Deborah Pardes
Country of origin:
U.S.
Type of music generally:
Alternative pop, New folk
Status:
Most recent album, Theme Songs: Vérité (demos, 2016)
See also:
Deborah Pardes' site
Deborah Prades' Bandcamp site
Comparisons:
A hard one, maybe Sarah McLachlan when she wrote for just piano. Very hard to compare to others, she's Deborah!
Covers/own material:
Own; Deborah is a singer/songwriter. She occasionally does covers live.
General comments:
Deborah Pardes is a San Francisco based artist that will reach into your head with her songs and rattle your brain around and make you think. Most of her songs have a pop-like groove, with Deborah's raw and emotional alto voice floating in and above them. She's a very strong guitarist, and is enjoyable when playing (rarely) with a full band, in a duet with bass or violin, or solo on her guitar. Not one to shy away from controversy, when Jerry Falwell berated Lilith Faire, Deborah (a 1999 Lilith Faire performer) wrote a little song in response, "Falwell Enough".
Deborah can go from making you cry with sadness, to cry with laughter and you will enjoy the ride from start to finish.
I would suggest either studio album for the polish value; personally I lean towards Strange Tattoo as a good introduction. Deborah is her own production company and independent label, so all three albums as a set are only $30.00—what a deal! (tjshadb@voyuz.net)
Comments about live performance:
Deborah Pardes is best experienced live, with full band, just bass, or solo. It doesn't matter, she's wonderful. Her between-song banter will have you laughing with hysterics, along with the on-the-spot songs created for those people not smart enough to arrive on time... She's one of the few performers that I honestly can say I prefer live because of her raw emotion. (3/01, tjshadb@voyuz.net)
Recommended first album:
Strange Tattoo
Recordings:
Release info:
1996—Mentl Music—0001
Availability:
See website for availability
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Deborah Pardes—vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, percussion, keyboards
Guest artists:
Ed Ivy—stand up electric bass
Steve Khan—bass
Scott Lipsitz—bass
Amy Meyers—backing vocals, bass, electric guitar, percussion, keyboards
Richard Michos—acoustic & electric guitar
Barb Plank—backing vocals
Dan Potruch—percussion
Ted Swiet—news reporter
Chip Trombley—percussion
Produced by:
Deborah Pardes &Amy Meyers
Comments:
Strange Tattoo was the first album released by Pardes, and consists of all original music featuring Pardes' blues-inspired alto voice and her strong acoustic guitar playing. Pardes goes from a lament, "Standing Here", to a lighter romp about people not wanting to stay in the "box" they've been placed in ("Prince wants to be King"). Standout songs on this album featuring the crushing heartbreak which Pardes' voice evokes are "Petals Over Me", "Barely Breathing" and "Shelter". She flexes her comic wit in "Earthquake" and "Prom Dress" which is a wonderfully hilarious story of her finding nothing to wear, and deciding to wear her high school prom dress out for the day. The Pardes style is subtle pop licks mixed with lyrics that will whack you upside the head and make you think. I can't think of a better way to describe it. A great first album for someone interested in this San Francisco based artist.(tjshadb@voyuz.net)
Recommended first songs:
- Prince Wants to Be King
- Petals Over Me
- Prom Dress
- Barely Breathing
Release info:
1998—Mentl Music—0002
Availability:
See website for availability
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Deborah Pardes—vocals, acoustic guitar, commentary
Guest artists:
Scott Lipsitz—guitar
Amy Meyers—piano
Produced by:
Deborah Pardes & Marc Senesac
Comments:
A collection of live performances by Pardes at the Great American Music Hall, The Mystic Theater, The Sweetwater, The High Sierra Music Festival, and the Noe Valley Ministry Music Series. Most songs are Pardes alone with her guitar—which is truly wonderful—peppered with commentary recorded during the shows. "Prom Dress" and "Outerspace Balloon" will have you laughing at the subject matter while a number of other songs will have you crying such as "Flesh &Bones" inspired by Pardes' visit to the Anne Frank house. A great way to enjoy Pardes live, which is really the best way to experience her. (tjshadb@voyuz.net)
Recommended first songs:
Release info:
2000—Mentl Music—0003
Availability:
See website for availability
Ecto priority:
Recommended
Group members:
Deborah Pardes—vocals, acoustic &electric guitar, keyboards
Guest artists:
Patty Bossert—piano
Edo Castro—bass
Tom Gears—bass
Alexis Harte—electric guitar
Stephanie Lee—violin
JP Murphy—pedal steel guitar
Produced by:
Deborah Pardes
Comments:
This sophomore album from Pardes features a more mature sound and much tighter orchestration featuring some impressive performers like Alexis Harte on electric guitar and Stephanie Lee on violin. Pardes uses her voice as a emotional dagger to wrench emotions from you while she slyly sneaks highly charged lyrics into your mind. Not someone to shy away from controversy, Pardes wrote a song for the Reverend Jerry Falwell after his condemnation of the Lilith Faire (where Pardes performed in 1999) aptly called "Falwell Enough". Most of her songs stem from events in her life, such as "Tears" which was inspired by a small boy telling her that he looked forward to growing up so he wouldn't have to cry anymore or "7th Step" which was inspired by the book Angela's Ashes and spurred Pardes to create the SIBL Project (Songs Inspired by Literature) to fight adult illiteracy. All Pardes' songs will be enjoyed by those with a taste for intelligent women who write great music. (tjshadb@voyuz.net)
Recommended first songs:
- Blessing or a Curse
- Dirty Dishes
Further info:
Deborah is also the creator of SIBL (Songs Inspired by Literature) which is working to combat adult illiteracy.
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