Linq

Linq’s ‘No Person on the Line’ Best healthcare rage song ever… September 2010 - Curve Magazine

Linq’s ‘No Person on the Line’ Best healthcare rage song ever… September 2010 - Curve Magazine

“One of today’s top LGBTQI songwriting advocates…” September 22, 2010 - New Music at Bear Radio Network

“One of today’s top LGBTQI songwriting advocates…” September 22, 2010 - New Music at Bear Radio Network

Health care and the abuse of prescription
drugs are regulars in the news. Linq combines
her songwriting craft and her experience as a
pharmacist to tackle these issues on her latest
self-release, Rx and the Side Effects. On
“Prescription Chaos,” our quick to medicate
culture is criticized. Linq cleverly
chronicles a family’s woes
on “Simple Woman” and
scolds the bullying of the
pharmaceutical industry
on “Money Today.” “Gun in
Hand” is video-ready, ideal
for Las Vegas-style impersonators
of Michael Jackson,
Anna Nicole Smith
and a poor-miming Paula
Adbul. I am still feasting
on Linq’s fantastic album,
Life Goes On, from earlier
this year; Rx and the Side
Effects is a remarkable successor.
- Windy City Times Chicago

Health care and the abuse of prescription
drugs are regulars in the news. Linq combines
her songwriting craft and her experience as a
pharmacist to tackle these issues on her latest
self-release, Rx and the Side Effects. On
“Prescription Chaos,” our quick to medicate
culture is criticized. Linq cleverly
chronicles a family’s woes
on “Simple Woman” and
scolds the bullying of the
pharmaceutical industry
on “Money Today.” “Gun in
Hand” is video-ready, ideal
for Las Vegas-style impersonators
of Michael Jackson,
Anna Nicole Smith
and a poor-miming Paula
Adbul. I am still feasting
on Linq’s fantastic album,
Life Goes On, from earlier
this year; Rx and the Side
Effects is a remarkable successor.
- Windy City Times Chicago

Back when the Vermont Guardian was still a going concern, we received
a solo album by one of THE stars of 1970s/1980s women's music, Cris
Williamson. The sentiments expressed on that disc were as I would
have expected, from reading articles and interviews. So what was most
striking was the care with which the record was made. Unfortunately,
it arrived after what would have been my deadline, and I was unable to
write up Williamson or her CD. But Williamson, by that time, was both
a veteran and a star of women's music; and she could have dashed off a
record, and fans still would have loved it. Be that as it may, it was
readily apparent that, in addition to doing her part to save the world
and expressing her views directly on a variety of topics, Williamson
placed making the best music she could on a very high priority.

"Life Goes On" by Linq is in a somewhat similar vein.

Save the world? Check.

Put my thoughts out there for all to hear? Check.

Make a great sounding CD? You bet!

Things have been more than a little ragged around here since "Life
Goes On" arrived, and I have not been able to give the record multiple
plays nor take notes. But I can say that I have suggested her Track
7, "George Orwell Where Are You," as apropos and excellent intro/outro
music for a national radio talk show featuring one of my favorite
hosts. I'd love to see and hear it work out.

And Linq's Track 1, "Where Will the Wild Ones Go," has an effect that
I was born to enjoy. The vocals have just the tiniest roughness to
them, bringing about what we call a "live" sound? Carl Wilson of The
Beach Boys spoke very favorably of a similar instrumental effect
creating great musical tension. Then, on "Where Will the Wild Ones
Go," comes a fantastic Brian Wilsonian gush of harmony, which sets off
against the prior vocals wonderfully. Tension and release: one of the
greatest and most important effects of musical expression.

So while I did not yet get a chance to give this disc all the plays it
deserves, I did find a lot to like and went so far as to suggest a cut
for consideration for national airplay.

Great album. Linq fans are going to want it.

Linq, in addition to her engaging music, has another thing that would
interest many of our readers: her off-stage name, Diane Lincoln. An
eastern Massachusetts Diane Lincoln was a very popular 1980s regional
country music star. She recorded for John Penny and his Belmont
Records label, and I believe he booked her. Whether Diane Lincoln is
playing out these days, I couldn't say. But interest in her music
remains. That I know for a fact, from personal experience. We have
received e-mail inquiries about her; and we helped, in a tiny way,
with research for a feature newspaper article about her, maybe a
couple years ago. Can't talk about one Diane Lincoln without bringing
in the other, who set a lot of country toes to tappin' in the 1980s
and whose fans are known to think of her fondly.

