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 + Reviews for "The Vallejo Demos by Adam Bianchi" +

     "There are two excellent discs here, but it is on the more recent of the two (The Vallejo Demos) that the power of Bianchi's compelling songwriting becomes obvious; minus the interesting keyboard blips and distortion that decorate much of Eleven Demos By Adam Bianchi, Bianchi's arrestingly intimate storytelling technique is free to bask in the glow of its own gentle light. Situated somewhere near the unlikely intersection of Hank Williams and Elliot Smith, Bianchi comes off as a less-ambitious (but easily capable) challenger to a slot currently occupied by Damien Jurado; if he sticks to what he's been doing, the title is his for the taking."

8 Blips out of 10 (Growth Potential 9/10)

     "Adam Bianchi's The Vallejo Demos includes "Requiem for John Fahey," a instrumental which poignantly emulates Fahey in his memory. Bianchi sings on the rest of the 8-track CD, yet his songs carry the spirit of Fahey's music - they draw on the ghosts of the past to create music that feels very alive today. The Vallejo Demos are possessed by memories of American folk musics past; it shows in the acoustic guitars, banjos and harmonicas Bianchi plays, but also in the how the lyrics echo gospel, blues and folk traditions. Yet these songs, recorded by Bianchi at his home last summer, don't come off like exercises in style or like trips down memory lane. Instead they're alive with real human stories and feelings. Love, loss, sadness, mortality...these are timeless themes that bridge generations, and in Bianchi's hands they're rendered powerfully. The Vallejo Demos is generally in the vein of musicians like Pale Horse and Rider and M. Ward, distinctly American artists who draw on the past for inspiration, but whose songs also bear the mark of their creators' distinct perspectives and personalities. The Vallejo Demos positively glows with atmosphere and feeling - the songs linger long after the last seconds have passed."  

- Dave Heaton of ErasingClouds.com

     "With a dusty cover you'd expect something of the Americana or roots rock level. Well you almost have it right. Adam Bianchi is every bit Middle America Plains rock-n-roll with a country twang just under the surface. His songs are riddled with sadness and reassure us that we're not alone in this great and mighty world of ours. Demos they may be, but important is right in the middle of everything."  

- J-Sin of Smother.net

     "I know that some reviewers can't help but cringe and prepare to think the worst when they receive a skinny CDR jewel case. But that's not the case with me. I've found that some of the best music we receive here at SoM comes in those skinny, handcrafted CDR packages. And the reverse is also often true...slick packaging sometimes = crap music. Anywho...a very happy ending was what I got when I grabbed Adam Bianchi's CDR, The Vallejo Demos.
     It's folk, definitely folk, maybe, kinda. But there's nothing "already done" about it. This isn't syrupy, around the campfire, girl scouts and s'mores kinda stuff. It's warm, resonant, with dreamy vocals delivered via an enveloping, husky voice. I know I often mention the cheerful, boy next door kind of voice. This is different. It's the moody, little bit dark, but still likeable man next door this time. Far too mature and introspective to be labeled as a boy's voice.
     The music is simple, strings driven, acoustic. It's warm, pleasant, and plays a stellar supporting role to the vocals which are the star of the show. It doesn't fade into obscurity by any means, but does a fantastic job of showcasing the star. They both deserve an award."  

- CGG of SouthofMainstream.com

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 + Reviews for "Eleven Demos by Adam Bianchi" +

     "Wow. Ok, I need to preface this review by saying that I've shuttled this demo CD-R of 11 tracks by Adam Bianchi in and out of my CD player for what must be about 2 months now. I listened to it again today and finally decided I was ready to talk about it. See, I need to explain something about how reviewing goes for me. You'd all think that I would be eagerly penning the requisite fawning quips only about the received albums that I really liked. In fact, it's often MORE difficult for me to write about things I really, really like. It's actually ten times easier to dismiss something that doesn't sound good. Almost like I'm afraid I'll jinx it or write gobbledygook mush about it. Score one for peculiarities I guess.
     This "fear of reviewing" goes doubly so for really good CD-R demos. I don't know why. In any case, Adam's demo CD is just amazing. It just blows my mind that this isn't released out on CD already somewhere. These are pensive and haunting little folk tunes, compact storytelling at its best. I wouldn't even call them demos really; the songs on the album are sequenced in such a way that it feels so natural. You can tell he thought about the directions in which he wanted the progression of the work to flow. The musical bookends of this document are the orchestra string beginning "Intro" and the reverb drenched harmonica of "Guitar Harmonica". And within these pages you find hints of Badly Drawn Boy, Wilco, Bill Ricchini, and perhaps another great semi-unknown folk artist, James Mason. (Mason's "Carnival Sky" was one of the best folk albums we got here in 2003.)
     "People Blues" starts out with a sad piano repetition and a plaintive voice leads along like a lonely drive through the countryside. The graceful addition and subtraction of instrument layers is meticulous and skillful. "Silent Streets" plays out slightly more country-folkish while "Midnight Moon", with it's playful bongos and 60s flavored tinge harkens back to Nick Drake's more uptempo stuff, like from Bryter Layter. "Dead Star" mixes up the formula with strange modulated drumbeats backing a single piano riff played over and over again. There's a depth of presence here that's often missing from other demo stuff I've gotten. "Waiting At The Station" is so tender with it's soft chorused vocals and gently fingerpicked acoustic guitar that you can almost picture the immense sadness of the guy in the song who finds out the girl was waiting for someone else. "Life On The Moon" sort of reminds me of the Beatles' "You've Got To Hide Your Love Away" if you replaced the french horn with harmonica. "I Hear Your Name" is deceptive in the simplicity of its structure with quiet strings hovering in the background. Like the majority of the album, this is such a great subtle and understated song.
     When I looked on the internet there was absolutely no information on this guy. I hope that will change. Look, I know that in this day and age we're all jaded about music, so blanket proclamations like this often fall on deaf ears. Like, everyone has a damn 4-track, everyone has Protools, everyone uses Shure 57 mics (or better condenser ones) and everyone has the ability to burn CDs of their work. There's nothing amazing that someone made a great demo and no one knows about it. But I can't help but wax poetic when my ears tell me something really good is afoot and I hope that we hear more from Adam Bianchi and home recordists like him."

- BY of Shmat.com

     "Another demo disc of Adam Bianchi brings more dramatic overtures and more lonely hearts club rock. More of an artist on this album than his "The Vallejo Demos", he paints portraits of drama and high tension with his art rock that is part apartment indie and part Americana honest. Each tune is as genuine as the last and nothing seems forced and ultimately that will be what drives everyone to the coffeehouse to see him perform."

- J-Sin of Smother.net