From Christopher Dawes (a.k.a. Push), former Melody Maker and Muzik journalist, and author of Rat Scabies And The Holy Grail
“I get a fair few new bands and singers wanting me to be their MySpace friend. Every so often, swayed by an interesting name or an intriguing picture or half a listen to half a song, I hit the ‘accept’ button. But more often than not, I opt to ‘deny’.
It wasn’t like that with Michele Ari, though. For one thing, it was me who asked her to be my friend.
I can’t remember how I first landed on Michele’s MySpace page, but it took me an eternity to get off it again. After hearing the opening bars of My Sleeping Beauty, a great example of Michele’s snaky and spiky guitar-fueled pop, I knew I wasn’t going anywhere for a while. To be honest, I initially thought that the song was a cover. It sounded like a 1960s classic given a 21st Century flip.
The parallel lines that have been drawn between Michele’s vibrant vocals and those of Debbie Harry make a lot of sense, but the comparisons with Natalie Merchant seem to me to be even more on the mark. There is a bewitching, almost mesmeric quality to her voice. She’s a southern charmer and no mistake. But there are the occasional hints of darker tones mixed in there, too. I get the feeling Miss Ari might be a bit dangerous, albeit in the nicest possible way.
I’ve been back to Michele’s MySpace page many times. And I’ve bought 85th And Nowhere, her six-track mini-album, which is really quite something. The album is really quite something, that is. Mind you, now I come to think of it, it’s also really quite something that I shelled out hard cash for it. I mean, bloody hell, I am a bitter and twisted old music journo, I don’t pay for any damn thing.
Maybe I’m going soft. Or maybe it’s Michele and her witchy doings. That’ll teach me to make friends with strangers on the internet.”
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REVIEWS
GAPERS BLOCK, CHICAGO
By Jason Behrends
“When you visit the myspace page of Michele Ari the heading reads, “The Front Man is a Girl”, and for some reason reading that sparked something in me. These days there are thousands of female vocals and many fine female singers right here in Chicago. However, is there a difference between a vocalist and frontman? I say yes, and Michele Ari is a bonafied frontman…There is a strength and a confidence in Michele’s voice that fits perfectly the contemporary alt-pop backing…The frontman is the center piece, the attention getter, and the hook, and Michele is all of those things and more.” (Read full article)
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WHISPERIN AND HOLLERIN, UK
By Adam Harrington
“Remember the climax of 10,000 Maniacs’ “Eat for Two” when Natalie Merchant’s bare voice fades from view with the fragility of a little girl? That’s how Florida-based singer/songwriter Michele Ari’s debut album, “85th and Nowhere,” opens with the jangling first cut “My Sleeping Beauty.” Sounding nothing like most of today’s few female alternative-rock vocalists, who are often lacking the emotional rush of their ’80s predecessors, Ari (http://www.micheleari.com) has a bittersweet vocal style that is at once enigmatic and revealing.” (Read full review)
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THE WIG FITS ALL HEADS, SEATTLE
By Karla Ash
“…Michele Ari is not cut from the same cloth as most of today’s female rockers. While guitar-strapped chicks these days seem to take their cues from either Courtney Love or Jewel, Ari seems indifferent to both. In fact, there’s nothing on 85th and Nowhere that suggests she even listened to either artist, as the dominant sound here is left-of-the-dial riff rock. Her setup is guitar-bass-drums but nothing that’ll bleed the ears. She’s not into cranking the amps; instead, as on the first tune “My Sleeping Beauty,” her and her rhythm section lock onto a groove and don’t let go. Less than two decades ago songs such as “My Sleeping Beauty” were common on college radio. And, no, that’s not a knock on her lack of originality as she’s summoning, not plagiarizing, what worked in the past. Although the music is dated by the memories they revive, it’s actually timeless.
Ari has a pleasing, pleasant voice. She has that girl-next-door quality to her singing that is appealing and was once considered sexy by campus DJs–probably still is. She reaches the highest of highs on “Pretty,” a brutally honest look at her insecurities that seems to have been ripped from a diary. This is a subtle, emotionally powerful record that is personal and addicting. Keep an eye out for this lady; she is going places.”
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INK 19
By Kyrby Raines
“Yes, Ari is old school; the jangling guitars on “My Sleeping Beauty” could’ve been found on any Guadalcanal Diary record in a campus station’s vinyl archives. Her vocals are subdued, moody and very pretty on “Pretty,” a revealing look at a woman’s psyche when her self-confidence has eroded and all she feels she has left is her physical beauty. “Pretty” epitomizes the Collegiate Girl mystique: wounded, intelligent and dark. Ari probably cried to Morrissey songs in her dorm room — and we certainly need more women like that. At times, she sounds a little bit like Chrissie Hynde, although not as ticked off.” (Read full review)
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COLLECTED SOUNDS, SWEDEN
“Michele Ari has a terrific voice and a smart way with words. Her debut album is a confident collection of songs.” (Read full review)
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GIRLPOSSE.COM, US
By Jacob Dykstra
“Ari is a flashback to those days when female musicians were mature and somewhat classy, the complete opposite of babies such as Britney Spears and teen-angst monsters like Courtney Love.” (Read full review)
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INDIE-MUSIC.COM, US
By Jennifer Layton
“Ari is going more for the intellect than the impulse.
Sometimes all I’ve got is pretty when all else seems to fail …
Despite her misgivings in the fifth track of 85th and Nowhere, Michele Ari has a lot more going for her than just pretty. She picks up the mantle dropped in the late 90s by Natalie Merchant (and stomped on over the past decade by the neverending parade of pop princesses), shakes it out, and tries it on. Not a bad fit.
Because it’s been a while since we’ve heard the female collegiate singer/songwriter style, it does take a couple of songs to adjust. Think more performance art poetry than pop charts. Ari is going more for the intellect than the impulse. Once you let go of the need for glitter and glam, you can get lost in these six musing tracks and their honest introspection. You can even appreciate the contrast of a sweet, 60s folkie voice singing modern jangly pop/rock.
The standout is the title track – very Debbie Harry, with elements of 80s new wave in the music. I also liked the smouldering, tragic vibe of “Pretty.”
We’ll be losing this American artist to London soon, but I doubt we’ve seen the last of her. At least I hope not. This album fills a void in today’s top ten, infusing it with some much needed sophistication and thoughtful songcrafting.”
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INTERVIEWS
EXAMINER.COM – NASHVILLE INDIE MUSIC EXAMINER
“Indie rocker Michele Ari: in search of great Nashville musicians” (Read full article)
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Interview and music from “mal a’ propos” (Download podcast)
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“Mal a’ propos: An interview with Michele Ari.”(Read full article)
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FROM DAVID SPENCER SKY NEWS UK
The first in a series of interviews with David Spencer of Sky News UK, who has also interviewed notable artists such as Roger Waters, Simon LeBon, The Damned and Martin Fry.
Get your own playlist at snapdrive.net!
Michele has also been interviewed in The Manila Standard (Philippines), REAX Magazine, Tampa Bay Times and on WRVU 91.1 FM Nashville and WMNF 88.5 FM Tampa Bay.
Her music has also been positively reviewed in The Manila Standard, Florida Entertainment Scene and The Tampa Tribune. Her live shows have been “Critics Picks” and “Best Bets” in The Weekly Planet, The Tampa Tribune and The St. Petersburg Times.
