Roger
Knott
An alternative singer-songwriter-musician steeped in Americana genres of
Pop, Folk & Country
Reviews
Roger Knott
Album: The Field And The Sky
Label: Legroom
When a new album from Roger Knott drops through the
office letterbox, it's like welcoming home an old friend, this is the 5th
album we've covered and his seventh overall. Roger's weapon of choice is
Americana with a heavy country bent. Whilst he's as English as cottage pie,
his albums definitely have that apple pie feel to them. Knott is quite a
songwriter from the love, life, journies school to create albums that have
a real down home feel. "The Field And The Sky" reveals he's still one sharp
writer/performer who gives a lot of himself in his performances and has a
country heart, Grand. -
Fatea
Roger Knott I GOT MY WORK CUT OUT Leg Room Records ****
London-born Roger Knott has released a steady stream
of quality albums over the past few years and this, his sixth, is another
excellent collection of self-penned songs. Recorded mainly in Nashville and
produced by the multi-skilled Thomm Jutz (who also plays various guitars)
this falls loosely into the Americana style, but Roger doesn’t attempt
that awful mid-Atlantic country drawl so many UK-based country singers do,
but gives the songs an Englishness that works so much better. He has the
ability to write memorable songs with catchy melodies and well-thought out
lyrics. Paycheck Friday which bookends the album with the second version
being an unnecessary ‘radio mix’ deserves to be a hit—if not
for Roger, how about someone like Alan Jackson? Every Bringdown has
a gentle country swing with Britt Savage adding great harmony vocals. Golden
Child is a biting song about those rich kids handed everything on a
plate—they are the ones to blame for the world’s current economic
woes, but they just can’t see it. Yes, Knott dresses his songs in polished
arrangements, but listen closely and he has a lot to say in songs with quite
deep meanings. - Maverick
Magazine
ROGER KNOTT
***
I Got My Work Cut Out
(LEGROOM) www.rogerknott.com
Prolific since his first solo album in 2004, this is Roger Knott's fifth
album and the best yet at showing his virtuosity across the acoustic and
electric country scene. He opens with a stomper, 'Paycheck Friday', and then
alternates mood and pace to suit the assertive ethos of the album. It's a
more wholesome array of tunes and melodies than his previous Nashville-styled
efforts. Thus, the songs are less structured or familiar sounding, and take
a couple of listens in order to engage. This is no bad thing.
'If Love Can Be Saved' offers a poetical and romantic
approach that endears on repeat. The title track appears uncommonly heavy
to begin with then proves to grow with familiarity. Knott even offers an
eco-comment with 'What We Do To Survive', and opts for a linear folk stream
rather than something anthemic.
Knott penned all thirteen original songs with
musical collaboration on about half the numbers by Leg Room's journeyman
bass player, Micky Groome. The album is produced by another Nashville alumnus,
Thomm Jutz, who also contributes guitars throughout the album. Knott's vocal
is unique and will attract some and annoy others; no half measures.
Gareth Hayes - R2-Rock'n'Reel Magazine, March-April 2011
Roger Knott: "I Got My Work Cut Out" CD
"Prolific singer-songwriter, Roger
Knott, returns with another slice of his country rock/americana driven songs,
"I Got My Work Cut Out". Knott is an observational songwriter often taking
inspiration for his songs fom the mundane and giving them a place, real life
songs about events that can happen to anyone and mixes them up with events
that happen to a lot of people at the same time such as war and oppression.
For me the stand out track is "Golden Child", a top we're-all-in-this-together,
well, except-the-rich-and powerful, type track, expressed for so many of
us". - Fatea Magazine
http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/releasesda.html
Roger Knott: "I Got My Work Cut Out"
CD
Seldom these days do I get the opportunity to review
an album by a British artist so when I received "I Got My Work Cut Out" by
Roger Knott I was more than pleased. Not just because the work is by a UK
singer/writer but it is truly excellent! Knott's early career involved bands
and duos performing in a variety of styles till he discovered country. His
first album, "Find Your Wings", released in 2004, was recorded in London
and Spain and produced by Dolly Parton's former steelie Steve Honest. The
original content in the album caught the ear of Nanci Griffith's co-producer,
the drummer Pat McInerney who invited Roger to Nashville to cut more of his
songs. The young Londoner took up the offer with the resulting "Dust And
Promises" featuring 11 Knott originals. The third album, "Step Out Into The
Sun", also recorded in Nashville, had the highly regarded Clive Gregson in
the producer's chair. The fourth album, "Been Down That Road" (2008), was
recorded in Nashville. The success of these four albums put Knott's name
in the foreground with successful live appearances and live radio performances
on the American station WAPS-FM on two occasions. For his fifth album Roger
chose London for the recordings with Steve Honest once again producing.
