Rose Polenzani CD

On her self-titled third release, the previously all-acoustic Rose Polenzani spruces things up a little with added instrumentation, helping to bring her revelatory and revealing songs to life. Increasing the musical intensity to the same level as the emotional, a good chunk of the support is ever so appropriate, with only "Orange Crush" seeming to stick out a tad. The occasional assault of guitars and drums certainly does help make her point, and thankfully the timing is well chosen -- otherwise it might possibly have been a hindrance to the intimacy at which she's so skilled. And lucky for listeners, Polenzani was compassionate enough to toss in a few bare bones (try "The Flood," "Mary Lee," and "Sacramento Avenue") that hark back to her earlier works. All in all, the songwriting and performances are still as poignant and powerful as listeners may have come to expect from Polenzani. ~ Kelly McCartney

The youngest of four children, Rose Polenzani was born into a midwestern family that valued music above all things. The prize of the household was an ornate baby grand piano...it was no mistake that the children grew up to have music as a major part of their lives (Rose's brother Matthew sings with the Metropolitan Opera). In 1995, Rose left school so she could concentrate on songwriting, immersing herself for two years in the Chicago open-mic scene and a hand -me-down four-track machine. She was a local girl until 1997.Her first tour took her to the Northeast in November of 1997. Within 7 months, she would be invited to play the Newport Folk Festival and winning a slot in the 1998 summer Lilith Fair. Balanced on the brink of 60's folk literacy and modern adult alternative, Rose has been able to straddle the largely streamlined music scene, opening for acts such as David Gray, Kristin Hersh, and Vic Chestnutt, as natural in a rock club as a coffeehouse. Despite her attention to lyrics, it's her voice that captures an audience and brings them to a hush, as the Minneapolis City Pages put forth: "[Rose's] ever-shifty and never precious vocal presence must have been long cultivated to arrive in public so fully formed."

Photographers: Dave Goodrich; Louise Ulrich; Rose Polenzani; Mike Piehl.

Personnel includes: Rose Polenzani (vocals, acoustic guitar, piano, keyboards, tambourine); David Goodrich (acoustic & electric guitars, piano, organ); Lou Ulrich (bass); Mike Piehl (drums, percussion).

Personnel: Rose Polenzani (vocals, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, keyboards, tambourine); Dave Goodrich, David "Goody" Goodrich (guitar, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, piano, prepared piano, organ); Lorna Hunt (acoustic guitar); Louise Ulrich (bass guitar); Mike Piehl (drums, percussion).

CMJ (5/28/01, p.28) - "...Rose welcomes the dynamics of a rock band behind her nerve-striking songs here....Whatever the setting, her songs bring drama..."