Press
This is a collection of press clips about my music from over the years.
Collected reviews of Arms Around the River
from iTunes 2007-2009
I guess the verdict is in on Arms Around the River. It has proven to be in a pretty short time the album that has so far generated the best / most effusive reviews.
It feels good to be getting recognized, I think there is a slow and steady rise going on here. I don’t think it’s a surprise that almost half of my sales now are coming from out of the country – mostly iTunes UK, Europe, and Australia. I love that I have no idea who any of these people are.
A review of Arms Around the River
by CollectedSounds.com, December 2007
I already like an album that has a song called Impeach Bush.
These songs were written around the time of the London Terrorist attack in 2005. He was there and saw how it affected the people living in and around [London].
Axel has a sort of slow, drawly vocal style. His voice is very infectious. I could listen to it all day. The songwriting is bluesy, with lots of rhythm and heartfelt lyrics. Good stuff.
A review of Arms Around the River
by IntelligentPop.com, August 2007
Described as roots-rock and likened to the Dave Matthews Band in its press release, this artist actually reminds us more strongly of Gavin DeGraw and Randy Newman with their bluesy, bayou-accented singing styles… Axel has a lovely, warm voice, does not sound insincere, and achieves several moments of real beauty on this album. Overall, Axel belts less and sounds more sincere than other southern bluesmen. He’s generally mellow, which along with some lyrical and reverb-drenched electric guitar work is whence comes the dreamy beauty he sometimes achieves… The songwriting is thoroughly competent, the musicianship throughout is first-rate and the recording quality is terrific. Overall, a very strong effort. Nice work.
A live review was posted at IceCreamMan.com in FEB 2007
written by Jason Ricks
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| 2007-hotel |
From the outside, the Hotel Cafe is an unassuming grayish building with a small sign on the front door directing visitors to the alley next to the building. Another sign on the side of the building leads you down a long, unremarkable alley to the back entrance. Once inside, you’re treated to a comfortable, hip atmosphere-dim lighting, a dark wooden bar, exposed brick walls, and red velvet curtains.
It’s a fitting place for musician-singer-songwriter Krister Axel to celebrate the release of his new CD, Arms Around the River. Like the building in which he’s playing, Krister and his band make a modest sight onstage-they appear more like a group of friends playing a friend’s party than a gig in the heart of Hollywood. But just seconds into the first song, “Head in the Rain,” their professional musicianship and talent is immediately and pleasingly apparent. The earthy, roots rocking combination of acoustic and electric guitar, organ, harmonica, and solid rhythm section is infectious and easy to like. After the first verse, you’re hooked. The song rises from Krister singing soft lyrics over his solo organ to a spirited and full sounding all instruments jam, the mood of the music changing with the complexity and intensity of the sound.
Moments later, “True Believer” makes me think I’ve heard this band before, but where? I know they get no radio play, Krister produced his own album, and I happen to know he has a day job. There is something very familiar about these songs-the poignant earnestness of his writing is very appealing and easy with which to identify. This touching earnestness comes out again in the next song, “Stay,” which is a beautiful ballad that is very emotive-the kind of music that can make you rethink an argument with a loved one, or turn that afternoon’s road rage into a silly, distant memory. The mood of the melody is slow and sad-mostly expressing personal longing-that somehow manages to convey an inspiring notion of graceful wisdom throughout. It’s also packaged between an upbeat intro and a hopeful closing riff that leaves the listener feeling extremely satisfied. This is serious hit song material; original music that is at once evocative of Dave Matthews, Coldplay and Blues Traveler.
And so the evening passed. Song after song, Krister and his band continuing to impress with a range of interesting and intricately constructed songs replete with tight stops, tempo changes, tasty hooks, and interesting personal lyrics. After playing the first five songs from his new album, Krister (playing acoustic guitar) and the band (Karen Teperberg on drums, Matt Delvecchio on bass, and Mike Freas on electric guitar, and guest Nick Blechman on mandolin) played a brand new, as yet unrecorded song, that is a lot of fun and slightly reminiscent of The Cars.
Krister Axel is not your typical Hollywood performer-he’s not trying to be anyone or anything, he just plays what he feels, and it is good. He plays earnest songs from the heart, like the touching ballad written for his sister’s wedding, “Something Beautiful.” His enthusiasm onstage when interacting with the audience is also very evident and engaging. The only complaint one could have about Krister’s music is that his songs are too short, especially for live performance. This became more evident during the band’s finale, “I’m the Gun,” a strong blues number featuring the dueling harmonicas of guests Judy Rudin (who also played on the first few songs of the set) and Chet Dixon, in which the whole band treated the crowd to a raucous extended jam that was by far the most fun of the evening.
Not to say that the rest of the show wasn’t fun-in fact every song is great. Krister Axel and his band play a rootsy, sometimes poppy, blues-influenced rock and roll that is impossible not to like. We could all stand to hear more of this music. Somebody give this guy a distribution deal please!
A review of Arms Around the River
by RandomTracks.com, May 2008
Krister Axel is a self taught musician, poet, and songwriter based out of Los Angeles. His appealing voice is the perfect delivery apparatus for his roots based southern rock music.
The album is incredibly well produced. The sound quality is excellent and [the] music is a perfect accompaniment to long road trips and days when you just want the earthy sound that is Krister Axel. [A] smooth and classic southern rock sound.
Track 2, “True Believer”… is probably my most favorite from the album. It is certainly the one that keeps ringing in my head… the production is amazing.
Track 8, “I’m the Gun,” kicks things off with some nice rhythm guitar work that also brings the tempo up a bit. [This song is] well constructed with alternating instrumentation and drum riffs [that] add a lot of musical interest. The Nashville/blues influences clearly shine through. Great backing vocals, and some interesting vocal layering, add an extra dimension at the end.
The last track, “Impeach Bush” is a political song that made me think of an updated Woody Guthrie, very different than the rest of the album. Axel delivers that message of change in a very appealing and musically solid way.
Krister Axel’s Arms around the River is a solid southern rock album that has rightfully earned a permanent place in my CD collection, and has become a frequent visitor in my car’s CD player.
Sean McCallum (from seanmccallum.blogspot.com) names an award after me.
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