RANDI RUSSO

Randi Russo is a master at weaving emotion and smarts, thoughts from the head and feelings from the heart. In a day and age when people have unfortunately accepted that a record should sound monotonous throughout, Russo continues to do her own thing – unapologetically, she writes the songs she needs to write and records them the way they need to be recorded – always serving the song.

The result is Fragile Animal. This record is the most fully realized and polished work Randi Russo has produced to date. Yet in line with her previous records (Solar Bipolar and Shout Like a Lady), it is a body of work that embraces the raw and the refined, some punk angst with some of the polished allure of the sensual and melancholic. Russo’s “outsider anthems” (Lucid Culture) – whether it’s a political song about immigration (“Head High”) or a song about one’s personal war with the world (“Invisible” and “Alienation”) – give a feeling of empowerment to those who live on the fringe. Any vulnerable moment has the ability to bring out a vicious and virulent fighter.

Press Quotes

Randi's someone to keep your eye on… Her guitar playing is sweet when it needs to be, but nasty in all the right places. All she needs is one gig opening for somebody like Cat Power, and her fame is pretty much guaranteed.
Amy Phillips - The Village Voice

Melodic rock beauty… Randi Russo has her own stories to tell, and I'm listening to every word.       The Big Takeover

Fragile Animal is an exceptional work of songwriting, musicianship, and lyrical performance. At times reminiscent of Liz Phair's detached passion (from her early days), Russo has made a full album of material that just feels good to listen to. Sort of singer-songwriter, sort of rock star, sort of indie rock; and all sorts of good.       Alright, I’m Wrong

Akin to wordsmiths Patti Smith and PJ Harvey… Russo emerges as a seer, sage, and soothsayer -- sometimes all in the span of one song… Highly recommended.       Amplifier Magazine

Fantastic songwriting… the previously chattering room falls silent and spellbound on every word… without warning, Randi Russo has just stolen the show and our hearts as well.        Sounds XP (Review of live show in London)

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Fragile Animal

Produced along with Paul Megna (The Oxygen Ponies) at Ponyland in Brooklyn, NY, Russo and Megna spent months on end recording and crafting this record. The vision was clear: take Russo’s well-written, literate songs and layer up the sounds to create the sort of psychological landscape that exists in the songwriter’s mind. Layers and layers of backwards guitar tracks, backwards piano, lush keyboard beds, raucous, angular lead guitar riffs mingling with delicately dancing guitar melodies and sweet slide guitar. With Bowie-esque piano on “Invitation” by Goldrush’s Joe Bennett, meaty bass hooks by JD Wood, hypnotic yet fierce drums by Ray Rizzo (Dawn Landes, Days of the New) and Konrad Meissner (Graham Parker, Matt Nathanson), the texture of sound on this sonically dynamic album creates an undulating, visceral response in the listener. Rounding out the eclectic sound is Don Piper’s harmonium parts mixed with some of Lenny Molotov’s bluesy lap steel lines. Megna’s adventurous production seamlessly brings together East and West.

Mixed mostly by Gary Maurer (Hem, Fountains of Wayne) and mastered by Sterling Sound’s Dave McNair, the sound is technically incomparable to Russo’s other records, yet pays respect to a singer-songwriter who values outsider art and music. These recordings do not compromise the rough edges found in Russo’s sound and content. Listen closely to her “honest, provocative lyrics” (The Big Takeover), and you’ll get a sense of what Russo’s vision is all about.



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