The sixth and most recent album, "I Got My Work Cut Out" (Leg Room), was
once again recorded in Nashville with Thomm Jutz producing. The 13 Knott
originals are superbly crafted and beautifully performed by Roger in a programme
that blends tender ballads ("If Love Can Be Saved", "Make Some Sense", "The
Greatest Celebration") with country rockers ("Paycheck Friday", "I Got My
Work Cut Out", "Younger Days") with a little western swing ("Every Bringdown").
The musicians provide great backdrops to Knott's stories of life and I must
make especial mention of Shad Cobb's atmospheric fiddling and Barry Walsh's
piano.
Posted by Pete Smith on June 01, 2011 at 12:47:42
"The Advertiser" (UK) - 13 May 2011
http://www.eboards4all.com/206687/messages/149316.html
Roger Knott: "Big News From A Small Town" CD
"The lyrics by this Hertfordshire-based singer-songwriter
are stellar...it can’t be denied that there is some seriously strong
writing at work"
- Maverick Magazine, November 2010
For his fifth solo album Hertfordshire-based English singer
songwriter Roger Knott has abandoned the Nashville studios he inhabited for
his last couple of albums and recorded ‘Big News from a Small Town’
in London. The sound of Nashville loomed large over those earlier albums
and that pure country sound dominated the songs. It appears that a change
of country and studio has given Knott’s music a new lease of life.
The thirteen songs on ‘Big News from a Small
Town’ are all originals but are not steeped in that old country sound
that we have come to expect from Knott. If this change in style is totally
down to the change in his surroundings when recording the songs or if Knott
deliberately set out to leave some of his country leanings on this album
is uncertain, but Knott has made the right decision.
There’s a more mature pop sound to this latest
batch of songs ; Knott has made an album of mainly pop/rock songs this time
as opposed to that pure country sound that dominated those earlier albums.
There are very few songs during these 45 minutes
that you wouldn’t want to hear again. In fact there is just one song
that is not up to Knott’s usual high standard, ‘Baby We’re
An Item’ is just too annoyingly catchy to warrant too many plays. It’s
just too sweet and the tune just grates very quickly. Despite that it must
be said that Knott’s and the backing vocals on that track are superb.
But where Knott really shines is on songs which surely must be autobiographical
and which, thankfully, make up the bulk of this album.
The album kicks off with ‘Watermelon Moon’,
which is a jaunty romp with slight country touches where Knott, not for the
last time on this album, looks back on his childhood and place where he grew
up. It’s a catchy piece of mature pop and Knott, who has a distinctive
voice that you can’t help but warm to turns in a good vocal
performance.
‘Young Eyes’ follows and again those
country touches that were to the fore on Knott’s previous albums are
less obvious here despite the strings being the only concession to Nashville
on this album. Lyrically it’s a song about longing for the lost innocence
of youth and Knott easily conjures up images of those “ice-cream
trucks”. It’s this early into the album that you realise that Knott
is not only travelling on a different road musically but by writing lyrics
that are personal and looking back that he’s taken a completely different
route this time.
There’s a distinct English feel to these
songs especially on songs like ‘Tourist Town’ which surprisingly
is the song that harks back most to the country sound we’ve come to
expect from Knott. Comparing the end of a relationship with the closing of
a tourist town for the season gives Knott the chance to prove that lyrically
he has come up with some of his best lines ever, “You made the winter
winds blow in the chill of your goodbye” is a prime example.
‘A Fine Hobby’ is more than likely a
true tale of how Knott has made it in music despite being told it’s
“no way to make a living”. It’s amusing and touching at the
same time. But the following song, ‘Ghost from Your Past’ is probably
the best song that Knott has yet recorded. A former lover returns to try
to destroy a relationship, “We made a vow we would never be untrue…so
tell me what does never mean to you?” sings Knott before launching into
a chorus that is so appealing you’ll be singing it all day. It all ends
in tears of course, but it’s by far the strongest song in this set.
Knott has grown with each album he has released
so far. ‘Big News from a Small Town’, is by far the strongest
collection of songs we heard from him and the change of studio and sound
coupled with a slight theme running through some of the songs makes the whole
album hang together nicely.
