Sandy Madaris

Country of origin:

U.S.

Type of music generally:

On balance, best described as alternative country or country-rock. Particular tracks lean toward country, pop (alternative or otherwise), and alternative folk.

Status:

Most recent release, way back home (2002)

See also:

Phoebe Claire Publishing

CD Baby's Sandy Madaris page

Comparisons:

Dixie Chicks

Covers/own material:

Songs by Luke Powers

General comments:

See album comments, Way Back Home being her only album to date. (mapravat@prairienet.org)

way back home is her debut

Recordings:

way back home (2002)

way back home

Release info:

2002--Waterline Records--12200101

Availability:

See website for availability

Ecto priority:

Moderate

Group members:

Sandy Madaris--vocals, backing vocals

Guest artists:

John Gardner--drums
Jim Brown--keyboards
Glen Duncan--fiddle
Tommy Spurlock--guitars, pedal & lap steel, bass, mandolin, keyboards, various & sundry noises, backing vocals on 1 track
Prophet Omega--preacher
Brian Glass--blacking vocals on 3 tracks
Linda Gail Blanco--backing vocals on 1 track
Luke Powers--backing vocals on 1 track

Produced by:

Tommy Spurlock

Comments:

The first album by this Nashville-based independent draws on a range of musical idioms that reflect the evolution from the old Nashville to the new; in the aggregate she is best described as a country-rock artist with some potential to appeal to the mass market, but fortunately not highly commercialized at this point. Her voice, while a little on the high side and a little on the nasal side, is pleasant to listen to; in terms of comparisons to country headliners, I'd place it at the midpoint of a continuum between Dolly Parton and Shania Twain. Some of the lyrics display more intellectual depth than others, but all the songs are enjoyable listening; some of them visit common country themes like mean drunks and nostalgia for home. Many of them ponder the matter of current and former relationships; one of these, "Waterline," is a particularly lovely piece that shades into alternative folk. A few tracks get into some mild social commentary, mostly on domestic and other violence; they appear to place Madaris in the liberal wing of the country community. (mapravat@prairienet.org)