Kirsten Thien

Blog Review of a Recent Live Show by WFUV’s Eric Holland
and as seen on www.hollandude.com

“I had the chance to see Kirsten Thien last week at the Triad Theater in Manhattan, and she burned it up….really nothing but praise for her.” Watch full review here. See video from the show here.

Delicious gets a shout out on Keyboard Magazine’s Editor’s Playlist:

“This fire-haired songwriter’s voice strikes a perfect balance between the precise but homey crooning of Bonnie Raitt and the sheer incendiary power of Janis Joplin…Too macho for a taste of estro-rock? “Delicious” will have you asking for seconds.” Stephen Fortner, Keyboard Magazine

April 2011 Issue of the DownBeat Magazine says:

“Kirsten Thien’s stock in trade is modern blues infused with soul and rock. She’s a lithe, composed vocalist, inclined to use her attractive voice to elevate rather than plumb lyrics in songs she’s written about sensual love.” Find out where to buy this issue at http://www.downbeat.com/

“[Thien] just seems to have a natural gift for singing blues and blues-rock…”
Richard Skelly, Blues Revue Magazine

Issue #332 of the Jazz and Blues Report says:
“It seems never to fail that one of the year’s best releases surely shows up near year’s end. In this case, NYC-based singer/guitarist Kirsten Thien has served up a captivating soul set that, whether smoldering or scorching, is always generating serious heat. … Find this one and buy it.” (Duane Verh) Download a pdf of the full article.
Download the full issue at http://www.jazz-blues.com/

Sound Guardian (Croatia) says:
“EXCELLENT !!!”

Carol Borrington of Blues Matters Magazine (UK) says:
“Definitely one to watch.”

Doug Morrissey of MuzikReviews.com says:
“The band Kirsten is playing with is tighter than a Japanese hotel room on every track and compliment KT’s own guitar playing as well as her amazing voice.”
More Reviews of Delicious

Frank O. Grutch Jr. of Rock and Reprise says:
“Let me put it this way. If someone put this CD in my stocking at Christmas, I would play hell to find something good enough to pay them back.”
Read the full review at Rock and Reprise or download a PDF of this article here

Frets of 22Frets.com says:
I came across Kirsten Thien’s music thru Twitter, and she sure can sing the blues. She’s got an amazing voice that’s at times powerful, at times intimate…but always full of soul. And as I’m reading more about her for this post, I see that she’s in great company. She just opened for Buddy Guy at the Birchmere last week, and her album features blues guitarist Arthur Neilson, blues harmonica player Billy Gibson, and blues legend Hubert Sumlin (who I just noted was a guest on Kenny Wayne Shepherd’s new album…man that guy is keepin’ busy!).
Read the full review at 22.frets.com

kippenvel and Heaven Magazine (Netherlands) says:
“Thien is a great, but unfortunately yet undiscovered talent that rightly begs, moans and hollers to be discovered eleven songs and two radio edits long.”
Read the full review at kippenvel or check out the .pdf of the Heaven Magazine Article (in Dutch).

Rick Galusha of Pacific Street Blues says:
“This is a very solid, immediately enjoyable album that a wide base of blues fans should readily embrace.”
Download a PDF of the article here

Jazz N More (Switzerland) says:

“Thien zitiert Acoustic Blues,souligen Pop, Chicago Blues, alles zuge-schniten auf ihre wandelbare Stimme.”
Download a PDF of the article here

David McGee of The Bluegrass Special says:
“Note too how in Thien’s writing there is no suggestion of mean man blues–Delicious is about love desired, love delivered, love treasured, love celebrated in the heart and by the body”
Read the full review at The Bluegrass Special

Terry Clear of Blues Bytes says:
“This is an accomplished album by a very talented artist and it deserves a listen!”
Read the full review at Blues Bytes or download a PDF of the article here

C.W.’s Music Blog says:
“Kirsten Thien has been on the rise since 2001 and infuses her love for Aretha Franklin, traditional New Orleans jazz and the classic women blues singers of the 20’s into all her album releases”
Read the full review at C.W.’s Music Blog

Nashville Blues Society says:
“She possesses a great set of pipes, and puts them to the test on this set. Purring, growling, whispering and howling, she uses her vocals to reach out and grab you on songs that range from STAX-flavored soul, funky jazz, to straight acoustic blues.”
Read the full review at Nashville Blues Society or download a PDF of the article here

Gordon Baxter of Blues in Britain says
“Delicious shows that Kirsten Thien is a real talent, and potentially a force to be reckoned with.”
Read the full review at Blues in Britain

Midwest Record says:
“An army brat that has no compunction about mixing Memphis with ‘northern Baptist’ soul and super smart pop songwriting, this fire cracker is the package.”
Read the full review at Midwes - Various

'Kirsten Thien has one of the most haunting and lyrical voices I've heard in a long time' - John Russell

