Blog posts

• 

  Jul 30, 02:32 AM

  Nice Review from Irishunsigned.com :)

  Review written by: Angela Macari O'Looney --irishunsigned.com
   -----------------------------------------------------------
  Colin Scallan
  Songs for a Sinking World
  
  With such a vast array of competent entertainers going around at the minute, it's rare to find one particular act that stands out from the crowd. However, as a guest at a recent gig I was captured by this singer songwriter, with seriously noticeable guitar skills and a soothing voice, along with a charming repertoire of songs.
  
  I only heard a sample of his work that evening and decided I wanted to hear more. Colin's debut album is well named, with its uplifting quality. Each number has a memorable melody and you can feel the devotion to his art in every note.
  
  The cover depicts what is obviously his favourite item in the world - his guitar!
  
  Colin's influences are many and include some of my own favourite artists; Neil Young, Van Morrison, David Bowie, Little Jimmy Hendricks, Stevie Wonder, Cat Stevens, Paul Brady, Thin Lizzy to name but a few.
  
  I'd begin with my favourite track if I had one. But each track is equally enjoyable.
  
  Wake Up
  Acoustic intro -This is a cheerful but slow song, which has a delightfully catchy riff throughout. Melody is simple, lyrics are touching and a little hint of harmony lends interest. I notice how he uses lots of emphasis on the bass strings, which gives depth and dynamic here.
  
  Strength in Numbers
  I admire the arrangement in this number. Beginning with yet another sweet acoustic riff, Colin sings the verse with just guitar accompaniment and percussion. It develops, with backing vocals performing the chorus as an alter melody behind the verse, which is powerful. This song has a beautiful melody line, building up from a simple beginning to a full orchestral sound and has clever lyrics; 'Every time that you think you've got the perfect hand, you come up against more than you planned. You forgot to count strength in numbers!'
  
  The Last Battle
  A catchy electric guitar riff intro, with distortion is used in this dramatic number with a funky beat. Fabulous guitar riffs and hooks frame verse and chorus here as in most of his songs. The solo in the middle is exciting, whereby things slow down and then in it comes with screaming notes played with passion. Blasts of powerful distortion filled chords pepper this number beautifully.
  
  Nothing Around for Miles
  Laid back but choppy, this pretty song has a simple chord combination, but I like it. Backing vocals are gorgeous, with close harmony injected in just the right places and the melody is candy sweet.
  There's a pleasant change of pace for the middle eight which is sung. Throughout this number, Colin's expertly plucked guitar notes frame each phrase.
  
  Build me a Woman
  Slinky, with a sexy intro, this song is witty with a likeable resemblance to Van Morrison's Moondance. The guitar break is outstanding and piano lends jazziness to the proceedings. The second guitar solo is an unexpected treat, with screamingly seductive notes that are delicious. The lyrics are fun to sing along to and will have you repeating them well after hearing them; 'Gonna make her so she'll always be mine. She won't go disappearing at any given time. She can push me when I'm falling behind. She's gonna be perfect for me.'
  This is possibly my favourite track!
  
  Days Beneath the Sun
  A dramatic anthem style song, this has superb chord combinations, Key changes aplenty and changes of direction that keep your interest. As in all tracks on this album, the melody is delicious. The guitar solo is breathtaking, with an in sync harmony played by a second guitar.
  
  A Little Love is an acoustic number, with very effective backing vocals and pretty guitar riffs keep it interesting.
  
  The five remaining tracks have that same magical form throughout. Colin's melody lines are memorable and each one involves a moving blend of instrumentals with lyric.
  
  Half the Story - This is a sad love song, with just the guitar at the beginning. It builds up, with instruments being added gradually to the mix.
  
  Remedy is fast, with some fantastic guitar in it. Distortion packed riffs and hooks behind Colin's vocals are particularly nice.
  
  The piano in Where it Started is lovely and although it's quite a simple number, it's really quite special, with layers of vocals creating a big crescendo.
  
  Blot on the Landscape is a plucked song that would remind me a little of a Nancy Griffith piece. Colin's vocals are really brought to the fore here, along with his unique ability to make his guitar sing.
  
  The last track Daisy Chains is a quirky number with a catchy, cheerful melody.
  Notation is tricky, with a pretty little riff between the lines which I really like.
  
  Colin Scallan has had lots of success to date with his work, including reaching the finals of the '08 U.K. Song writing Competition, appearing as a guest guitarist on 'The Podge and Rodge' Christmas special and he was also selected for Eircom's Independent Musician's Nationwide Promotion '08.
  It was at the Platform 5 Oxygen battle of the bands final that I first encountered his genius and fell in love with the slinky 'Build me a woman' and the power of his live performance had a big effect on me.
  
  Recorded in PAC3 Recording studios, Detroit, Michigan, finished off in his home studio in Ireland, this amazing album was conceived, designed, recorded and produced by none other than himself, with only the minimum of help. It defines his enthusiasm for experimentation and putting a bit more oomph into the singer/songwriter image.
  
  -----------------------------------------------------
  review by Angela Macari O'Looney, 29/7/2009
  original link location at
  http://irishunsigned.com/readdemoreviews.php?id=104
• 

  Jun 29, 04:22 PM

  Free MP3 Download

  Visit www.reverbnation.com/colinscallanmusic for a free MP3 download of 'Remedy' by Colin Scallan, from the album 'Songs for a Sinking World'.

