Terrance Simien Artist Profile Extended Version | Page 6

Across the Parish Line
“This CD cements Simien's standing as the most creative, diverse musician in modern zydeco. But what ultimately makes this album a winner is the beauty of the songs that are driven purely by Simien's sweet flexible voice.” –Ted Drozdowski, Amazon.com “Across the Parish Line is a testament to the diversity that has become one of the most appealing characteristics of his music. Simien is one of the finest zydeco artists to emerge from south Louisiana in the last quarter century, and he’s absolutely got it going on yet again this time.” Billboard (reporting on music since 1891) “Zydeco remains at the core of Simien’s musical DNA, but his treatment of it continues to be progressive and innovative. He has hurdled over musical boundaries by incorporating other genres into his culturally ingrained zydeco long before such genre bending fusions became fashionable. The opening and closing tracks hint at where zydeco’s headed next: an ancient-sounding accordion surrounded by an avalanche of hiphop beats, Jamaican dub echo, African vocals, and looping and sampling. With this crowning achievement in hand, Simien’s reign of creativity is far from over.” Dan Willging, Offbeat Voted Offbeat’s Top 50 CD’s of 2006 “Simien’s collaboration with Los Lobos’ David Hidalgo on ‘Cómo Viviré, Mi Cholita’ is a lively blast of blues-y Cuban fare, while his voice remains the sweetest thing this side of Sam Cooke. Nevertheless, it’s Simien’s interpretation of Randy Newman’s ‘Louisiana 1927’ that leaves a haunted impression that not only lingers but also draws the historical connotations of his wide-ranging influences sharply into focus. ??? 1/2 stars (out of 5) – The Music Box “Simien has pushed the frontier of zydeco music forward the past 20 years, taking the reins from Clifton Chenier and rocking it up just enough to capture the younger Anglo audience. On Across the Parish Line, he enlisted many guests to push the songs up a notch, but this is Terrance Simien’s album all the way. His playing and singing never sounding better and this shows the music is alive and well. A bon ton delight from beginning to end this is living proof that some things will last forever.” Bill Bentley, Encino Sun (note: Bill was w/Warner Bros. Music for 25 years) “He is blessed with a wonderful voice…always the innovator…[Across the Parish Line] is Terrance Simien at his best.” – Blues Wax Rating: 8 out of 10 “Simien’s biggest asset is his phenomenal set of pipes; the guy draws obvious vocal influences from artists as diverse as Jimmy Cliff and Sam Cooke, then combines it with punctuating stabs of accordion. In Canadian terms, it’s like listening to Great Big Sea with a singer who could top the charts in Motown’s heyday.” ???? (out of 5) Jeremy Loome, Edmonton Sun “On his seventh album Simien once again welcomes other musical styles and a variety of guest musicians into his orbit. For all of his eclecticism, he nevertheless manages to assert both his own identity and that of zydeco. In fact, he demonstrates that the music is capable of incorporating other sympathetic styles to its benefit.” ???? (out of 5) William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide (pro review)