Do check out Linq's "Life Goes On." I plan to do the same, with the
volume at a little higher setting next time.

Well done.
- New England Music Scrapbook Newsletter

Back when the Vermont Guardian was still a going concern, we received
a solo album by one of THE stars of 1970s/1980s women's music, Cris
Williamson. The sentiments expressed on that disc were as I would
have expected, from reading articles and interviews. So what was most
striking was the care with which the record was made. Unfortunately,
it arrived after what would have been my deadline, and I was unable to
write up Williamson or her CD. But Williamson, by that time, was both
a veteran and a star of women's music; and she could have dashed off a
record, and fans still would have loved it. Be that as it may, it was
readily apparent that, in addition to doing her part to save the world
and expressing her views directly on a variety of topics, Williamson
placed making the best music she could on a very high priority.

"Life Goes On" by Linq is in a somewhat similar vein.

Save the world? Check.

Put my thoughts out there for all to hear? Check.

Make a great sounding CD? You bet!

Things have been more than a little ragged around here since "Life
Goes On" arrived, and I have not been able to give the record multiple
plays nor take notes. But I can say that I have suggested her Track
7, "George Orwell Where Are You," as apropos and excellent intro/outro
music for a national radio talk show featuring one of my favorite
hosts. I'd love to see and hear it work out.

And Linq's Track 1, "Where Will the Wild Ones Go," has an effect that
I was born to enjoy. The vocals have just the tiniest roughness to
them, bringing about what we call a "live" sound? Carl Wilson of The
Beach Boys spoke very favorably of a similar instrumental effect
creating great musical tension. Then, on "Where Will the Wild Ones
Go," comes a fantastic Brian Wilsonian gush of harmony, which sets off
against the prior vocals wonderfully. Tension and release: one of the
greatest and most important effects of musical expression.

So while I did not yet get a chance to give this disc all the plays it
deserves, I did find a lot to like and went so far as to suggest a cut
for consideration for national airplay.

Great album. Linq fans are going to want it.

Linq, in addition to her engaging music, has another thing that would
interest many of our readers: her off-stage name, Diane Lincoln. An
eastern Massachusetts Diane Lincoln was a very popular 1980s regional
country music star. She recorded for John Penny and his Belmont
Records label, and I believe he booked her. Whether Diane Lincoln is
playing out these days, I couldn't say. But interest in her music
remains. That I know for a fact, from personal experience. We have
received e-mail inquiries about her; and we helped, in a tiny way,
with research for a feature newspaper article about her, maybe a
couple years ago. Can't talk about one Diane Lincoln without bringing
in the other, who set a lot of country toes to tappin' in the 1980s
and whose fans are known to think of her fondly.

Do check out Linq's "Life Goes On." I plan to do the same, with the
volume at a little higher setting next time.

Well done.
- New England Music Scrapbook Newsletter

As a former professional pharmacist turned prolific indie artist Boston's Linq offers a musical manifesto on the current hotbed societal issue of fixing the health care industry. Anyone who has been watching the debate unfold but is yet to grasp the breadth and depth of the problem and dire circumstances that often occur when patients seek medical attention in the United States - well, Rx and The Side Effects, the fourth full-length album from the modern folk rocker - is as good of a place to start as any to get a clear-eyed offering into all that has gone wrong with health care in America. By raising the clarion call on issues such as over-prescriptions, the uninsured, post-care poverty, the burden of coverage and a variety of drug related crimes - the ten songs on Linq's sixth overall release reveal an intelligent and insightful artist with a conscience who speaks out on the issues. Presented in singer-songwriter format Linq will often mix it up to include Blues, R&B and techno strains with her dominant folk delivery and the results are most effective on the anthemic "Prescription Chaos" and the rockin' "Side Effects". While Linq may not have a solution or a cure for the ills of the health care industry - she does have a diagnosis - and it doesn't look too good. Maybe a dose of these good songs from the Linq are the only injection the industry needs to get itself healed once and for all. - Kweevak.com