So it’s not the album I was expecting from
Knott; it was a surprise to hear less of his country influences but it’s
worked well. One can’t help but wonder if the closing song, ‘Gypsy
Rambler’ which shows a folkier Knott, is a taster for the sound this
talented songwriter will explore further on his next album.
Reviewed By: Malcolm Carter http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Review.aspx?id=7524
Roger Knott: "Big News From A Small Town"
CD
Home Counties Country boy Roger Knott has been gathering momentum with a
series of low-key releases since 2004, including catching the attention of
US country and folk radio of late. This fifth solo album finds him in solid
form through thirteen crafted songs, taking in as many of Americana rock’s
classic stylistic facets as can logistically be packed into three quarters
of an hour.
It’s clear that thoughtful and literate
Country-hued rock is Knott’s weapon of choice, so it’s heartening
then that his own quirky voice and honest accent are added to the artillery,
instilling these songs with some attractive integrity and real personality.
London production maestro Steve Honest has presented
these personal songs faultlessly, giving them lots of space and punch where
needed, and even adds wonderful pedal steel himself to some of the album’s
most lovelorn, and complexly romantic moments.
‘Tourist Town’s melancholy and evocative
end-of-the-pier Englishness has an affinity to Darren Hayman’s superbly
introspective and nostalgic ‘Great British Holidays’ material.
In a similar vein ‘Frisbee Street’ is packed with loss and
reminiscence. It’s talk of “Post Offices on the corner”, and
its sadness that there are “More antique shops that one street should
allow, the old school is apartments now” carries with it a genuine sense
of curious loss.
Elsewhere, ‘A Fine Hobby’ could have
been penned for The Man In Black, being so deeply rooted in his signature
foot-tapping country style. A light-hearted tale of making a life in music
despite detractors claiming it is “no way to make a living”. The
exuberant ‘One Shot Deal’ seems to be something approximating The
Jayhawks going on holiday with latter-day XTC and cheering them up a bit.
Changing things again, ‘Ghosts From Your Past’, and ‘No
Electricity’ recall, and not for the first time, Peter Blegvad’s
clean poetic rock. Being something of a limited vocalist in the grand scheme
of things, Knott also shares many of Blegvad’s vocal tones and
qualities.
Knott has thrown pretty much every variant of
country-rock at this collection. It is never less than heartfelt, but instead
of a summation of clumsy stylistic imbalance, it gives these 13 songs a subtle
variety, honesty and appeal. Knott is a greatly talented songwriter, and
‘Big News...’ is never less than an enjoyable, pleasingly English,
bulletin.
Ian Fildes
Americana-UK.com
Reviewers Rating: 7 out of 10
Roger Knott: "Been Down That Road" CD
"Give yourself over to the songs…it makes perfect sense" -
R2 Rock'n'Reel Magazine
"Fantastic songwriting ability" -
Maverick Magazine
"A superb piece of work" -
Advertiser
(UK)
FULL
REVIEW
"Thoroughly enjoyable and worth investigating this artist."
- Clown
Magazine
FULL
REVIEW
"The best pure country album I’ve heard all year."
-
pennyblackmusic.co.uk
FULL
REVIEW
"Check him out today because you're in for a real treat."
- Triplestrand productions
FULL
REVIEW
"Another excellent offering ... It's great stuff that he's
been producing out in Nashville!" - Allan Watkiss, presenter,
UKCountryRadio
"It's SUCH a good album ... He's got some great pickers on there" - Lee Williams,
presenter, CMRNashville Radio
"A very great CD with excellent songs.. all tracks are fantastic". - Etienne
"Steve" Berthels , DJ, Radio Terre
Franche
"A very distinctive, unique vocal style" - Stuart Cameron,
UpCountry
Magazine
"A jaunty, observational journey into little America" -
FATEA
Magazine
FULL
REVIEW
=======================================================
"Roger Knott has produced
a smooth Americana/Country album, Been Down That Road that was recorded in
Nashville Tennessee. The music palette has acoustic guitars, accordion, and
a fiddler to make those smooth notes while delivering great standards within
the confines of the Americana/Country sound, Been Down That Road starts the
ball rolling and the next song shows how humour can be used in a clever way
without compromising the integrity of the music, Crazy Rules ‘the waitress
wouldn’t serve me any alcohol. Cos’ I left my ID back at the
hotel.’ The songs are on average three and half minutes long so listening
to unfamiliar music you can easily listen to the end of each song and feel
refreshed from the experience. Thoroughly enjoyable and worth investigating
this artist."
