I’m honored to be named in Music Connection’s year end list of their Top 25 New Music Critiques for 2010. I know that MC receives thousands of submissions, in a year, so I’m thrilled to be among the other 24 artists / bands who are also named there.  The magazine’s statement says it best, “Music Connection is dedicated to helping unsigned artists get their music noticed.“

This comes at the end of a really good year.  I have spent countless hours sitting at my desk trying, with all my might, to honor the body of work that I recorded on Trust the Sky by putting it out there.  I’ve learned a lot, in the process, and will take this experience to the next body of work.  I’m excited to be moving on to writing more songs.

Recently, my Dad sent me an article about Daniel Lanois – featured in Canada’s Globe and Mail. Lanois has produced albums for Bob Dylan, U2, Neil Young, Emmylou Harris, (and many others) and I noticed a few quotes that I’ll include here.

I have struggled to make music that is really honest and authentic – but it’s difficult to earn a revenue stream from that.   Dylan, in a quote from the article says, “Good reviews [sic] don’t sell records.” And Lanois says, “We never make records thinking about the commerciality at the beginning of it.   We make music in the hope that we bump into something with substance – something that has a reason to exist. Perhaps by having the fundamental values intact, commerciality can come into play.”

Here’s hoping that I have “bumped into something of substance.” I am deeply encouraged both by Music Connection’s critical praise and also by the review I received, earlier this year, from Paul Zollo. More on that to come…

Thanks to Mark Nardone and Andy Mesecher, at Music Connection.

I am bolstered.