As a former professional pharmacist turned prolific indie artist Boston's Linq offers a musical manifesto on the current hotbed societal issue of fixing the health care industry. Anyone who has been watching the debate unfold but is yet to grasp the breadth and depth of the problem and dire circumstances that often occur when patients seek medical attention in the United States - well, Rx and The Side Effects, the fourth full-length album from the modern folk rocker - is as good of a place to start as any to get a clear-eyed offering into all that has gone wrong with health care in America. By raising the clarion call on issues such as over-prescriptions, the uninsured, post-care poverty, the burden of coverage and a variety of drug related crimes - the ten songs on Linq's sixth overall release reveal an intelligent and insightful artist with a conscience who speaks out on the issues. Presented in singer-songwriter format Linq will often mix it up to include Blues, R&B and techno strains with her dominant folk delivery and the results are most effective on the anthemic "Prescription Chaos" and the rockin' "Side Effects". While Linq may not have a solution or a cure for the ills of the health care industry - she does have a diagnosis - and it doesn't look too good. Maybe a dose of these good songs from the Linq are the only injection the industry needs to get itself healed once and for all. - Kweevak.com

As an indie music writer, I feel seriously outclassed here. Linq has no business being on an indie site. She should be opening for Bob Dylan. Or Joni Mitchell. Janis Ian would love her too. It’s not just Linq’s talent that puts her on this level. As a protest folk singer/songwriter and activist, she somehow manages to avoid the “Everything Sucks”sub-genre that so many indie protest folkies fall into. “Change the Picture,” the second track on this CD, is a perfect example. Linq doesn’t just protest racism and homophobia. She tries to whip up positive change. While reminding us that “nobody’s born a racist, nobody’s born a homophobe,” she suggests that we start more conversations and set better examples for kids. She also switches gears and uses humor to diffuse a touchy subject. Take “Diversity Dance,” a song about the disadvantages to borrowing against your 401(k). Kidding. It’s about diversity, and it features great lyrics like:

You can dance if you’re straight
You can dance if you’re gay
Transsexual too
And bisexuality is cool
It doubles the dating pool ...

See? Funny and on-target, as well as a great explanation for why my love life is so quiet. I’ve been limiting my options. Who knew? Still, Linq provides bite when she has to, and it’s a powerful thing. The opening track,
“Where Will the Wild Ones Go,” is quiet musing over the destruction of nature in order to build more shopping malls. Right away, I thought of the increase of deer in my neighborhood. The wooded areas in my part of town are being torn down to build more hotels, and suddenly deer are showing up in residential neighborhoods, attacking people in their yards. I came face to face with a doe while taking my morning walk a few months ago. I thought about that a lot during this song, which means it was only track one, and Linq was already proving how good she is. Other standouts include “Route 32 Blues” with its great live feel. Nice to know Linq can take a break from the big social issues to notice the little things, like that thumping sound
from the flat tire that’s been rolling over the past seventeen miles. “George Orwell Where Are You” is a clever, mysteriously-rapped message that will have you closing the drapes, turning off your computer, and wrapping tinfoil around your head. My favorite is the title track. It starts with a mystical sound, like the wind over the mountains. Then, suddenly, stunningly glorious harmonies open the track. It’s a beautiful, powerful way to open the song. Picture me giving a standing ovation to vocalists June Millington, Jean Millington (they’re twins, right?), Lee Madeloni, Naia Kete, and Joy Conz. The tempo matches the ebb and flow of life, which is the point
of the song. Until the rest of the world catches on, I’ll just be grateful that Linq stopped by our little indie site. And I’ll keep this CD as proof that I knew the deal long before the majors did.
- Indie-Music.com

As an indie music writer, I feel seriously outclassed here. Linq has no business being on an indie site. She should be opening for Bob Dylan. Or Joni Mitchell. Janis Ian would love her too. It’s not just Linq’s talent that puts her on this level. As a protest folk singer/songwriter and activist, she somehow manages to avoid the “Everything Sucks”sub-genre that so many indie protest folkies fall into. “Change the Picture,” the second track on this CD, is a perfect example. Linq doesn’t just protest racism and homophobia. She tries to whip up positive change. While reminding us that “nobody’s born a racist, nobody’s born a homophobe,” she suggests that we start more conversations and set better examples for kids. She also switches gears and uses humor to diffuse a touchy subject. Take “Diversity Dance,” a song about the disadvantages to borrowing against your 401(k). Kidding. It’s about diversity, and it features great lyrics like:

You can dance if you’re straight
You can dance if you’re gay
Transsexual too
And bisexuality is cool
It doubles the dating pool ...

