Worth a Listen: Susan Cantey's Sea of Calculus
"If you're looking for a hot-chicks-on-the-make, drinks-lined-up-on-the-bar, hell-raisin' party album, don't buy this record..."
Susan Cantey is, to say the least, an eclectic songwriter. She accepts no boundaries and is not afraid to venture out into unconventional harmonic structures, often flouting the I-IV-V pop/country/folk standard. Budding songwriters would do well to get their hands on this CD and give it a good listen; first, to pick out the songs and techniques that grab their attention and evoke their emotions, second to learn that anything goes when it comes to expressing yourself. I'm impressed, which is why, on two occasions, I have co-written with Susan, the first time being an Internet co-write on "Valentine," the first track on this CD. So, with that disclosure out of the way, let me say that I am not biased -- "Valentine" would not be my pick for best song on this CD.
No, for sheer creative genius, the tongue-in-cheek "Let Me Explain" ranks way up there. With its Calypso-meets-Jimmy-Buffet feel and unusual chord structure, this is a real pleaser. Somehow, it has a universal, timeless appeal and the lyric is artfully crafted. Definitely my number two pick, but it pales in comparison to the distinctly retro "Welcome To The Club". This one takes me right back to the 60's.
"She Wants What She Wants When She Wants It" is a social commentary and cautionary tale with the moral "don't be too quick to judge". Or, perhaps it's "be careful what you wish for -- you just might get it". Either way, it's a great song, one that I watched evolve through a couple of re-writes. Who can argue with lines like "...a Homecoming Queen, a mover, a shaker, a real heartbreaker; did some damage to the football team..." and "...he wanted romance, she wanted cash..." Bottom line is that "she" ends up unhappy, supported by a sugar daddy and "he" ends up being a millionaire rock star (hint: "he" is a guitar player in the park).
The title track is buried deep at number 10. For what reason, I don't know. It's a fun, catchy song that at first reminds you of the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine". It's a humorous tune, written from the viewpoint of a high school calculus teacher (Cantey's profession) to her students, some of which are mentioned by name, replete with a melodic motif from Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition. A definite treat for those who are calculus-challenged (99.999% of the population???) Just kidding; it's only 97.999% of the population, me included.
A true artist is able to create at any emotional tone and Cantey has the ability to go from flippant to beautifully sad without a blink. She can tug at your heartstrings -- which she does with aplomb -- on "Not The Same", a song about losing a loved one to Alzheimer's. If you have ever experienced it, you'll identify with it; if you haven't, you'll experience it through the pain of one who has. Heavy emotional impact here.
If you're looking for a hot-chicks-on-the-make, drinks-lined-up-on-the-bar, hell-raisin' party album, don't buy this record; this is a songwriter's album that will appeal mainly to connoisseurs of good songwriting. But there's a bit of something for everyone in its 13 tracks, including a very well done upbeat version of "Amazing Grace," the only non-original song in the collection.
You can get a copy of Sea of Calculus at CD Baby.
Susan Cantey is, to say the least, an eclectic songwriter. She accepts no boundaries and is not afraid to venture out into unconventional harmonic structures, often flouting the I-IV-V pop/country/folk standard. Budding songwriters would do well to get their hands on this CD and give it a good listen; first, to pick out the songs and techniques that grab their attention and evoke their emotions, second to learn that anything goes when it comes to expressing yourself. I'm impressed, which is why, on two occasions, I have co-written with Susan, the first time being an Internet co-write on "Valentine," the first track on this CD. So, with that disclosure out of the way, let me say that I am not biased -- "Valentine" would not be my pick for best song on this CD.
No, for sheer creative genius, the tongue-in-cheek "Let Me Explain" ranks way up there. With its Calypso-meets-Jimmy-Buffet feel and unusual chord structure, this is a real pleaser. Somehow, it has a universal, timeless appeal and the lyric is artfully crafted. Definitely my number two pick, but it pales in comparison to the distinctly retro "Welcome To The Club". This one takes me right back to the 60's.
"She Wants What She Wants When She Wants It" is a social commentary and cautionary tale with the moral "don't be too quick to judge". Or, perhaps it's "be careful what you wish for -- you just might get it". Either way, it's a great song, one that I watched evolve through a couple of re-writes. Who can argue with lines like "...a Homecoming Queen, a mover, a shaker, a real heartbreaker; did some damage to the football team..." and "...he wanted romance, she wanted cash..." Bottom line is that "she" ends up unhappy, supported by a sugar daddy and "he" ends up being a millionaire rock star (hint: "he" is a guitar player in the park).
The title track is buried deep at number 10. For what reason, I don't know. It's a fun, catchy song that at first reminds you of the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine". It's a humorous tune, written from the viewpoint of a high school calculus teacher (Cantey's profession) to her students, some of which are mentioned by name, replete with a melodic motif from Mussorgsky's Pictures At An Exhibition. A definite treat for those who are calculus-challenged (99.999% of the population???) Just kidding; it's only 97.999% of the population, me included.
A true artist is able to create at any emotional tone and Cantey has the ability to go from flippant to beautifully sad without a blink. She can tug at your heartstrings -- which she does with aplomb -- on "Not The Same", a song about losing a loved one to Alzheimer's. If you have ever experienced it, you'll identify with it; if you haven't, you'll experience it through the pain of one who has. Heavy emotional impact here.
If you're looking for a hot-chicks-on-the-make, drinks-lined-up-on-the-bar, hell-raisin' party album, don't buy this record; this is a songwriter's album that will appeal mainly to connoisseurs of good songwriting. But there's a bit of something for everyone in its 13 tracks, including a very well done upbeat version of "Amazing Grace," the only non-original song in the collection.
You can get a copy of Sea of Calculus at CD Baby.
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