CRAYMO

Indie pop/rock singer/songwriter. Anti-bullying song One Love One World, an anthem of equality, tolerance, anti-bullying, human rights and world peace. Origi

"a melancholy sex dream!" Make A Star.com "This artist brilliantly combines guitar driven modern rock with dance to bring forth a unique pop/punk sound that cannot be explained, but only experienced." The Industry Resource "Green Day meets Duran Duran!"Garageband.com "Slick hooks, catchy melodies and pining vocals" Listen.com "Tap your feet and sing along!" WhateverHQ online "Moody and contemporary" Music Connection Magazine. "Makes my blood rock!" The Nastyman, radio DJ, Denver I have recently been blessed with two amazing reviews of my debut CD "Cosmos!" Here's one: "Cosmos" is the latest CD from singer-songwriter-performer Craymo. Through the years, many singer-songwriters have succeeded through a certain combination: talent, production values, drive, etc... and, in the case of so many independent musicians, it's the spiritual need within the artist to bring their individual artistry to the masses (as well as our need, as an audience, to hear them!). But the best qualities that a musician can have are always innate. Indeed, Craymo does have an innate gift: his voice. It's yearning, thoughtful, occasionally vulnerable, and even slightly pained at times... but always grounded and solid. Of course, at moments on "Cosmos"-- as the album's title would suggest-- Craymo's voice can and does rise to abstract and ethereal heights. Next, there's what Craymo does with that voice. "Cosmos" features superb production values. "Having a Moment", the album's opener, just scratches the surface of this artist's unique abilities (voice, sound, persona, universal vision, etc...). Ultimately, beneath the mosaic-like coating of "Having a Moment", the message is an oft-said but important one: Take life one moment at a time, and enjoy the good ones while you have them! Track 2 is one of several songs on "Cosmos" which deserves to be broadcast to the masses worldwide: "One Love One World". It's one of Craymo's musical calling cards, with a universal, much-needed plea by Craymo worth repeating over and over again. (Sample lyrics: "We all need to lend a hand, the brotherhood of man..." and "Put your hands together now, every boy and every girl") The electro-reggae beat is catchy, uplifting, and instantly addictive-- sorta like Musical Youth ("Pass the Dutchie". Remember them?) coming into young adulthood in 2007 with a new found sense of social responsibility. "Bend" features a rock beat, complete with hard-hitting guitars and Craymo adopting a smooth, Jon Bon Jovi-style delivery. Another emblematic Craymo track comes with "Happy Birthday". This is the first time in decades that the birthday song has been reinvented... and it was worth the wait! As one of the songs that first got Craymo the singer-songwriter noticed, this no-holes-barred remix is every bit as joyous as its title. I propose that the powers that be should pass a nationwide (NO... universal!) law requiring every US (NO...world!) citizen to receive an mp3 of Craymo's "Happy Birthday" in their inbox on that special day-- and you'd see the world become a happier place in no time. "Love Me or Leave Me" adopts a more confrontational tone, with a slight urgency in Craymo's voice as he sings, "Love me or leave me, Why do you tease me? Don't play these games! Love me or leave me, why don't you please me? It's not the same!" Hi-tech electronic swirls and curls and high-frequency waves run through this song. Nostalgia for the '70's is the theme for "Drive In Picture Show". The track features a retro beat and references to J.J. Walker, Supertramp, lava lamps, and more pop culture name-dropping. Best of all, Craymo invites us to join him in his funky remembrances, singing "Lets go! Let's go-o-o! Down to the drive in picture show!"-- and we definitely want to jump into the back seat. But perhaps the best line (and my favorite!) is "Take me back to the decade I love, way before 'No glove, no love!'" For "Static Surfer", Craymo adopts a slacker persona (Think Beastie Boys or Blink 182), with lyrics to match. "Coitus Interruptus" (No, it's not a Lil Kim song!) is actually not as dirty as its title, and "Daybreak" is a song about the proverbial "morning after"-- which has been a fertile source of inspiration for songwriters for many years. As I said before, Craymo has a supple vocal range-- at times he "plays it safe", other times he experiments a bit: For Track #14, "Be My Girl" (one of the true gems on this CD), Craymo adopts a different tone, a distant Europop (almost cocky) vocal style in this variation on the teenybopper/boy band love song. BUT... there's a twist, and you have to listen to the song to get it (I ain't tellin'!). But every track gets it right. "Migraine" for example, is a mid-tempo song simply about having a migraine-- no more, no less! And every track's a crowdpleaser.

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