Long Night Moon Press
Long Night Moon named #2 CD of 2006
Catie Curtis's songs might have appeared in American soapies like Dawson's Creek and Grey's Anatomy, but make no mistake she's a serious singer-songwriter. Long Night Moon, an impressive, stripped back work of modern folk, dispels any doubts that might exist on that score.
One of the tracks, 'People Look Around', which was recently awarded the International Songwriting Competition's Grand Prize (beating 15,000 entries from 82 countries!), is an uncompromising appraisal of Hurricane Katrina and its divisive aftermath. Elsewhere the Boston-based artist, who has toured with the Lilith Fair and artists of the stature of Richard Thompson, Dar Williams and Mary Chapin Carpenter (who makes a guest appearance on one song), addresses themes of waiting, questioning and reconnecting. There's a sophisticated simplicity about Curtis's singing and songwriting that brings to mind Suzanne Vega.
On Long Night Moon, Curtis is supported with considerable subtlety by a simpatico cast that includes members of Mary Chapin Carpenter, Aimee Mann, Paula Cole and Shawn Colvin's bands. 'Passing Through', on which she is backed by just acoustic guitars, and 'Innocent', which has cello and piano added, are the picks for this reviewer.
One of the tracks, 'People Look Around', which was recently awarded the International Songwriting Competition's Grand Prize (beating 15,000 entries from 82 countries!), is an uncompromising appraisal of Hurricane Katrina and its divisive aftermath. Elsewhere the Boston-based artist, who has toured with the Lilith Fair and artists of the stature of Richard Thompson, Dar Williams and Mary Chapin Carpenter (who makes a guest appearance on one song), addresses themes of waiting, questioning and reconnecting. There's a sophisticated simplicity about Curtis's singing and songwriting that brings to mind Suzanne Vega.
On Long Night Moon, Curtis is supported with considerable subtlety by a simpatico cast that includes members of Mary Chapin Carpenter, Aimee Mann, Paula Cole and Shawn Colvin's bands. 'Passing Through', on which she is backed by just acoustic guitars, and 'Innocent', which has cello and piano added, are the picks for this reviewer.