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CD Reviews - Glitter Rose, Southern Comfort
METRO Ane Magazine, June 4, 2008
Somewhere in a dusty honky tonk between nowhere and downtown there's a stage
covered in sawdust, behind chicken wire just prime for the down and dirty
sounds of Glitter Rose. She's a Texas gal, she's smokin' hot and can actually
sing.
She's also a glam rocker who's been through the industry meat grinder and comes out the other end harder and wiser playing whatever she damn well pleases and if you don't like it, there's the door- or plate glass window.
The music speaks of everything you'd expect to hear on a country record; rodeos, jilted love and firearms. Glitter Rose's high register rock tinged vocals it sorta works and makes for the kind of record you'd want to play for your friends who don't quite get the country thang.
-MW
Record Reviews
Buddy Magazine April 2008
Glitter Rose - Southern Comfort, Self Released
One of the sure forms for success in a certain subgenre of country music
is to mix a hot-looking young woman with a bare midriff and a big-star belt
buckle and a weathered straw cowboy hat with equal parts of sass and attitude,
ambition, more-than-passing references to good times and Texas cliches and
beer and getting drunk on Texas beer. Oh, yeah, and a passable voice. This
formula holds up even in, or perhaps because of, the male-dominated scene.
Glitter Rose - that comes from a childhood nickname - does all of that with charm on her recent CD, 'Southern Comfort'. Just when it seems like she's got nothing more to offer than the "Flavor of the Week", which is the title of the eighth of the eleven songs, she comes up with "Texas Lullaby (The Kerrville Song)", which seems sorta revelatory - like, oh, yeah, there's a lot more to music than honky-tonk cliches.
The acoustic song recounts feelings from the Kerrville Folk Festival as a place where, looking for more, she finds a peace inside.
Will Glitter Rose get beyond the cliches? Who knows? She's paying her dues by hosting a regular open mic night at Poor David's Pub, while 'Southern Comfort' is at least a starting point for the kind of music she wants to make.
The production's sound is a little thin, but passable. And, as a closing note, Rose says she'll donate ten percent of CD sales to One Vet Ahead (which helps soldiers adjust back to civilian life) and, for every CD she sells, she'll send one to a soldier serving overseas. Here's to the artist growth that's sure to come.
-Tom Geddie
Rose's Career Filled With Glitter, Glam
The Collegian - April 2, 2008
Playing off of an inspiration rooted in Southern rock and country, one former
TCC student is following her musical dreams.
Glitter Rose, who studied music on NE Campus, just released a new album 'Southern Comfort' on Black Fang Records.
The 22 year old singer/songwriter is already a veteran of the industry, with 10 years of experience and more than 1,000 live performances under her belt. The largest crowd she has performed for was more than 4,000 people.
"It's an incredible feeling to play for that many people and see that they are liking it," she said. "Really, whether it's 2 or 2,000, I just love to play music."
Rose was born in California, but said she "got here as quick as she could." Moving to Texas as a child, she quickly developed a sense of Texas Pride - so much that she wrote a song about it.
She does that a lot, drawing inspiration for songwriting from her own life and personal experiences.
"I really like to have fun with my music. I like to make people happy," she said. "Whether it be about partying or my friends or experiences - it's always about having a good time."
Rose and her band Hollywood High won the Los Angeles Music Award for Outstanding New Artist in 2004. Since then, she has traveled across the U.S. bringing a little taste of Texas from California to New York.
She is now looking at doing a European Tour as her international album sales have continued to increase.
"It's so exciting for me; I love to tour," she said. "To see new places and people, to meet my fans - it's amazing."
Rose's music has been compared to a young Gretchen Wilson and described as rock-a-billy. Drawing off of a passion for Hank Williams, the Charlie Daniels Band and the Rolling Stones, she sings and plays guitar with a uniquely Southern twist.
Her family is very involved with her career and has been supportive of her every step of the way.
"I come from a big Italian family; we are very close," she said. "My sister is my manager, and they all really believe in me and love my music."
Rose will unveil a new line of Jon Kammerer Guitars with her name at the 2008 Dallas Guitar Show in April.
The hand-crafted, custom-made guitars are prized for their sound, style, and comfort and are expected to be a popular item at the show.
She is also hosting an open mic at Mardi Gras Dallas 4pm-8pm every Sunday and will perform at Spring Fest on NE Campus at 10am April 16th.
She has a lot of irons in the fire right now, but when she's not working or making music (or both), like most women her age, she just loves hanging out with her friends.
