Nashville Music Guide December/January 2008 issue:
Reviewer: Brad Fisher
A mixture of Americana pop and down-and-dirty blues, these girls really put their hearts and souls into their music. Of the twelve tracks on the self-titled CD, two are covers while the eight originals were written or co-wriiten by the girls. Their strong individual vocals and excellent harmonies make for some easy listening and a perfect companion for romantic souls afters dark. Independently produced, the album is available at ww.thepaintsisters.com on the web.
Think Christmas and stocking stuffers!
Rating: FIVE STARS*****
SHAKE! volume 5 number 2 Fall 2007:
reviewer: Jess Marich
Here are three music city veteran musicians who have pooled their creative energies and found their collective voice as a band. What happens when people like that decide to record a sincere project at "The Cabin" with John Carter Cash producing? Good things of course. Throw in the fact that it's three women and you have something a little unusual and even more special. It's no secret that the world of musicians is mostly populated by the testosterone side of humanity. But, make no mistake, this is not a gimmick. No way, no how! One listen to this album of full-blooded rock-folk-blues based American music and you realize these musicians mean business. The three "Paint Sisters" play almost everything on the record. Melissa Sigler, one of the two principal lead vocalists, plays keyboards and bass. Jill Sissel, the other lead singer, is the acoustic and electric guitarist. Liz Ficalora plays drums and sings, she arranges strings as well. Liz also co-produced. They get able
help help on electric guitar from long-time Music City treasure, Richard Bell. These women have previous track records. Sigler is an award winning international artist, including; winner of New Orleans' OFFBEAT Magazine's 2001 Emerging Blues Artist Award; Honorable Mention in the 2002 John Lennon Songwriting Contest; Honorable Mention in the 2006 Billboard World Songwriting Contest. Melissa performed with The Red Hot Blues Mamas 2003 European Tour sponsored by the Willie Dixon-Vicksburg Blues Society. She also won the Music City Blues Society's competition and moved on to the National. Jill Sissel has three previous solo albums to her credit. Liz Ficalora has played numerous sessions and teaches fundamentals of drumming, having authored a book for it. Highlights of the album include "It's About Love" (co-written by Sissel and Nashville mainstay Joe Webber), an upbeat hit-sounding track, and "Come Together", a deep bluesy version of the Beatles' classic with a groove so low i
t might break a water main. The whole CD is strong. These women have got 'it".
Produced by John Carter Cash and Liz Ficalora ; Engineered by Chuck Turner; Mastered by YES Mastering in Nashville, TN Recorded at The Cabin in Hendersonville, TN
The Paint Sisters are a trio out of Franklin, TN who blend blues, country and rock on their self-titled debut album. All three women have distinguished careers on their own. Melissa Sigler is a lauded blues singer and writer hailing from Louisiana with a voice that is deep, resonant, and sultry - everything a lady singing the blues needs. A wailing guitar and saxophone back her keyboards as she covers Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine." Self-penned tracks like "Quite Alright," "She's Gone" and "Change My Heart" are sure to be instant classics on the blues circuit. "Tell Me You Can Cook" has a classic blues-rock feel to it, describing comically how tastes in men can change with time. All four songs show that Sigler's music writing voice is as strong as her vocals. Jill Sissel hails from Utah. She is an accomplished, highly poetic songwriter of rock and country music. Fans of Karen Carpenter and Carole King are bound to enjoy her work, and her songs form an interesting counterpoint to
the blues pieces. "Under the Blue Sky" and "Take A Picture of This" are full of exuberance and resounding faith in possibilities. "The Builder" is a more solemn, reflective personal story told using the analogy of a structure being shaken by a fierce hurricane, tearing away the surface for a new start. It is backed by simple piano and Liz Ficarola's harmonizing vocals. Ficarola is a New York native and skilled percussionist. She backs on vocals beautifully, especially on the first track, "Angels Singing" She produced the album with John Carter Cash and co-wrote "Take A Picture of This". (self-released) www.paintsisters.com
The songs have a great
sense of feel, balance and maturity in the writing. They make me feel
good inside when I listen. There is also a band feel to these as not all
the songs are the same style. They are quite a bit different yet they
have a similar feel.
