Cote, Mark: Funhouse of Your Mind

"According to singer-songwriter Mark Cote "Music is oxygen. Whether I'm writing a song at the piano or performing with my band in front of an audience, I never feel more fully alive than I do in those moments creating that human connection through music", (http://www.markcote.com/bio.html, 2012).

Cote's new album, 'Fun House of Your Mind', is full of everything from early Beatles to jazz and Vaudeville. Cote states "Songwriting is the most personal form of expression for me as an artist. I find that the more personal you state something in terms of a song lyric, the more it speaks universally to people. Hopefully, the listener can recognize an element of themselves within the song so that they don't feel quite so odd or alone in this world" (http://www.markcote.com/bio.html, 2012).

"Born and raised in Ontario, Canada Mark's gene pool is evenly divided between Palmerston North, New Zealand and Montreal, Quebec courtesy of his mother and father, respectively. "Musically, I started on guitar at age 10 because I just thought it was the coolest instrument," he reflects. "I only took lessons for a short while though as my interest waned. Later, though, my folks bought a second-hand Gulbransen upright - a refurbished 1910 player piano with this great, creaky old tone. Eventually, this piano drew me in and I found myself plunking out melodies before deciding to pursue any kind of training which happened to be in jazz" (http://www.markcote.com/bio.html, 2012).

This is a wonderful collection of original and inspired songwriting which will lift your spirits and provide a new album of songs to sing along with Cote. Good to hear a new singer songwriter on the horizon with a good voice and great melodies that take you back to the past and forward to the present and future.

"Are You Listening", opens the album well giving you the first breath of the new sound. "Even with My Eyes Closed", will take you right back to early Beatles or even some of John Lennon or George Harrison's solo compositions. It is an excellent reminder with enough variety and originality to pull you in. "Everywhere but Here" does a perfect job of setting up the best track on the album, "Fun House", which will take you back to the many carnivals of your past, or back to New Orleans, whichever your pleasure. The piano work on this album is inspired and will make you want to join in the dance. "Gone, Gone, Gone" keeps the pace rolling along. "Snowman in July" and the closer "While the Clothes Go Round", add fun to the everyday activities of life.

Definitely a nice surprise to receive and listen to on a sunny day on the porch.

Track Listing:

1. Are You Listening
2. Even With My Eyes Closed
3. Everybody's Waiting
4. Everywhere But Here
5. Fun House
6. Gone, Gone, Gone
7. Happiness
8. I Wish You Rain
9. Love is Everything
10. Snowman in July
11. While the Clothes Go Round

Added: May 28th 2012
Reviewer: Mark Johnson
Score:
Related Link: MarkCote.com
Hits: 2196
Language: english

[ Printer Friendly Page ]
[ Send to a Friend ]