Editorial Reviews
Verses on Venus [Explicit Lyrics]
Music Review:
Music Review
Beethoven, Fibich, Suk, Novak: Piano Trios
Botchit Breaks, Vol. 2: Urban Funk Philosophies
Arvo Pärt: Tabula Rasa; Symphony No. 3; Collage
Inkblot Magazine
... I found out that my girlfriend away at college had been cheating on me with a classmate of mine. I'm not quite sure. Either way, in those formative years I used to sit on my used futon listening to records for hours trying to drown out those deafening Miami downpours and my own thoughts. And for better or for worse New Sweet Breath's frontman Graig Markel's solo release, Verses on Venus put me right back on that couch, though now with a different perspective. "True Giveaway" and "What Are You Waiting For?" come from that space. The soft, repetitive guitars, the self-conscious lyrics and beautiful delivery - it's all there. Graig Markel has a great voice. He mixes laid-back rock bravado with soulful '70s pop stylings and the effect is quite fantastic. "Coming Up Roses" with its background falsetto choruses and gentle pop groove proves what a great songwriter this Seattleite is.
107.7 The End's Young and Restless website
New Sweet Breath unleashed Graig Markel's desire for reckless rock and roll, while Tagging Satellites revealed a more experimental aspect that proved to be interesting, to say the least. Now, with his second solo release, Versus On Venus, Markel indulges in his soft, introspective, pleasantly disturbing appeal. This album's departure from his other projects differs in that Markel explores the R&B-laden grooves of Motown and 70s inspired soul carefuly melded with mellow, jazzy, rock riffs. His... read more
Album Description
A full length solo outing from the former lead singer of Seattle’s New Sweet Breath. The CD features 10 stripped down ballads and hangover remedies for those quiet moments. Think Geoff Farina/Vermont with a touch of Paul Weller,: Lo-Fi Pop Soul. This is Graig’s 2nd solo outing, with the 5 song "Nov./Dec." CDep coming out on Recovery Room Records in 99’.