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16-07-2011: review from GLITTERHOUSE in Germany for 'Ribcage Versus Unguided Missile' - english translation below!

CD. Vorab: Dies ist eines der vielfaeltigsten und schoensten Roots-Rock/Alternative Country-Alben, das mir in letzter Zeit zu Ohren gelangt ist. Und: Alexander ist eine Frau, heisst mit wahrem Vornamen Lori und stammt aus Kanada. Die Dame mit dem beeindruckenden, leicht angerauhten, ausdrucksvollen, beweglichen, blues-gefaerbten Gesang spielte dieses musikalische Meisterstueck im Quintett ein, tourt derzeit im Trio durch die Lande, ist es aber letztlich ganz allein, die mit ihrer Schreibkunst und Stimme dieses wurzelnahe Wunderwerk bestimmt, praegt und traegt. Die wunderbaren Melodien, ins leuchtende Leben gebracht von einer bemerkenswerten, bewegenden Stimme zwischen Lucinda Williams und Thea Gilmore fuehlt sich in allen ihr kunstvoll dargebotenen instrumentalen Landschaften wohl, im schleppenden, Rhodes-beperlten Americana, im berauschend ausufernden, Orgel-schwelgenden Roots-Rock, in weicher, waidwunder Dakota Suite-Melancholie, im breiten, Steel-beglaenzten Southern Rock, intimem Bar-Blues, allein zum verspielt-schwebendem Piano oder in gospel-geladener Kraft, pur und rein allein zu Fussstampfen und Haendeklatschen. Bei solcher kreativer Kraft, soviel echter Energie und Emotion laesst mich meine Allwissende Vergleichsfibel im Regen stehen, vergesse ich die Schubladen und beginne, nur noch zu geniessen. Zum Niederknien. Welch ein Debut! (GLITTERHOUSE) (cpa)

and here's the translation we received from our german label!

This roots-rock/alternative country album is one of the most diverse and most beautiful ones I heard since a long time. And: Alexander is a woman from Canada, who is actually called Lori by first name. The lady with a voice, which is impressive, lightly rough, expressive, flexible, and touched with blues plays this musical masterpiece as a Quintet. At this moment, she is on tour as a trio, through different countries, but actually alone as she is the one who defines and leads this marvel with her art of writing and her voice. In an instrumental and artful landscape, besides artists like Lucinda Williams and Thea Gilmore her emotional voice can be positioned. Supported by wonderful melodies, which are influenced by roots-rock, Americana, soft melancholy, southern rock and intimate bar-blues Alexander enjoys herself the most and is sometimes accompanied by a playful piano or driven by gospel power. With such a creative power, real energy and emotion, I am left out in the rain by my omniscient manual and forget my pigeon-holes to start enjoying this music. What a fantastic debut. (GLITTERHOUSE)
(ribcage, glitterhouse germany, july 2011)

16-07-2011: "Auf seinem Debuet changiert das Trio Alexander McKenzie & The Underpaid um die kanadische Saengerin Lori McKenzie zwischen Laessigkeit und Hingabe." (Rolling Stone Juni 2011)

translation:
"On their debut, the band of Canadian songstress Lori McKenzie, Alexander McKenzie & the Underpaid, modulate between steadfastness and devoted abandon." (Rolling Stone, June 2011)
(ribcage, rolling stone germany, july 2011)

19-04-2010: "She grew up between the maple trees and wheat fields of Winnipeg, Canada, but is thriving in the Netherlands. She debuted in 2008 with the exceptionally passionate album Ribcage Versus Unguided Missile, full of strong compositions, rendered even more convincing by her beautiful voice. On this first of three planned releases for 2010, which will be linked by sound, songs and artwork to form one entity, she's proven that her exquisite debut was no fluke. The five tracks vary from an emotional ballad with a jazzy touch to a song wherein americana is combined in a folky way with a kind of serene stillness, delivering touching words about the desire to die young. McKenzie operates in the more sensitive regions, and has a pair of vocal cords that make you feel and believe every word, every sigh, every crescendo. Her band plays deftly in service to the songs, or else whispers softly in the background. What would you do if you were Underpaid? We're already looking forward to EP2 and EP3." - Willem Jongeneelen
(ep1, oor magazine, march 2010)

19-04-2010: "This jazzy pop band, formed around Canadian songstress Lori McKenzie will release three EP's in 2010, all connected by mood, sound and artwork to form one entity. The music is open, melodious and has a relaxed quality to it that hovers between the quiet melodious pop of Tori Amos and older Kate Bush and the more jazzy songs of Nick Cave.
Poised vocals, beautiful arrangements and inspired instrumentation create just the right atmosphere for each song. A lovely EP, making one anxious to hear the next two releases. I'm very curious to see if the entire collection remains as captivating." - Leo Hoek van Dijke
(ep1, live xs magazine, march 2010)

25-09-2008: "[Alexander McKenzie] debuts with this extremely passionate, uncommonly beautiful album, which exhibits not only her strong compositions, but also her fantastic voice. The narrative songs about lost love, sorrow, uncertainty, strength and weakness grab you by the throat and captivate like a good, if languid book. Melancholy with a capital M, with precisely the right notes and finesse from her underpaid band mates. Their poverty could soon be a thing of the past as the world discovers the beauty of her work and acquires the album legally."
(ribcage, oor magazine, sept. 2008)

10-07-2008: check the interview with lori in the newspaper, algemeen dagblad:
(algemeen dagblad 10.06.08)

10-07-2008: "Alexander McKenzie plays her songs full of melancholy, sorrow and longing. She and her band, the Underpaid, bore a hole right into the emptiness of your heart with their songs, and her voice....immediately grabs you by the throat. A tranquil, understated yet impassioned evening..."
(live, 3voor12, june 2008)

08-01-2008: "the poetic lyrics float in and out [of the music], a voice with a soul, that at just the right moments gets a plaintive edge to it..."
(live, 3voor12, jan.2008)

15-06-2007: "(Lori)....pours herself into the temperate, fragile and narrative guitar songs, wherein her delicate voice at times erupts like a small volcano."
(live, kindamuzik, june 2005)

14-06-2007: "Lori sings passionately with a beautiful voice.....a joy to listen to (and watch)...."
(live, 3voor12, june 2005)