"I love bonfires and camping and being outdoors," she said. "And, of course, a bottle of Southern Comfort is always good."
For more information on Glitter Rose and to hear some of her music, visit her MySpace page at www.myspace.com/glitterrosemusic.
Her CD, 'Southern Comfort', is on sale now, and for every CD sold, one will be donated to U.S. troops overseas.
-Katie Hudson-Martinez
Kammerer Glitter Rose
Vintage Guitar Magazine - Feb. 2008
The Jon Kammerer Glitter Rose acoustic/electric guitar uses the company's
parabolic-curve cutaway design, dual-action truss rod, Gotoh tuning machines,
and cast-acrylic saddle and nut. The guitar is finished in high-gloss black
with the State of Texas shape inlaid in maple. See it at jonkammererguitars.com
Glitter Rose shines in the smooth, smokey Southern Comfort
PopSyndicate.com
This CD literally dropped into my lap. I was at the State Fair with my goddaughter
and she told the young lady at the end of the next table that she liked
her cowboy hat. The young woman showed her a picture of another hat she
owned. It was on a business card. The young woman was Glitter Rose and she
told us she was a singer. I mentioned that I write music reviews and her
manager placed Southern Comfort into my hands.
I am a big devotee in listening to new, local talent. If you believe in yourself enough to make a recording, then one should give it a spin. Happy accidents are discovered by trying something new. Besides, just about every recording star was local before they broke nationally.
The disc opens with “American Man” a tune that feels more like a Waylon Jennings/Jessie Colter track. The story song is of bring broke down and a finding if not Mister Right, then Mister Right Now. “Great Lovin’” has that Urban Cowboy feel, a honky-tonk boot scooting tune with a fat bouncing bass. It has a libidinous lyric, as playful as it is lewd. Though Glitter does have a great rebel yell.
“What Would You Do If I Shot You” has to be the female empowerment single of the month. Glitter almost shouts the chorus as if she were singing to a single individual, someone who should be watching his back. With a swinging guitar “Southern Comfort” is yet another drinking song but this one taking shots while taking shots.
Finally showing some more personal reflection is “Lucky” a tune about a bar patron who touched our singer. With a tongue firmly planted in its lyrical cheek comes “The Cowtown Song.” It takes a crack at the city cowboy idea. It ends with a great ending break that begs for an old time country holler. “Midnight Rodeo” starts soft and finds this fat place to expand. It rolls and rocks, expanding the wall of sound to the floor and ceiling.
“Flavor Of The Week” feels more like LP filler than a thought out track. While it isn’t a bad bit of ear candy, it just doesn’t do more that just be there on the disc. “Texas Lullaby (The Kerrville Song)” comes across as the most honest song of Southern Comfort. It is about a time and a place that finally shows some true emotions. As a singer/songwriter showcase, this is the tune that shows the greatest potential.
“Getaway” is one of those rolling bar tunes that refer to smoking, drinking and getting laid. Presented with a rich back beat and tight harmonica, one can hear the drunks screaming at the ribald excesses. It is a fun little ditty of white trash overload. Ending the disc is “Texas Proud” a song that celebrates being country while still being from California. As a transplanted Texan, I can understand the sympathies.
Since I’ve listened to many local CDs over the years I’ve noticed the lack of technical skill in the physical production. Here, those deficiencies do not exist. So the biggest praises have to go to Rod Bollinger. He produced and recorded the disc as well as providing lead guitar, slide guitar, lead acoustic guitar, bass harmonica and background vocals. His imprint is over this as much as Glitter Rose.
With so many songs about drinking and sex, this disc struck me more along the lines of a country version of Amy Winehouse. If I can find a true complaint about Southern Comfort is that it’s scope is too narrow. I know that booze fueled, whiskey drenched tunes are a staple of being a honky-tonk queen. I’d just like some more songs that explored the emotional side of country music. With so many songs about drinking, the next disc may be about going to rehab.
Probably the most important part of this recording is that 10% of every CD goes to support the troops at One Vet Ahead, Int. According to the liner notes, Glitter Rose will send one CD to the troops for every CD purchased. One has to admire that kind of commitment to our boys in harms way.
If you like rock based, outlaw country then this is a disc for you. Glitter Rose is a much younger version of Gretchen Wilson, carrying the same kicking intensity. This is a bar record, like one of those discs on a jukebox you don’t know but every regular in the place knows by heart. You gotta love a disc with a girl holding a guitar on the front cover and a shotgun on the back.
-GMurray