See? Funny and on-target, as well as a great explanation for why my love life is so quiet. I’ve been limiting my options. Who knew? Still, Linq provides bite when she has to, and it’s a powerful thing. The opening track,
“Where Will the Wild Ones Go,” is quiet musing over the destruction of nature in order to build more shopping malls. Right away, I thought of the increase of deer in my neighborhood. The wooded areas in my part of town are being torn down to build more hotels, and suddenly deer are showing up in residential neighborhoods, attacking people in their yards. I came face to face with a doe while taking my morning walk a few months ago. I thought about that a lot during this song, which means it was only track one, and Linq was already proving how good she is. Other standouts include “Route 32 Blues” with its great live feel. Nice to know Linq can take a break from the big social issues to notice the little things, like that thumping sound
from the flat tire that’s been rolling over the past seventeen miles. “George Orwell Where Are You” is a clever, mysteriously-rapped message that will have you closing the drapes, turning off your computer, and wrapping tinfoil around your head. My favorite is the title track. It starts with a mystical sound, like the wind over the mountains. Then, suddenly, stunningly glorious harmonies open the track. It’s a beautiful, powerful way to open the song. Picture me giving a standing ovation to vocalists June Millington, Jean Millington (they’re twins, right?), Lee Madeloni, Naia Kete, and Joy Conz. The tempo matches the ebb and flow of life, which is the point
of the song. Until the rest of the world catches on, I’ll just be grateful that Linq stopped by our little indie site. And I’ll keep this CD as proof that I knew the deal long before the majors did.
- Indie-Music.com

Diane "Linq" Lincoln’s newest cd, Life Goes On, touches hearts and consciousness with her music and lyrics (all by Lincoln except one track, Ode to the Butterworth Boys, a soothing contemporary folk tale).
Where will the Wild Ones Go is a call to arms for the love of nature’s loss to bulldozers, with nice guitar and vocals. Change the Picture, is asking for just that, change, change in the world with an emphasis on racism. Diversity Dance offers up variety as the spice of life from sexual orientation to socio-economics.
The title cut, Life Goes On, is people, life, loves, and Linq assures us it’s all par for the course, and reminds us a simple ‘be here now’ with love is all we need. Route 32 Blues carries traditional blues sounds lending a lighter, humorous side to this highly outspoken and artistic work, and it’s pretty good blues. Most importantly on this CD, Linq asks us, "when the peace train comes, will you be there?"
This is an excellent collection and work from rising artist Linq and her cohorts. Our pick for the new Woman on the Rise; this gal didn’t set out on her musical journey until she turned 55. Life Goes On is her third CD since 2004, not bad for a late-bloomin’ boomer.
- Women's Rising Music

Diane "Linq" Lincoln’s newest cd, Life Goes On, touches hearts and consciousness with her music and lyrics (all by Lincoln except one track, Ode to the Butterworth Boys, a soothing contemporary folk tale).
Where will the Wild Ones Go is a call to arms for the love of nature’s loss to bulldozers, with nice guitar and vocals. Change the Picture, is asking for just that, change, change in the world with an emphasis on racism. Diversity Dance offers up variety as the spice of life from sexual orientation to socio-economics.
The title cut, Life Goes On, is people, life, loves, and Linq assures us it’s all par for the course, and reminds us a simple ‘be here now’ with love is all we need. Route 32 Blues carries traditional blues sounds lending a lighter, humorous side to this highly outspoken and artistic work, and it’s pretty good blues. Most importantly on this CD, Linq asks us, "when the peace train comes, will you be there?"
This is an excellent collection and work from rising artist Linq and her cohorts. Our pick for the new Woman on the Rise; this gal didn’t set out on her musical journey until she turned 55. Life Goes On is her third CD since 2004, not bad for a late-bloomin’ boomer.
- Women's Rising Music

Linq is a little bit like the love baby of Barney and Melissa Etheridge, and I really don’t mean that in a derogatory way. If Linq played an outdoor festival and if my partner and I had kids, we would be out having a picnic dancing on the grass with our cute gaybies singing along. Yes, I said gaybies. How can you not love a song called “Diversity Dance?” Hooray for gays! Hooray for bisexuals! It doubles the dating pool! After all, a little dose of cheesiness isn’t always bad, is it?