Reviewed By: Rob Clarke - Clown Magazine
http://www.clownmagazine.co.uk/musicextra.html
"This fourth album from country
singer Knott follows the same pattern as his previous release, ‘Step
Out Into The Sun’, in as much as it was again recorded in Nashville,
which is appropriate, but this latest collection is without the production
talents of Clive Gregson; this time Knott has opted for Thomm Jutz to take
the producer’s chair and he has made a pretty good job of following
in Gregson’s footsteps.
I felt that ‘Step Out Into The Sun’ was very much a game of two
halves. It appeared that Knott felt more at home with the more up-tempo songs
he opened that album with but it was the slower songs where his vocals really
shone and there was many a time when I programmed the CD player to skip some
of the faster songs in favour of songs such as the slower ‘The Sound
Of Your Name’.
On this collection of twelve originals either I’ve become more accustomed
to Knott’s up-tempo country tunes or he has slowed down the tempo
considerably overall as, like even on the opener, ‘Been Down That
Road’, the songs feel that they have more depth, more substance and
while that title song is certainly in Knott’s sing-a-long country style
which predominated his last album I have the feeling that these songs are
going to be played a lot more than those up-tempo songs on ‘Step Out
Into The Sun’. It’s either Knott’s sweet melodies working
their way into my head or, and I believe this is more accurate, that on this
album he has toughened up his sound a little and it is all the better for
that. Maybe putting Jutz in the producer’s chair was an inspired move.
Jutz, of course, played guitars on the last album and takes guitar duties
here too so overall the sound is similar but there is definitely something
about these twelve songs that are going to make them appeal to more than
the die-hard country scene than his previous album did.
One of Knott’s greatest assets has been his vocals, as soon as you hear
him sing it’s undeniably Knott. Making comparisons is fruitless and
to find someone with an original voice in the type of country music Knott
makes these days is rare. Coupled with that, Knott has lost none of his talent
since the making of ‘Step Out Into The Sun’ of creating long-lasting
melodies of the type that within no time at all you want to sing along to.
As with his last collection of songs Knott’s songs have the ability
to bring a little sunshine into even the darkest of days; the feet start
tapping without you realising, you’re singing along before you know
it and Knott has lifted those clouds that were darkening your day.
The great thing about Knott’s work is that it makes no demands on the
listener, his melodies wrap around you, there’s this familiar, cosy
feeling to the tunes, like you’ve heard them before somewhere but you
know you haven’t and his warm vocals are well suited to this type of
country music.
‘Been Down That Road’ contains some of the best songs Knott has
yet put down on tape, ‘When Love Comes Around’, ‘Sudden
Rain’ and ‘Autograph’ will, some time in the future surely
grace a ‘Best Of Roger Knott’ album.
As with his last album Knott has some star names helping out ; besides Thomm
Jutz, Pat McInerney (who has worked with Nanci Griffith) is back on drums
and LeAnn Etheridge makes a welcome return on backing vocals ; all this shows
in these songs and the fact that they were recorded in Nashville only makes
the sound more authentic.
When reviewing ‘Step Out Into The Sun’ I said that Knott’s
music would not appeal to a wide audience, but I’m going to have to
retract that with this latest collection, although his songs are firmly rooted
in that good old country soil because of his vocals and melodies this album
will be interesting to anyone who enjoys pop / folk music too. I also said
in that review that Knott wasn’t going to change the world with his
music. Maybe not, but with ‘Been Down That Road’ he will take you
to another world for just over 40 minutes.
