Reed Waddle

Singer-songwriter Reed Waddle, of Destin, Fla., was part of Friday's lineup of talent. He and Oates have been collaborating recently, writing the song "Blue Eyed Soul," which they recorded Thursday and performed live for the first time on the KDNK airwaves.
"I feel especially blessed to be working with Mr. Oates. I came here last winter to write - I traded my flip-flops for cowboy boots," Waddle said. "Then I got a call from John Oates one day. ... It's been a really inspirational experience for me. There's definitely a part of my soul in these mountains."
Waddle opened for rocker Stephen Kellogg, who also volunteered for Friday's Guest DJ Day, at the Belly Up in Aspen Friday night and guitar legend Tim Reynolds Saturday. Waddle was happy to stop in to Steve's Friday afternoon to share his songs with KDNK supporters.
"I've been here a couple of times and every time I come here, I think I look at all the guitars more than listen to the music," he said. "For me, it's like walking into a candy store." Aspen Times Sept 30, 2006
- Aspen Times Sept 30, 2006

"Who does this sound like?" That's the question you will ask yourself when you pop in Reed Waddle's This Paperback Town. After a few run throughs, the question you'll want answered is "Why aren't there more artists of this caliber out there?" Great vocals, a fusion of rock, jazz, blues and even a little raggae, Waddle's latest album is a treasure trove of impressive music. One part Van Morrison, one part Jack Johnson, a smidge of Ben Folds, a little Bob Ondrasczik (Five for Fighting) and a dash of Bob Marley, this artist from Destin, FL has a meaty voice fresh with musical influence, yet strikingly unique. Easily switching gears in tone and style, Waddle's larger than life strength is his diversification and range- there's no putting him into a category because he changes from song to song. In the hands of a less skilled artist, that could serve to disjoint an album, but for Waddle, the result is pure butter. In addition to being a tremendous singer, Waddle is a great songwriter having won two international songwriting competitions by his early twenties. His lyrics are smart, slick and well-worked. Recently he was acknowledged by ASCAP Plus Awards Program for his accomplishments in his bright budding career. The thick vocals are prepared with moments of incredible instrumentation, from piano/keyboards on "The Way That You Do," a song clearly influenced by Van Morrison, which opens up higher ground to the island rhythms of "Little Darlin'" and the staccato guitar on "Two Fingers." The jazzy and suave "Song for the Summertime" is an instant classic, as is "All the Lovely People." Each song is tight and well worth every second of listening time. The constant through every song is Waddle's vocal. Soulful, smooth and multi-layered, he offers up a richness that most artists this young can't even begin to present. That voice is definitely going to take Waddle far. This Paperback Town is Waddle's third full length album, but you'd never know it by listening. It sounds like the work of a life-long musician, writer and singer. It has depth, breadth, and muscle. You can put money on Reed Waddle, because music like his won't go unnoticed. Written by KRISSIE CALLAHAN (May 2005) - Justanothersong.com

So, you liked John Mayer before everyone else. You saw his freeshow in Gainesville. You told your friends. They told their friends. Suddenly he's a TRL superstar, a teenybopper poster and just a bit too mainstream for you to connect with anymore. The solution? Reed Waddle. Though this 21-year-old has all of Mayer's guitar strumming charms and lyrical sensitivities--he was a finalist in the International Songwriting Competition--he is still a virtually unknown UF student, who is ripe for your musical picking. Try his latest release, “Higher Ground,” for an MTV-less dose of some serious singer/songwriting.
- Orange & Blue Magazine: University of Florida

Reed Waddle...by Jim Reed
With every A & R guy in the country looking for the next John Mayer or Dave Matthews, it’s no wonder this young Florida guitarist has been playing so many showcases over the past few years. The 2-time Intl. Songwriting Competition Finalist (out of over 10,000 entries) has been courted by everyone from Island to Atlantic – but still no takers. Regardless, he has the chops, the accessible voice (comparable to the young Van Morrison or Adam Duritz – whoops, same thing), the boyish good looks, and the killer band of classically-trained ringers. His DIY albums are selling well, and if he’s smart, he may just sign with AWARE and forget about this major label nonsense... Fri., JJ Cagney’s.
- Connect Recommends-Savannah Ga 2006

