustic and electric guitars -so it's pretty much safe to say that this CD is a new favorite of mine. Cifelli is a songstress who doesn't need the e-bow, strings or percussion to shine, because her raspy vocals resonate vibrantly solo.  Still, this enriched arrangement of instruments brings Cifelli's career to new heights.  "So Long My Love" is a track with sort of an emotional twist, as Cifelli sings about saying goodbye and holding on at the same time.  She starts with, "So long my love/It should've never gone on and on like this/Too long, my love/I was doomed by the suguary taste of one
kiss."  By the end of the song, Cifelli is reverting her song title to explain how long she's waited on her muse ("So long/I've waited/I've waited").  This is brilliant songwriting if you ask me; when a writer can break out from the traditional rhyming market, sing of something deep, and etch it into your soul with a flicker of creativity.  She sings of family ties in "I'll Run", and lingers over a lost love in "Sad Place".  "Love Your Hurt" has a folk-country vibe, with endearing lyrics about unconditional love. "Let It Go" is the gem of the album, personally.  It's an empowering song about forgiveness and growth.  As a whole, the album has a little Norah Jones happening; and some Sarah McLachlan and Aimee Mann tossed in as well.  She has tracks that are pretty as pink flowers and other songs dark and haunting in their rhythm.  I still can't compare her to anyone else out there, and that's why I adore her work.

Favorite Tracks:  Let It Go, So Long My Love
Rating: 5 stars

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