  Download is available for a limited time only, and has been made possible due to a Microsoft-sponsored promotion in association with Reverbnation.com.
• 

  Apr 03, 03:18 AM

  'On The Verge' Irish radio interview & live songs

  Just a quick update to shout out about some recent happenings..

  I was recently invited back to the studios of Dublin South 93.9fm's 'On The Verge' radio show in Dundrum, to catch up & chat with my old friend Brendan Hickey.

  It was a chance for me to play some live songs, plus some CD tracks from my album, and also to exclusively break some exciting upcoming news..

  But no spoiler alert needed here - you can hear it all online right now..

  listen to the show here.

   

  Thanks for reading :)

   
• 

  Mar 15, 07:35 AM

  Album Review and Upcoming Irish Radio Interview

  

  ALBUM REVIEW:
  So, finally after many sleepless nights and chewed fingernails, the first album review for my debut album 'Songs for a Sinking World' is in!
  Check out the full review at http://musicreviewunsigned.com
  Many thanks go to Trevor and all the guys there..
  
  If you haven't already done so, you can now buy 'Songs for a Sinking World' online and download it straight to your iPod.
  Check out my album page on iTunes by clicking here -
  & don't forget to leave a nice rating if you have time :)
  Hurry before they run out of copies!
  
  UPCOMING RADIO INTERVIEW:
  Next Thursday 19th March, listeners in the South Dublin area can tune in to DSFM104.9 to hear my interview on Brendan Hickey's 'On The Verge' radio show, where I'll be chatting about things in general and playing a live song or two. Listeners in others areas can catch the interview by delayed broadcast online at www.ontheverge.ie.
  
  OTHER LINKS:
  Check out my other music-related pages at LastFm.com, FaceBook & Bebo, and my music video archives at Muzu.tv, and of course - YouTube.com (the new "unofficial" Strength in Numbers video is online here now).
  
  Thanx 4 reading y'all
  xo

   
• 

  Nov 11 2008, 03:55 PM

  Mr October :D

  I've had enough of watching the news - so I've decided to dust off my blogging hat and catch up on some news of my own.
  
  Things have been a little busy since I got back from China (more about that later)..
  
  The biggest item on the agenda is the release of my new album 'Songs For A Sinking World' -
  I'm delighted to say that it's finally ready and the first batch is printed.
  Digital download options will be available very soon, but if you just can't wait - hard copies are available right now at CDBaby.com - http://cdbaby.com/cd/colinscallan
  -much, much more about that later.
  
  There have been quite a few happening of late..
  'Build Me A Woman' was recently named as a finalist in the 12th Annual U.S.A Songwriting Competition, a prestigious event judged by a high-profile panel of judges, headed by Tom Waits
  (I thought of mentioning it to him during his Dublin show this year, but I was seated at least 45 rows too far back..).
  
  'The Last Battle' also had its moment in the sun when it was selected as a semi-finalist in the 2008 UK Songwriting Contest. It is also one of two tracks to be used as part of my week as a featured artist on a UK college radio station - Burst Radio, thanks to Corinna Jane for her help there. burstradio.com
  
  'Strength in Numbers', complete with video was recently awarded a placed on the independent artist showcase DVD Renilin: Offside vol.2 in Italy. This was distributed extensively throughout southern Italy and beyond. The DVD includes a three minute interview with me, as a
  featured 'foreign artist' - subtitled in Italiano.
  
  'Strength in Numbers' was also included on YouSendit.com's 4th of July celebration compilation album -'Music for Troops'. 500 copies were sold in the US for charity, and supplied free to all the forces serving overseas.
  
  speaking of overseas, my visit to China was an amazing experience.
  I'll post some pictures soon, with full accounts of our time in Beijing, Shanghai & Hong Kong -
  
  I'm still too busy playing with my brand new four-stringed liuqin (willow leaf - chinese ukelele) and my bamboo saxophone.. which has since prompted me to start to learn alto sax..
  it's a challenge 4sure..
  
  ---
  
  Nearly time to get ready for tonight's gig - just time to say thanks to all the folks who made it along to the 108 show last saturday -
  we had a great night and hope to do it all again real soon.
  fair play to ya Alan Begley for organising it.. keep on keepin on..
  
  Anyone fancying some live music around the Naas/Kill area in Kildare - watch the Late Lounge schedule in the Dewdrop Inn, where I'm due to support the excellent Cathy Davey on Dec 12th.
  And there's also whisperings of another Paddy Casey support in the same venue..tbc...
  
  
  --
  
  so what's with the 'Mr October' headline?
  well here goes..
  
  I had the pleasure of being named as the 'Counter Clockwise Music Calendar - Artist of the Month' for October.. The calendar is a must-have for all fans of independent musicians in Detroit (..and beyond) and is available now on amazon.com..
  http://www.cafepress.com/ccwmusic.180525013#
  
  So I'm off to NYC at the end of the month to live up my new pin-up status at the most exclusive parties and clubs etc.. it should be a breeze getting in... maybe I should bring a calendar along just in case..
  
  ^^