She Really Is

What happens when a Maine girl schooled on Linda Ronstadt, 80s rock, and early blues decides to join a band and write songs? You get a girl who gives classic rock a unique, modern twist on her soulful, sensual and intelligent independent release, She Really Is. Mainer Thien moved to New York City after completing her debut album and started paying her dues on the downtown club circuit. Soon, one of her songs, "She Really is a Rock Star," was chosen for use in the Off Broadway show Rockstars NYC. Thien then used a little Yankee ingenuity to promote herself and began getting noticed, getting airplay on stations throughout the northeast and hitting the road with her band of accomplished musicians. With a beautiful voice, poignant songs and a driven spirit, Thien is headed for even greater exposure. For more info, visit: www.kirstenthien.com.

http://www.ascap.com/playback/2003/fall/steppin.html

http://www.ascap.com/playback/2003/fall/actionc.html - Editor

"Don't labor in your efforts to find great music this holiday weekend"

Download full article at: http://www.kirstenthien.com/IMAGES/CapeWeek.jpg .
- Cape Cod Times

She Really Is

What happens when a Maine girl schooled on Linda Ronstadt, 80s rock, and early blues decides to join a band and write songs? You get a girl who gives classic rock a unique, modern twist on her soulful, sensual and intelligent independent release, She Really Is. Mainer Thien moved to New York City after completing her debut album and started paying her dues on the downtown club circuit. Soon, one of her songs, "She Really is a Rock Star," was chosen for use in the Off Broadway show Rockstars NYC. Thien then used a little Yankee ingenuity to promote herself and began getting noticed, getting airplay on stations throughout the northeast and hitting the road with her band of accomplished musicians. With a beautiful voice, poignant songs and a driven spirit, Thien is headed for even greater exposure. For more info, visit: www.kirstenthien.com.

http://www.ascap.com/playback/2003/fall/steppin.html

http://www.ascap.com/playback/2003/fall/actionc.html - Editor

From the opener, Still Love The Rain, on Kirsten Thien�s debut, the listener is promised a record full of contemporary pop songs, slowly executed in a precise, gentle and heart-warming way. Thien�s voice is just a reminder of how powerful conveying thought through music can be.

The record bounces all over the musical spectrum. Whether it�s a jazzy mood piece like Maria�s Lament or a more upbeat straightforward pop number like Reason or I Won�t Be Hurt Again, there�s something on this record for everyone. Thien draws from a slew of different musical resources, which keeps things interesting. If you�re into a more sincere Sheryl Crow singing songs that Nelly Furtado wrote, pick this up.

http://www.pulseweekly.com/article_read.asp?id=2157 - The Pulse Weekly - Nick Rose

�Anybody who thinks pop music is in a rut hasn't heard the Kirsten Thien Band"


Full article at:

http://www.kirstenthien.com/PDF's/TheCoast_2005.pdf - The Virginia Pilot

Kirsten Thien
You've Got Me

Solid production marks You�ve Got Me, the latest release from Kirsten Thien. Sparring verses on �See You Again� give way to a power pop chorus in the style of Sarah McLachlan or Christina Aguilera. �It might take some time to make love find its way back home,� she sings in a clear soprano that sails effortlessly above the pounding drums and wall of electric guitars.
�Thank You for Saying Goodbye� is another stellar track. Over a grooving Eric Clapton�style guitar lick Thien sings of healing and moving on. �I�m stepping out of your shadow and into the light.�
Thien�s got a great set of pipes, and she explores every note of her remarkable range on You�ve Got Me. She moves from Bonnie Raitt mellow to Aretha Franklin wailing high notes, but throughout the record she remains poised. On You�ve Got Me, Thien�s got you. - Performing Songwriter

�Thien's depth often reminds one of classic songbirds such as Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow"

Full article seen at:

http://www.kirstenthien.com/PDF's/2005_Summer_RICHMOND.pdf - Richmond.com

Bluesy singer/songwriter Kirsten Thien may have graduated college with a finance degree, but it's her sultry croon that's earned her respect within the music community. Thien's soulful blend of rock, pop, and blues came to fruition on her 2003 debut album, She Really Is, a collection of well-honed tales of life and love fueled by her powerful singing voice. It was followed in 2005 by the equally powerful You've Got Me. - AllMusic.com

"There�s the blues: Thien�s voice sweetly calls u long highways and those emblems of loneliness. Then there�s rock: Her sound kicks off and rolls down that highway, led by a voice that seems very much in control."

Full article seen at:
http://www.kirstenthien.com/PDF's/2005_Summer_RICHMOND.pdf - Style Weekly

"Thien is a natural at songwriting. Weaving her way through the lyrical intricacies of relationships both positive and negative, she seasons her songs with dashes of instrumental differentiation."
Read the full article at: http://www.seacoastonline.com/calendar/02092006/cd_revie/86830.htm - Portsmouth Herald

"There�s the blues: Thien�s voice sweetly calls u long highways and those emblems of loneliness. Then there�s rock: Her sound kicks off and rolls down that highway, led by a voice that seems very much in control."

Full article seen at:
http://www.kirstenthien.com/PDF's/2005_Summer_RICHMOND.pdf - Style Weekly