amilia k spicer

Amilia K Spicer's Seamless is another worthy entry into the Alt-country sweepstakes. She's been compared to Emmylou Harris and Jeff Buckley, but I hear Neko Case, Joni Mitchell and Jesse Sykes.
Released in 2003, Seamless has garnered much acclaim in the time since, and it's easy to see why. Balancing between beautiful and ballsy, the songs score a knockout on all fronts, lyrically and melodically. "Wide World", "Falling In", "Near Apart" and the gorgeous "Little Cowboy" represent the former, while "4:08", "Wasted" and a hidden track "I've Got Trouble"(?) epitomize the latter.
The latest generation of Alt-country artists--Neko Case, Jesse Sykes, New Pornographers, Gretchen Wilson--have kept the flame burning and even improved upon the model originated back in the early 90's by pioneers Uncle Tupelo. I'm happy to say that the critics are right and Amilia K Spicer's name should be added to the list of flame-keepers, and Seamless is sumptious.

4.0 Stars

Reviewed by Gina 11/2005
Evolution of Media Review
http://www.eomentertainment.com/reviews/Amilia_K_Spicer/Seamless.shtml
- Evolution of Media - Gina

Margot Timmins of the Cowboy Junkies has a sister. Amilia K Spicer has a voice that could substitute for the Canadian singer in a heartbeat. And the music from her 2003 release, Seamless, would easily satisfy fans of the Junkies.

Spicer, an LA based singer/songwriter is a songwriter for sure. She has the credentials to prove it. Her music has been described, as “cinematic, moody” and cinema has definitely come calling. Her songs have been included on shows such as Dawson Creek, Roswell, Party of Five and several independent films. She has also been invited to teach at the prestigious songwriting school in Kerrville, Texas.

Her lines are wonderful and stand out – ‘listen in for the occasional wind but it just shut up’; ‘looks like a page nobody read, lost in the hallways of his head’. Wonderful stuff. She paints pictures so vividly that I was drawn into her music easily and totally.

And it helps her voice is easy to listen to; moody and cinematic just like her songs. I loved Delayed Effect. Beautiful painting of words…’there’s something in August that can choke your senses’. Love it. Little Cowboy – ‘I know when I retire, I’ll sit around a campfire, telling stories of the day before.’ Near Apart – ‘he rattled that cage empty, it was the Southern thing to do.' Safety in Numbers – ‘you kept the faith, but it slipped away before you aimed.” I love this stuff. I want to meet her. I want to pick her brain and find out where this stuff comes from.

I think this is a writer that has a tremendous future but I fear she will be lost in production. It brings to mind the brilliant album by Patti Griffin, Living With Ghosts, where exceptional songwriting is front and centre. Everything else takes a back seat, as it should.

The press materials hinted at a new release in 2006 on Spicer’s own label, Free Range Records. It will be one
- Jane Eamon

With a stunning and angelic voice that channels the best attributes of Stevie Nicks and Emmylou Harris without mimicry, Amilia K Spicer demonstrates her considerable talents on this end-of-the-year re-release of Seamless. Originally released in 2003, the album is getting new life as Spicer builds momentum for a new album due out in 2006.

Mining singer/songwriter territory that falls somewhere in the void between Allison Moorer’s The Duel and Rumors-era Fleetwood Mac, the L.A.-based Spicer delivers intelligent-pop gems like the smooth yet pensive title track and the gorgeously understated “Falling In.” Musically, there’s little to no new territory explored on Seamless, but the familiar strains of warm Americana suit the songs, which are as finely crafted as anything we’ve heard from an independent artist in quite some time.

Spicer mixes and mashes up her influences into a cohesive whole; June Carter Cash runs headlong into Neil Young on “Little Cowboy,” a straight-ahead country ballad with a darker edge, while the haunting “Safety in Numbers” plays like a Mazzy Star / Cowboy Junkies collaboration with less reverb.

Despite all the obvious references, Spicer’s songs ultimately ring true, such as on the moving and cathartic “Route 15,” where she conveys longing through lines like “I bend my bones up to the heavens through the clouds / lapidary angels looking down / make me a diamond.” On that track and album closer “Long Time,” Spicer also shows that knowing when not to sing is as important as singing well, as she builds tension with an approach that never overwhelms the songs.

Seamless proves that Spicer’s L.A. DIY Awards and considerable acclaim are only the beginning for an artist with a world of potential and a hefty bag of tricks
- Ryan Townsend

Seamless, title track to Amilia's latest CD was named "Song of the Year" at the 2005 DIY Convention in Los Angeles CA. - DIY Convention

Amilia and co-producer Ed Tree were named "Producer of the Year" for Amilia's album "Seamless" at the 2005 DIY Convention in Los Angeles, CA. - DIY Convention

Spicer is quietly establishing a reputation as a formidable singer, songwriter and pianist
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folks in L.A. and Austin, the Texas music capital, have taken a shine to her sultry vocals, clever turns of phrase and breezy melodicism.
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a good way to describe her music. It’s pop-rock-folk with a colorful lyricism that, in songs like the compelling “Seamless,” paints some pretty vivid, if subtly ambiguous, pictures.
“Seamless” is one of those slow-build songs, like Simon and Garfunkel’s “Bridge Over Trouble Water,” that sucks you in and doesn’t let go until the last note.
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With a voice that ranges from soaring to smoky, a keen observational lyricism and an innate talent for accessible melodies, this gifted young artist - who has performed at venues as diverse as the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Kerrville (Texas) Folk Festival - seems destined to gain wider acclaim.
- The Flint Journal

Amilia K Spicer is a Los Angeles based songwriter and singer whose chosen instrument is the keyboard, which is complimented greatly by her musky come-hither voice and (while performing live) her impish facial expressions. She is a delightful performer. Seamless is a very long-awaited follow-up to her excellent debut, Like An Engine, released in 1999. Engine was a sparsely produced succulent plum. Seamless is a plush peach of an album. In both cases, Amilia draws you in for a bite with her silky voice and carefully crafted lyrics Whether you like songs to be sung around a campfire or in heaven, there is a song here for you. Amilia's sense of humor shines through everywhere. Whether you like "Tangerey" or "Moving Mountains", Spicer alone or with a band are equally enjoyable, making the whole project "seamless". Recommended. - Sing Out! Magazine

After moving from Pennsylvania to Los Angeles in pursuit of a career as a film director, Amilia K Spicer found herself immersed in the career of a singer-songwriter instead. Spicer has assembled an all-star cast to complete her sophomore effort, Seamless. Intentional or not, she has combined both talents; each song is directed like a film that jumps off the wide screen to capture its audience. She has the ability to write songs that vividly paint descriptive characters and plots, rich in literary detail and poetic imagery, as in the track “Delayed Effect”; “He’s got his hands in his pockets, like it’s keeping him balanced / And he looks like a page nobody’s read.” The title track is a display of what she does best throughout the album - controlled simplicity.
Produced with Ed Tree, the album displays stylistic similarities to Lucinda Williams or Emmylou Harris’ pre-Wrecking Ball material, though the production does hint of Daniel Lanois at times. Seamless is an intimate portrayal of Spicer’s unique brand of cinematic country, blues, folk and pop blend. A must-have for any roots music enthusiasts. - Performing Songwriter