"Ultra-talented singer songwriter with crafts compelling...accoustic indie rock. Endearing vocals, excellent lyrics, a John Mayer/Ben Harper/Counting Crows hybrid. Has the look, the charm and the potential. Reed has been contacted by many major labels to date." - Kings of A&R

Reed Waddle


By James McQuiston• Jun 17th, 2008 • Category: Reviews

“The Beast Within” will be Reed Waddle’s claim to fame. The first single off of his new album “Piece By Piece”, the track has a timeless quality to it given by the honest and smooth vocals of Waddle. The slight hint of electronic fuzz that plays at the corner of the track links the alt-rock of Waddle to storied acts like the Red Hot Valentines and Desert City Soundtrack. This strain of the band’s sound is complemented further by an easily-approachable indie rock style that has influences drawn from artists such as Ben Harper and even Paul Simon.

The Simon influence can be heard easier if individuals tune in to “Velveteen Skies”, which links the alternative/indie style of “The Beast Within” with an earlier style that ranges from Neil Young to Dave Matthews Band and Randy Newman all the way out to the Counting Crows. Despite this diverse array of influences, listeners are able to identify with Waddle’s vocals and pick out all the nuances that makes “Piece By Piece” such a lasting album. Aside from the aural aesthetics put forth by Waddle and his band on “Piece By Piece”, listeners would do well to dissect the lyrics on tracks like “Goodnight Los Angeles” (which contains a ringing endorsement for Reed Waddle through a writing credit that contains John Oates).

These lyrics show the dual face of living in Los Angeles; “It’s the city of angels but don’t believe it / You take your time but it can’t touch those dreams”; there is a lot to be gained, but one can just lose as much. Where Waddle comes forth with a narrative thread through all of the tracks on “Piece By Piece”, he simply does not give individuals a play by play of what is happening. Rather, Waddle creates lyrics that are more poetic and more emotional than practically any other act playing right now. In a period of pop stars devoid of any emotion, the soulful lyrics of Waddle shine through as a bright spot on a barren plain. By all means, check out Reed Waddle as he and his band plays through the United States in support of the release of “Piece By Piece” this summer and fall, with new dates being added at a regular clip, Waddle should make it to a city near you sooner rather than later.

Top Tracks: Natural Elevation, Help Yourself

















http://neufutur.com/?p=3506 - NeuFutr Magazine

Reed Waddle, Piece By Piece
June 24, 2008

You know I used to say that John Mayer sounded like Dave Matthews. Then I listened to Reed Waddle and I think he can sound alittle like John Mayer. I assure you though that those comparisons are not bad at all. Look at how things turned out for John Mayer and Dave Matthews.

What a pleasure to be asked to review this new CD by Reed Waddle called, ‘Piece By Piece.’ Reed is a student of music and he clearly understands how to write a song for the radio & the masses. Reed shows that the independent scene has music that can hold it’s own against some major label artists.

This CD starts out with a smash called, “The Beast Within.” This is the finest track that I have heard in a while and when I get home I will be adding it to my ZUNE playlist. This is the kind of song that you listen to and get excited about it.

Reed was born and raised in Destin, FL. He attended the University of Florida and that is where he saw just how effective his music is. He had sororities, fraternities, label execs, and fans flocking to come see him in Gainesville, the home of the Gators.

I must sound like I am gushing here but I love this CD. It’s funny because the packaging is nothing fancy. Just a nice CD sleeve with Reed pictured on it. The music does all the talking.

The sound quality is perfect on this album. My favorite track that sounds just amazing is “My Honeycomb (El Camino).” This song is sexy and has alot of soul in it.

If I were a program director I would have a field day with this album. First off, track 1, “The Beast Within” is a hit, no doubt about it. Also track 5, “Good Night Los Angeles” is a great track. Reed worked with John Oates on this one. This song is personal but has such a groove that you have to move. I would love to hear this live.

Reed Waddle is the real deal. He understands how to create, write, and construct a hit tune. I love his writing on track 6, “Love Ain’t Always On Time.” A very real and smart song. Reed wrote every song on this album, which is awesome.

This CD is going from my office here in Boston to my car’s CD player. I think I have found my soundtrack to the summer of 2008.

