Kris Gruen

Kris Gruen's Mother West label notch up another creative winner with this eleven-track curiousity. Gruen is of a similar proposition to The Pernice Brothers or Iron and Wine, armed with plenty of strong choruses and deft use of hook-line, but it's the depth on this album that demands a wider audience-- a very organic and authentic album of warm-veined and druggy Americana that M Ward might even cop a nod to. Hopefully, Mr Sony or at least Mr Rough Trade or Ms 4AD will see sense and license this fine collection in the UK as soon as possible. Heartily recommended - take note UK record-labels - Paul Pledger,

"Oooooooooh this is utterly lovely: Beautiful melodies, lush harmonies, and all the jingles in the right places. There is the sense of theatre that artists such as Sufjan Stevens achieve, and Gruen's music certainly stands alongside such artists comfortably. Lullaby School is truly a thing of beauty." - Sian Claire Owen

"An ethereal mix of acoustic guitar and sparkling backup production as an undercurrent to poetic lyrics that reach far beyond average songwriting. Kris Gruen's inventive approach to songwriting will stretch the limits for an audience hungry for new vistas". - Acoustic Live In NYC

"Artfully conceived and expertly executed, Part of It All is nearly a masterstroke. Gruen is sagacious, delivering sly poetics with breathy charm. Sophisticated, spirited and cunning." - Dan Bolles

"His sound belongs to the hours right before dawn when you wake up a little too early, and you're not quite sure what to think about. Then you realize it's best to just listen to the birds start chirping as the dawn reveals itself in its own good time." - Rob Cullivan,