Give Us A Kiss!

T. Thorn Coyle

Love And Anarchy Records, 2002

http://www.thorncoyle.com

REVIEW BY: Duke Egbert

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 02/14/2003

T. Thorn Coyle kicks ass.

Let's get that out of the way. One expects a protest singer to be somewhat mild-mannered and politically correct, but Coyle's work on her new CD Give Us A Kiss! is edgy, angry, and powerful -- the bastard child of an improbable mating of Phil Ochs and Joan Jett. Coyle walks the walk as well as talking the talk; she is involved in several political activism and protest organizations, and proceeds from this CD went to support several organizations (who are listed below; check 'em out).my_heart_sings_the_harmony_web_ad_alt_250

But when it comes down to it, T. Thorn Coyle rocks out as well. This is a powerful, anthemic CD, full of shatteringly strong music; it's edgy, it's grungy, and it's an absolute delight. Coyle also lends her voice to celebrations of her Pagan religion; the opening a cappella piece, "Song To The Secret Name Of The Star Goddess," is breathtaking.

Production on the CD is good; the guitars are tight and Coyle's voice is clear and expressive. There are a couple of moments when percussion is lost in the mix, but they're few and far between. The musicians' performances are excellent, especially the churning guitar of Jim Lively.

There are a lot of highlights on this disc. "Raucous Yes!" is a fervent, passionate call to action and political change. "Angola" is a chilling indictment of the racism and injustice in the prison system, with Coyle's impassive voice reading a list of federal prisons like an indictment. "Zion" should be the National Anthem; the sheer, openminded passion for liberty in it is exhilarating. Coyle's quirky, throaty rendition of Leonard Cohen's "First We Take Manhattan" is great, and the mournful wistfulness of "Song For Siripongs" remains with you long after the song is over.

T. Thorn Coyle is a force to be reckoned with, a primal, elemental musician who can both deliver a message and give it teeth. Check out Give Us A Kiss!.

Organizations benefiting from sales of this CD:

Reclaiming -- http://www.reclaiming.org The Ruckus Society -- http://www.ruckus.org Art And Revolution -- http://www.artandrevolution.org The Prison Ashram Foundation -- http://www.humankindness.org

T. Thorn Coyle's Web site -- http://www.thorncoyle.com

Rating: A

User Rating: Not Yet Rated


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© 2003 Duke Egbert and The Daily Vault. All rights reserved. Review or any portion may not be reproduced without written permission. Cover art is the intellectual property of Love And Anarchy Records, and is used for informational purposes only.