Search - Susan Cowsill :: Just Believe It

Knockout Solo Set

Lee Armstrong | Winterville, NC United States | 11/24/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Susan Cowsill's first solo album is powerful with an excellent mix of songs that are firmly rooted in life experience and deliver a wallop in their expression. Frustrations punch through on "Talk," "You just sit around and sit around talking sh*t around town." Lucinda Williams joins for a guest vocal on "Nanny" which boasts a stunning original lyric and an aching melody, "With all the endless summer days, watching winter while it fades, autumn's sunlight through the trees, the scent of springtime on the breeze, it's real life that sets you free, can I take it all with me?" and then the amazing chorus, "I don't want to leave this Earth." "Gazebo" is a dark swirling Cowsill original whose melody starts awkwardly like an ill-fitting relationship, "If I sit quiet in the green room & do your dishes everyday, Stay out of your secret closets where you always went to play, and I've seen your monkey shaking in his cage as you walk by, Just thinking about the old house always seemed to make you cry." "Christmas Time" is another excellent track. The title track "Just Believe It" is a bright uptempo ditty with Susan's voice sailing joyfully, "The way I see it, we make a choice, Take or leave it, just believe it, Tell me now, what are you going to do?" There are two covers on the set which are both excellent. Sandy Denny's "Who Knows Where the Time Goes" has such a tender reading that as much as I loved Judy Collins' version, this one moves me immensely, "Across the evening sky, all the birds are leaving, but how can they know it's time for them to go?" The unaccredited 15th track is a stunning version of the Beach Boys' classic "Don't Worry Baby" with female harmonies drenching the familiar melody in a fond embrace. After being part of the Cowsills who had hits "Hair," "Indian Lake," & "The Rain the Park & Other Things" and then doing backup singing with Dwight Twilley, Hootie & the Blowfish, Smithereens, Carlene Carter & Jules Shear, and three fine sets as part of Continental Drifters, Cowsill delivers a knockout first solo set that just gets deeper the more you listen. Bravo!

"

Music As Music SHOULD Be

Nancy M. Roch | Deep in the Heart of TX | 05/08/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I don't know what to say, this is simply one of the best singer/songwriters in the world today, finally making her solo debut. You will be amazed at the range of emotions expressed here by Susan and the great supporting musicians surrounding her. It will make you think. It will make you dance. It will make you think about dancing. Do yourself a favor and get it, and get one for a friend. PASS IT ON! And see Susan and the band live if you ever get the chance.

It's a celebration of all things GOOD in music! I know you know what I'm talking about.

There's nobody more deserving of success and recognition than Susan Cowsill.

"

Susan Cowsill Drives One Home

K. Fisher | Sunny Pennsylvania | 02/16/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Susan Cowsill's "Just Believe It" is a real gem and is a must buy. It offers end to end smoothness, soul searching, and introspect rare in recordings these days. The production is very good and Susan's voice is excellent.



Susan Cowsill is one of those rare artists who can take events of her life and turn it into great songs without sounding self serving or preachy with "Nanny's Song" and "I Know you Know" being prime examples of this.



She blows away many other female artists in her vocal ability including Sheryl Crow. I tend to feel the tonality of her voice compares to Stevie Nicks without the things about Stevie Nicks's voice I never liked, with Susan's range and inflextion being superior.



It seems the songs on "Just Believe It" were gathered over a long time span which, in the case of this CD, helps garner the strength of the release as opposed to many who release a recording with seemingly nothing in particular to say. The range of emotions felt on "Just Believe It" covers the whole spectrum.



I rate this CD a Five out of Five.



A companion to this CD would be the Cowsills' excellent "Global" available privately from Robin Records."