Reviews of Even Though The Sky Was Falling
“more fully realized arrangements…bring out wider strands of the intimacy and wistful humour hiding between the lines of her slyly clever lyrics. Despite the often lightly delivered lines that are tossed off with a gently feathery touch, there is no mistaking the sadness beneath.” ~ Rod Nicholson, Scene Magazine, February 10, 2011
“[One of] Five must-see songstresses, NXNE Highlights: this delicate, sweetly-melodic Toronto songstress needs to be heard.” (Also on the top-pick list: Zola Jesus, Fanshaw, Maylee Todd, Hannah Georges) ~ Brad Wheeler, The Globe & Mail, June 16, 2010
“Canadian singer-songwriter Karyn Ellis is an innovative and eclectic talent…[she] has the uncanny ability of hitting the jackpot quite regularly with her songs… her work is of another level.” ~ Maurice Hope, Americana-uk (UK), June 6, 2010
““a voice that has an ethereal quality, sounding both innocent and weathered at the same time….Gems like “Not Looking for Love” show off a unique sound that is all her own.” ~ Sarah Petz, Stylus Magazine, June 3, 2010
“Even Though the Sky Was Falling is more joyous and upbeat than her previous albums of heartbreak and loss. But Ellis retains a porcelain-like quality that remains poignant for its delicacy.” ~ Robert Reid, Nightlife (Arts Entertainment Magazine for Guelph Mercury / Kitchener Record, May 20 2010
“To put it plain and simple, Karyn Ellis is a pop singer-songwriter that others should aspire to be like….setting the bar for female pop singer-songwriters.” ~ Gray Owl Point, May 15, 2010
“…des chansons plus douces qu’amères avec une belle présence vocale et un grain de voix intéressant.” ~ Marie Hélène Poitras, Le Voir, 13 mai 2010
“…a magical way with song…Leonard Cohen has no copyright on the word hallelujah.” ~ Brad Wheeler, The Globe & Mail, Essential Track of the Day, Tuesday May 11, 2010
“D’ailleurs, il ne faut pas trop se fier aux allures naïves de Karyn Ellis. Derrière cette voix de jeune fille, se trouve une artiste beaucoup plus solide et perspicace qu’on ne peut l’imaginer de prime abord.” ~ Alain Brunet, La Presse, 08 mai 2010
“4****…. A classically trained musician who set out to sing opera, this bright Ontario girl got sidetracked into pop music and weird day jobs, including singing telegrams for a living. Even Though the Sky Was Falling, her sophomore CD, proves this is a woman with stories.” ~ Marke Andrews, Windsor Star / Calgary Herald / Canwest, May 11, 2010
“Shades of country and folk, arrangements ranging from orchestral girth to slim strumming, grace the lovely new LP by this TO songstress. 7.5” ~ Lorraine Carpenter, Montreal Mirror, May 2010
“Singer-songwriter Karyn Ellis finds inspiration in some bizarre spots – creepy CSI episodes, for example. But that doesn’t make the inventively arranged songs on her latest album, Even Though the Sky Was Falling, any less charming.” ~ Bernard, Perusse, What’s On Your I-POD?, The Montreal Gazette, Thursday May 6, 2010
“4.5***** listening to [her album], I feel like I’m hearing a longtime friend. The sentiments, the lyrics, the vocals, the instrumentation feel familiar and friendly without being derivative and recycled. Her melodies are instantly memorable and burrow themselves into your brain like memories that are halfway between bitter and sweet.” ~ RateYourMusic.com, Feb 3, 2010
“as if writing a brilliant song were child’s play…it is challenging to identify a single standout on an album that is so remarkably clear and consistent. Karyn Ellis is a singer we simply must embrace in Europe.” ~ Martin Overheul, altcountryforum.nl (Netherlands), January 27, 2010
“4,5*****…. Flawless songs, an entirely fantastic voice, musicians that put themselves completely at service of the songs, and on top of that, with Don Kerr a great producer on board – we cannot think of what else one could wish for. A fantastic disc!” ~ Benny Metten, CtrlAltCountry.be (Belgium), January 11, 2010
“The sky might be falling, but Karyn’s ten celestial tunes on “Even Though The Sky Was Falling”, her second full-length release, are sure to send this songstress’s star on a rapid rise.” ~ Allison Brown, !earshot Magazine, January 12, 2010
Even Though The Sky Was Falling appears on CHARTattack Staff Top 10 Album Lists For 2009
Even Though The Sky Was Falling appears on Allison Brown’s Top 10 Album Lists for 2009 (Penguin Eggs)
“Karyn Ellis’s Even Though the Sky Was Falling grabbed my heartstrings immediately and hasn’t let go.” ~ Rozalind McPhail, NxEW.ca, November 6, 2009
“Smart and Beautiful. ***** (5 stars) Karyn brings her beautiful sound to life with playful lyrics that spark playful memories. I loved it from the first listen.” ~ iTunes Customer Review
“[Even Though The Sky Was Falling] is ornate and beautiful and just wow.”~ Tyler B., Ann Arbor, USA.
“[Karyn Ellis is] sweet and ferocious all at once. [H]er album [is] a celebration of the mundane…the stuff we’re all too hard-bitten and realistic to talk about in front of our friends. The stuff the Romantic poets wrote about. I’m in for the long run with Ellis.”~ Eric Malette, London Ontario”
FEATURE ARTICLES
Ottawa Citizen, May 13 2010 (reprinted from the Windsor Star)
Nightlife (Arts Entertainment Magazine for Guelph Mercury / Kitchener Record), May 6 2010