Review By: Mikey Frieds

www.reedwaddle.com

Rating: 5 Scopes! (out of 5)

- Scope Magazine: Boston

I don't watch TV and haven't for the past 20-plus years. Unless a brain aneurism strikes, lobotomizing me, it's a practice I'll continue until the whitecoated lads from Shady Acres Rest Home For The Terminally Curmudgeonly come for me. This means I miss crap like American Idol, so I fall to my knees praising the God I don't believe in for heaven-sent favors. It, however, also means that I miss a few cool items like X-Files, Millenium, Malcolm in the Middle, South Park, and totally unexpected outfall like this singular CD stemming from an abysmally crappy popular show.

Reed Waddle was chosen to be pursued among 20 top finalists from 25,000 contestants in American Idol's Songwriter Competition, which means the idiotic creators of that travesty, in choosing Waddle, have a few more brain cells than anyone would've guessed. Teamed with John Oates (Hall & Oates), he's produced a disc that one-ups the highly successful Big John's radio monster group by a goodly mile, kinda reflects Richie Kotzen's oddly down-home solo gig, and will work its way past your defenses no matter how hard you try to ward it off. Way back when, I was hoping for this kind of thing when listening to Stoneground and other groups that couldn't quite settle into any orthodox mode. Piece by Piece is neither splashy nor distinctive but rather a very pleasing blend of any number of mellow rock styles with a big spoonful of blue-eyed soul, clever in a way that never brags, friendly as a quirky minstrel playing on the corner for children and their bemused parents.

The initial song at first left me a bit nonplussed, but, by the fifth cut, I was sold, enjoying every moment. Then I went back to the intro and found it wasn't that I'd been displaying bad taste (goodness no!) but that this is just not like much of anything I've ever heard, something of a distant cousin to Julian Sakata's still-baffling set of opuses (reviewed elsewhere in this forum) and haunting my braincells. Waddle has absorbed his influences so well that it's damnably difficult to name them, but I do hear Sly Stone's mellow bop side (I had to go back and listen to Family Affair after this disc), both early and later Steve Miller, grassrootsily funky Steely Dan, and a myriad of groups from the high days of the late 70s and early 80s. If there's one word that describes this effort, it's refreshing. Guaranteed, Piece by Piece is going to find its way into my tube-driven Denon quite a few more times in the future.

- David N. Pyles

PIECE BY PIECE is Reed Waddle’s fourth release, and is perhaps a more reflective project than his previous work with his (now departed ) backing band, 13th Street Special. Waddle took his time with this project --- the songs included on PIECE BY PIECE have been percolating for over two years --- and the time and patience in crafting this work shows, and shows well.

Waddle mines to great effect the musical lode that The Fray, John Mayer, and (in their lighter moments) Maroon 5 have plumbed. His vocal range, while not wide, is comfortable and friendly. He’s not Sinatra, nor does he need to be; he treads that line --- so difficult to find --- between uniqueness and familiarity, so that it’s able to slip onto the listener like a comfortable shoe from the first time through. I’m not sure if Waddle is selling himself as an performing artist or as a songwriter on PIECE BY PIECE --- a compelling argument could be made for both, or either --- but at the very least an established act is missing something by not grabbing onto one or more of these tracks and covering them. Interestingly enough, “Good Night Los Angeles” from PIECE BY PIECE was co-written by Waddle and John Oates. Oates was apparently made aware of Waddle’s work by a mutual friend and invited Waddle to make a collaboration attempt. Oates, who is possessed of a well of talent that at this late date has yet to be fully plumbed, is adept at spotting the same in others, thus the collaboration.

There’s not a bad track on PIECE BY PIECE, and if it’s not quite ready for terrestrial radio it’s more than ready for network or cable television. The afore-mentioned “Good Night Los Angeles” could be featured on any of the television shows aiming at that 18 to 35 female demographic. It’s perfect, with Waddle’s warm vocal and a great, subtle hook that quietly breaks your heart with a light wistfulness. Waddle has a quiet but deep talent for writing great hooks that don’t rely on bombast but instead tug gently to get your attention. “The Beast Within,” “Piece By Piece,” “Love Ain’t Always On Time,” and the title track, among others, are standout examples of this.

PIECE BY PIECE reminds me of some of Boz Scaggs’ better work; it’s not that they sound alike (they don’t) but they have a similar relaxed soulfulness that at the end of the day, any day, sounds great. Waddle has flirted with commercial success several times in the past; PIECE BY PIECE may be the collection that seals the deal.
- www.music-reviewer.com