Leejay Rudenjak
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Music
Press
English translation:
If you appreciate distinctive voices, beautiful lyrics, and a diversified, rootsy approach, you are at the right place with Leejay Rudenjak. His album, “Switchtracks,” has everything to make this American with Croatian roots an instant favorite. With primary support from the extremely talented multi-instrumentalist Dick Neal, who produced the album, Rudenjak’s twelve songs skillfully travel back and forth between sadness and optimism. Particularly striking is his use of train images as metaphors for moods. Among our favorite aspects are Neal’s very fine playing on “If You But Knew,” the radio friendly “Might Could Love You,” and “Where the Ghost Locomotives Go,” one of the “train songs.” A very fine album indeed!
In Dutch:
Wie zweert bij markante stemmen, mooie teksten en een gediversifieerde rootsy aanpak zit bij deze Leejay Rudenjak goed. Zijn album "Switchtracks" heeft wat ons betreft alvast alles om van de Amerikaan met Kroatische roots een instant-favoriet te maken. Met als zijn voornaamste bondgenoot de extreem getalenteerde multi-instrumentalist Dick Neal, die ook de productie van de plaat voor zijn rekening nam, laveert Rudenjak hier twaalf eigen nummers lang handig heen en weer tussen verdriet en optimisme. Opvallend is daarbij vooral, dat hij zich regelmatig bedient van beelden van treinen als metaforen voor gemoedsgesteldheden. Enkele van de mooiste liedjes vonden wij het gloedvolle, door Neal van erg fraai snarenwerk voorziene "If You But Knew," het radiovriendelijke "Might Could Love You," en "Where The Ghost Locomotives Go," ÚÚn van de genoemde ôtrain songs.ö Erg fijne plaat zondermeer!
http://www.ctrlaltcountry.be/Pagina1.htm#LeejayRudenjak
- Ctrl. Alt. Country, April 2009
Discography
CD: "Switchtracks" (2009). Several songs from the CD have been played on CT radio: WPKN (99.1) on their Local Bands Show, WESU's Homegrown show, etc. "Where the Ghost Locomotives Go" was featured on Tom Fahey's syndicated AmericanaOK program out of Scotland. Couple songs were featured on Jim Albertson’s “Down Jersey” radio program, heard on WVLT 92.1 FM, out of Vineland, N.J., etc. Great reviews, including by ROOTSTIME in Belgium.
CD: "Dust Bowl Soul" (2011)
Photos
Bio
I was brought up in "Bruce Springsteen's back yard" just south of Freehold, New Jersey. Working class kid from large family with menagerie of animals. Played keys (B-3 and piano) as a boy--all the great Tin Pan Alley stuff--and was a church organist during HS. They let me into Yale, not knowing better. Art major. Have done art and written music all my life, mainly for myself, while working 9-5 as a writer. Many romantic travails. Experienced a decade of very serious depression and managed to survive to tell the tale. Musical influences are many, but include Hank Williams, Kris Kristofferson, Gram Parsons, Lucinda Williams, Neil Young, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, the Band, John Lennon, John Prine, Tom Waits, and Bruce Springsteen. I stuggle to be the best man I can, mostly, and my motto (from one of my songs) is "by the time I die I hope to have a code to live by."
Links