Take Glenn Danzig. He is one of the cheesiest guys ever, and he writes some of the cheesiest songs ever, and yet he is still able to make the biggest, hairiest metal heads sing along like twelve-year-old girls at a Jonas Brothers concert. The dude can rock, and part of what makes him rock is a certain element of ridiculous that also make his songs catchy. Linq has that same sort of catchiness, as well. Her songs have an addictive beat that makes them fun to listen to.

Linq and her fellow musicians are a talented crew. They obviously play their instruments with love and conviction. Don’t let the small dose of silly chase you away. Most of the songs on Life Goes On are seriously good.

As I mentioned before, Linq’s voice is a bit like Melissa Etheridge, and her music also follows the same kind of sound (with some kd Lang and maybe even a bit of Led Zeppelin in there as well, particularly on tracks like “SOS” and “Life Goes On”). It’s certainly “folk rock with a message” as her website states: Linq and her band take on everything from the Bush administration to the Patriot Act to deforestation. Frankly, I like her sound, I applaud her message(s), and I even like the slice of brie in there with it.
- Feminist Review

Linq is a little bit like the love baby of Barney and Melissa Etheridge, and I really don’t mean that in a derogatory way. If Linq played an outdoor festival and if my partner and I had kids, we would be out having a picnic dancing on the grass with our cute gaybies singing along. Yes, I said gaybies. How can you not love a song called “Diversity Dance?” Hooray for gays! Hooray for bisexuals! It doubles the dating pool! After all, a little dose of cheesiness isn’t always bad, is it?

Take Glenn Danzig. He is one of the cheesiest guys ever, and he writes some of the cheesiest songs ever, and yet he is still able to make the biggest, hairiest metal heads sing along like twelve-year-old girls at a Jonas Brothers concert. The dude can rock, and part of what makes him rock is a certain element of ridiculous that also make his songs catchy. Linq has that same sort of catchiness, as well. Her songs have an addictive beat that makes them fun to listen to.

Linq and her fellow musicians are a talented crew. They obviously play their instruments with love and conviction. Don’t let the small dose of silly chase you away. Most of the songs on Life Goes On are seriously good.

As I mentioned before, Linq’s voice is a bit like Melissa Etheridge, and her music also follows the same kind of sound (with some kd Lang and maybe even a bit of Led Zeppelin in there as well, particularly on tracks like “SOS” and “Life Goes On”). It’s certainly “folk rock with a message” as her website states: Linq and her band take on everything from the Bush administration to the Patriot Act to deforestation. Frankly, I like her sound, I applaud her message(s), and I even like the slice of brie in there with it.
- Feminist Review

The sun beautifully reflecting over the water on the cover of Linq's third album, Life Goes On, perfectly suits the set's mood. It captures the assuring serenity of the harmonies on the title track's reprise and even catches a glimpse of the potential environmental loss as heard on the opener “Where Will the Wild Ones Go.” The out musician brings up the paranoia of big brother on “George Orwell Where Are You?,” then offers a fun introduction to queer sexuality on “Diversity Dance.” This one should be incorporated into high school and collegiate sociology curricula. Linq has a knack for harmonies and captivating choruses, like on “Will You Care” and “Ode to the Butterworth Boys.” But it is the repetition of Linq singing “life goes on” throughout the reprise that I want to play on repeat for all perpetual pessimists and overreacting drama queens, so they can put life's curveballs into perspective. The Massachusetts-based Linq provides sound advice in her storytelling and makes the listener think about global consequences while harmonies melt over her folk-pop sound. - Windy City Times

The sun beautifully reflecting over the water on the cover of Linq's third album, Life Goes On, perfectly suits the set's mood. It captures the assuring serenity of the harmonies on the title track's reprise and even catches a glimpse of the potential environmental loss as heard on the opener “Where Will the Wild Ones Go.” The out musician brings up the paranoia of big brother on “George Orwell Where Are You?,” then offers a fun introduction to queer sexuality on “Diversity Dance.” This one should be incorporated into high school and collegiate sociology curricula. Linq has a knack for harmonies and captivating choruses, like on “Will You Care” and “Ode to the Butterworth Boys.” But it is the repetition of Linq singing “life goes on” throughout the reprise that I want to play on repeat for all perpetual pessimists and overreacting drama queens, so they can put life's curveballs into perspective. The Massachusetts-based Linq provides sound advice in her storytelling and makes the listener think about global consequences while harmonies melt over her folk-pop sound. - Windy City Times