Fuzzy Logic
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Comedic folk/pop/Ballads
Status:
Most recent release, Snow Shadows (2011)
See also:
Fuzzy Logic's Facebook page
Comparisons:
It's hard to compare Fuzzy Logic to any particular musician, but if pressed I'd say that they are a cross between Pete Seger, Christine Lavin and Carly Simon. (billonline@adlerbooks.com)
Covers/own material:
Own
General comments:
Usually, it's easy to classify a particular artist or CD. At least for me. While I enjoyed Fuzzy Logic's CD, Doing The Best I Can, I had a hard time trying to get a handle on my initial impressions of it. It's not entirely one genre. Fuzzy Logic is the acoustical duo of Liz Sumner and Michael Cohen. Their CD, Doing The Best I Can is a mix of folk, humor and pop. While most of their songs could be classified as folk, some, such as "Let's Be Beat," have a strong jazz overtone. Other songs are folk ballads. Some are downright funny, with intelligent sarcasm.
Michael Cohen does the songwriting; Liz Sumner does all the singing. For the most part, the songs are fresh and creative. A few songs have forced rhymes that tend to distract you from the song's overall warmth and theme. Some of the songs are surprisingly clever, such as "I Wish I Knew," a song about finding out your lover is unfaithful. Liz Sumner's voice is a treat to listen to: it's soft and flowing, with an extensive range and rich vibrancy. I always find it a pleasure to hear a singer who actually enunciates the words. Liz Sumner's harmonies are delightful.
Fuzzy Logic's instrumentation is simple: You won't find any complex orchestrations in their CD, which helps emphasize their lyrics and melodies. (billonline@adlerbooks.com)Fuzzy Logic are very funny and have good songs. (stjarnell@yahoo.com)
Recommended first album:
Almost
Recordings:
- Doing The Best I Can (2000)
- Almost (2007)
- Snow Shadows (2011)
Doing The Best I Can
Release info:
2000—self-released
Availability:
Unknown
Ecto priority:
Recommended for fans of eclectic folk music
Group members:
Liz Sumner—vocals
Michael Cohen—instruments
Guest artists:
Steve Bourque—bongas
John Schindler—guitar, background vocals
Glenn Austin—bass, vocals
Bobbi Vollendorff—vocals
Mary Armstrong—background vocals
Rick Ruskin—guitar
Comments:
See general comments above.
Almost
Release info:
2007—Dancing Dog Productions
Availability:
Unknown
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Traci Booth—vocals
Elizabeth Nieckoski—vocals
Liz Sumner—vocalsMichael Cohen—acoustic guitar
Steve Bourque—drums, percussion
Michael Nieckoski—acoustic guitars, electric guitars, percussion, vocals
Produced by:
Fuzzy Logic
Comments:
Fuzzy Logic records comedic songs and they do a good job of them being both funny and tuneful. "Perfect Hollywood Romance" is of course about a romance that is anything but and it's cute. "The Sheik" is as funny as songs about outdated romantic ideals can be, which is very. When did anyone last write romance novels of that kind anyhow? "Carnival" pokes fun at more timeless beings, namely vampires and gets a good laugh. They are genuinely humoristic and intriguing and I'd love to see them live. (stjarnell@yahoo.com)
Further info:
Contact: Schmutz Productions, 472 Main Street, Marlborough, NH 03455, U.S.A., 603-876-3498, e-mail schmutz@monad.net.
Thanks to Bill Adler and Anna Maria Stjärnell for work on this entry.
