Eddie McGarry Green Line Music

Boston Soundcheck magazine May 2003	EDDIE MCGARRY - HEAT FROM THE SPARK HHH (Very Good) Eddie McGarry’s mixture of singer/songwriter with adult contemporary themes makes for some quality material on Heat From The Spark. “I’m Alright Tonight” leads …Spark off and exhibits a kind of acoustic Bob Seger but with stronger musical palettes and hooks and an enticing string arrangement…the latter being a prominent and effective element of …Spark. “Will You See Me Tonight” calls to mind some of the more recent material from John Mellencamp but more structurally focused on blues themes…a perfect display of influence and originality. Some very subtle but effective background vocals from Kate and Allen McGarry add to “…Tonight” just what it needs. All of McGarry’s compositions have a very touching musical demeanor to them most evident in “Beautiful Girl.” The first ballad on the disc it incorporates mainly McGarry, an acoustic guitar and more string arrangements but this time adding some plucked violin strings to the mix giving “Beautiful Girl” an almost orchestral backdrop. “Always” possesses the most infectious hook and “Classified” stand out as one of the record’s fortes displaying influences from the Dave Matthews Band. “Better Times Comin’ Around” is the most aggressive selection during which we hear an electric guitar delivering some smoky bluesy leads and riffs from Jim Henry and a gripping harmonica intro from Pat Bellavance. “The All Out” closes the disc and while McGarry doesn’t go all out as he does during “Better Times…” he picks an effective selection to close …Spark as “The All Out” adheres to the acoustic themes and structures that are heard in McGarry’s staple song writing.~ Karl Russo ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From Message from the Homeland	"Eddie McGarry is the reason that I scour open mics filled with stoned out Bob Dylan wannabes and washed up punk rockers trying to imitate Dashboard Confessional. At the ripe age of 32, Eddie McGarry's lyrics are personal and intimate without the superficial edge that plagues many younger musicians. By industry standards, McGarry is too old to be an up and coming musician and too young to be a seasoned veteran. With Heat from the Spark as a debut album tracing McGarry's musical growth with songs written as far back as 1993, McGarry offers a refreshing insight that can only come from a man who has grown a lot in the past decade. His roles as husband, father of two young children, and firefighter all shine through his surprisingly coherent and honest lyrics that are priceless considering all the stoned out 'singer-songwriters' who strum basic power chords while singing songs so full of imagery that the inspiration for the very music is indecipherable... READ MORE HERE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From The Cape Cod Times	"Heat from the Spark," Eddie McGarry, 4 stars "Barnstable native Eddie McGarry is a firefighter in Chelsea, not necessarily the kind of guy you'd expect to deliver a CD of mellow and catchy folk-rock songs. The guy has a gift for writing and performing songs that are sensitive without being syrupy. He also has a knack for attracting talented assistants, including experienced session players Richard Gates, Jim Henry and Doug Plavin. Also helping out are three of McGarry's sisters, one of his brothers, and local performer Andrea Terrio. What holds the CD together is McGarry's Songwriting talent. At times he's as ethereal as Cat Stevens, at other points he's as earthy as the Counting Crows. And when he pays tribute to six fallen firefighters on the CD-closing 'The All Out,' he proves that he can take an experience that's far from universal and translate its pain for all to feel." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Barnstable Patriot	At first listen, the voice is reminiscent of Enrique Iglesias' balladeer persona, as in the Latin hearthrob's 2001 smash, "Hero." But then you listen to the songs, and you realize it couldn't be, for these are no mere pop confections." --David Curran, The Barnstable Patriot Read entire article here. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Velvet Park magazine	Eddie McGarry has a sure a cure for the chronically hip. With his debut recording of ten acoustic originals aptly entitled, 'Heat from the Spark,' McGarry offers his listeners an intimate and rare perspective of life...with a degree of candor that would make any quiche-eating man blush...In today's whiney, angst-driven musical climate, 'Heat from the Spark' is an unguarded piece of Americana that will warm the heart of anyone who can put their cell phone down long enough to listen." ~ Velvet Park magazine ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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