‘Been Down That Road’ is the best pure country album I’ve
heard all year." - Reviewed By: Malcolm Carter -
www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk
"Been down That Road" (Leg Room) by London based singer/writer Roger Knott is a superb piece of work! The twelve original songs, penned by Knott, cannot be faulted and the delivery is truly excellent. This is not a one-off. For some years Roger has been working toward an album of this calibre playing in a variety of guises, solo, duo, band, and recording four previous albums. It was the 2004 release, "Find Your Wings", produced by former Dolly Parton steelie Steve Honest, that began opening doors for this burgeoning talent. The album was heard by respected Nashville drummer Pat McInerney who invited Roger to record in Tennessee. The invitation was taken up and the result was the exciting, all original, "Dust and Promises" released in 2006. Knott's career was moving quickly. For his next venture into the studios Roger chose noted producer Clive Gregson to move things forward. The venue was Nashville and the result was "Step Into The Sun". It was Charlie Daniels' country, that is, Mount Juliet, Tennessee, that Roger chose for his latest album, "Been Down That Road" with multi-instrumentalist Thomm Jutz in the producer's seat. With the quality of the material and with musicians such as Jutz (guitars, mandolin, Dobro, keys), Pat McInerney (drums), Mark Fain (acoustic bass), Shad Cobb (fiddle) and Jeff Lisenby (accordion, piano) Roger could not go wrong – and he doesn't with such marvellous performances as the spiritual, "Been Down That Road" (my favourite cut), the optimistic "When Love Comes Round Again" and the story of "Uncle Charlie's Baton". Definitely an album not to be missed! - Reviewed by Pete Smith "The Advertiser" (UK) 14 August 2009
" Been Down That Road ...is
jam-packed with songs that can only come from his experience as a
singer/songwriter. Having been down that road myself, I could relate to the
subject matters he covered in his songs. Style-wise, Roger sways back and
forth over the borders of genres, writing in anything from contemporary Country
to songs squarely in the folk realm. Add some Americana to that and
you're ready to sit back and be thoroughly entertained while listening to
this CD in a mannner that never repeats or gets stale. The CD was recorded
at TJ Tunes in Mount Juliet, TN and in listening to one song--the quality
of recording speaks for itself.
... A great CD for those people with eclectic tastes, "Been Down That
Road" is sure to become one of the favorite CDs in any discerning music lover's
collection. So check him out today because you're in for a real treat."
- Dixie McCorkell--CEO
Triplestrand productions and
host of "Country Legends In The Making" and "The Americana Collection"--each
show being syndicated to over 400 AM/FM stations around the world.
http://legendsinthemaking.blogspot.com/2008/09/roger-knott-been-down-that-road.html
"Like it's predecessor,
'Been Down That Road' is a jaunty, observational journey into little America.
Whilst love and emotion do raise their head, Knott's strongs are at their
strongest when he's observing slices of life... It's country with an old
timey swing tucked underneath the main sound. Summer days and the world drifting
by." - FATEA Magazine
=======================================================
Roger Knott: "Step Out Into The Sun" CD
"For his third album Roger Knott travelled to Nashville and employed the talented Clive Gregson to produce this collection of fourteen songs that are firmly rooted in the tradition of ‘old’ country music. It’s quite refreshing actually in these days when pure country music is hardly produced to hear something as fresh and natural as the sounds Knott makes here.
There is no trace of alt-country / Americana (or what it has become in recent times) or new-country here. It’s country music as it used to be and Knott is adept at writing and singing in that genre. Gregson is an obvious choice as producer given his recent work with Nanci Griffith and Pat McInerney and Le Ann Etheridge who also work with Griffith make contributions here too. It’s something of a country all - stars show really ; apart from the above the wonderful Cathryn Craig helping out on backing vocals, Mike Daly (Whiskeytown) adds his lap steel, Jim Hoke (Emmylou Harris) is there with his flute and saxophone and Thomm Jutz (Mary Gauthier) plays guitar. With a cast like that you just can’t go wrong.
But no matter how good the musicians and producer it would be difficult of course to make anything more than a good album if the songs were not up to standard. Fortunately the songs here are all originals and Knott is, without any doubt, a top-notch songwriter.
Predominantly singing about the high and lows of love the opening cut, ‘Call Me Back’ sets out Knott’s stall nicely; a typical country melody and lyrics dealing with the frustration of trying to get the attention of the new girl in town. The following song, ‘I Can’t Find Anybody’ is another slice of pure country, with Daly’s lap steel pushing home that country vibe it’s surely a song that is going to be a live favourite. That Knott is a talented songwriter is in no doubt ; the opening three songs all follow the same path of up-tempo sing a-longs but to some ears a whole album of songs like that opening trio is maybe a little too much of a good thing. As well played, produced and sung as they are the thought of fourteen songs following the same pattern was just a little too sweet.
So it’s with some relief that with track four, ‘Late Bloom’, Knott slows the tempo down just slightly and for the first time on this collection his vocals really stand out, there is more compassion, more feeling in his voice and, although the song again is a straightforward love song lyrically, that vocal performance and the slower pace lift the song just a few notches higher than those opening the album.
But the following song, ‘The Sound Of Your Name’ is the highlight of the album. Slowing things right down, it’s a touching tale of losing a perfect love and just proves once again that while Knott can hold his own when writing and performing the more traditional up-tempo country songs he really shines when he slows things down; his vocals are outstanding when he tackles songs taken at a slower pace. Or try another love lost ballad ‘Good Times Have None To Spare’ for confirmation. The same thing could be said of the touching tribute that is ‘Seeing Ireland Again’, another strong melody coupled with yet another strong vocal performance.
Having said that Knott excels with his slower songs there is no denying that it’s hard to listen to ‘The Devil Riding By’ without wishing to sing along even when in the darkest of moods.
‘Step Out Into The Sun’ is not going to change the world, it’s not going to appeal to a wide audience but what it does is confirm is that in Roger Knott we have a singer-songwriter who is making outstanding music in a genre that is sadly overlooked these days. For the most part it’s a feel-good collection of songs which certainly lifted my mood when I listened to it for the first time and hasn’t failed to bring a little sun into my life with each play."
Reviewed By: Malcolm Carter -
pennyblackmusic.co.uk
http://www.pennyblackmusic.co.uk/MagSitePages/Review.aspx?id=5443
Roger Knott: "Step Out Into The Sun" CD
Staff Rating: 8.0 out of 10. "There is a wellspring
of musical talent in and around Nashville that is seemingly bottomless. For
every so-called star that gains even a hint of prominence, there are easily
ten others who should be huge, and are not, for one reason or not. Roger
Knott would be one of those; it may be that his high, pleasant vocals
are not to a mogul’s liking, or his looks do not fit into some preconceived
notion of what this month’s model should look like, or tracks like the
exquisite The Sound of Your Name from Step Out Into the
Sun don’t fit into the play list of terrestrial country radio.
No matter. Step Out Into the Sun is a beautiful piece of work,
worth listening to repeatedly.
Step Out Into the Sun is Knott’s third CD (to my knowledge),
and this time around he has Clive Gregson along on both sides of the console,
producing and playing guitar and keys. A word about Gregson: he is the consummate
musician, whether fronting Any Trouble or as the sideman for such stalwarts
as Nanci Griffith. The trademark of his production is that he has none; he
is able to bring the strength and sound out of whatever artist he is producing
without etching his own name into the sidewalk, as it were. As a sideman,
his playing supports and buttresses the featured performer. The result, on
such tracks as The Devil Riding By, is that Knott and his carefully
selected side musicians sound as if they are in your living room, or car,
or office, wherever you happen to be listening to Step Out Into the
Sun.
Knott’s music is informed by equal parts country and folk, with some
Celtic influence infused throughout. The result is an upbeat, bouncy, pop
effect, nothing loud or intrusive or invasive. Think McCartney, or some of
The Cyrkle’s more upbeat tunes. That is not to say that all is sweetness
and light; Good Times Have None To Spare is one of the saddest songs
I’ve heard in awhile, a quiet, subtle tome of loss and regret that I
keep playing over and over again, not because I identify with it but simply
because it is so well done. The real sorrow, however, is that Knott is not
the household name he ought to be. Perhaps Step Out Into the
Sun will change that."
Written by: Joe Hartlaub - music-reviewer.com http://www.music-reviewer.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1228&Itemid=175
Roger Knott: "Step Out Into The Sun" CD
"If there were any believers left in the myth that Brits can't do country, then "Step Out Into The Sun" should nail that lie once and for all. Roger Knott's latest may have been recorded in Nashville, with the likes of Le Ann Etheridge, Pat McInerney and Thomm Jutz, but, Knott's writing and Clive Gregson's production are both home grown. The critical thing is that on a blind hearing, it sounds country, it has it's own distinct sound, but would be at home on any country station anywhere in the world. Knott has got this spot on and capable of sitting next to the local stuff."
fatea-records.co.uk
http://www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/releasesy.html
Roger Knott: "Find Your Wings" CD
"Roger Knott returns with a relaxed acoustically based
album of new songs. Opening with Catch Me On A Good Day, with its
immediately memorable chorus, the tone is set for a collection that evokes
the great summer outdoors. Summer Flower is pure Paul Simon prettiness,
and Una Vida Mejor, with its subtle addition of strings becomes one
of the album's strongest points...
The acoustic guitar bed throughout the album, with additions of mandolin
and steel guitar on some tracks, add a warm glow, especially on the closing
instrumental Journey's End... A good summery groove - pass the wine!
"
- Kingsley Abbott (popular music author and contributor to
Mojo, Record Collector)– November 2004
Roger Knott: "Dust And Promises" CD
" (The Story of Lead Belly) ... is accurate in fact and genuine in expression" - Sean Killeen, Lead Belly Society
