REVIEWS
CTV SECTION SIX
Molly Thomason is too young to be this good!
“I had a great time meeting Molly Thomason. The 17-year-old Maritimer is making quite a name for herself in the music world, having scored 2 ECMA nominations this year… not to mention a ton of other music nominations over the past couple of years!”
Maria Panopalis, CTV Section Six
NAU NUA MAGAZINE: INTERVIEW
Lighting down the highway
Molly Thomason has already published two albums, Through The Static (2009) and the brand new Beauty Queen (2011), and she’s seventeen. But the most amazing thing is the quality of her songs. Her lyrics are deeply clever and her sense of rhythm and melody makes me think her future as a songwriter will give us incredible music jewels. She experiments with sounds and styles looking for the right sound for each song, but also experiments with her own vision of life, dressed in a magnificent pop sensibility and a maturity further beyond her age. “All Down the Highway” is the opening song of an album that shows beauty in its real sense. Her music is life at the “Speed of Light”.
Your debut album was called “Through The Static”. Do you feel the world is static?
Through The Static was more of a title for me about the music industry. I didn’t want my music to fall into the static of all the songs that sound the same on the radio. I really hoped that CD would bring a fresh sound to people’s ears and cut through songs which all sound the same on the radio.
INDIESHARK: CD REVIEW – BEAUTY QUEEN
The artist I recently checked out the latest CD from singer/songwriter Molly Thomason entitled Beauty Queen. Thomason is from north of the border – Halifax, Nova Scotia.
The band The playing abilities of Thomason and her band are pretty solid across the board. I would say they possess intermediate playing abilities and above average writing abilities. Timing seems to be spot on within the indie-alternative rock grooves.
Thomason’s voice is effective as she delivers many solid vocal performances that match the folk-pop style of music perfectly. The music is upbeat, funny, interesting, thought provoking, melodic, and highly entertaining. Musical textures reminiscent of Jewel, Nora Jones, and Sara McLauglin. – anything indie and fun. If you like those kinds of artists you will no doubt get a kick out of this CD.
SKOPE MAGAZINE: CD REVIEW – BEAUTY QUEEN
Over the years we’ve seen rock and singer/songwriter music slowly erode into over-commercialized, corporate puppet shows providing music that is extremely sing songy, predictable, popish & highly corporate. I hereby call this new breed of music “Poser Rock” and I want to personally thank all the corporate giants for successfully transforming “Sex Drugs & Rock n Roll” into “Yoga, Vitamins, & Nikelback.” Of course millions of musical lemmings don’t know the difference, but not everyone is amused. Talking to many music fans out there the response is overwhelming. Give me something new, something raw, something that’s pushes the envelope with a fresh sound that doesn’t leave it soul at the door. Something that doesn’t sound like Nikelback, Daughtry, or Lifehouse.
MUSICEMISSIONS.COM: CD REVIEW – BEAUTY QUEEN
Most would agree most popular artists out there have something truly special to give to their fans. This goes above the typical attributes like raw talent, amazing songs, nice voice, or even a very marketable look, sound & image. There’s something truly infectious at the core of these artists that simply makes us feel good when we listen to them. Whatever it is – they all seem to have it.
THE COAST: COVER/FEATURE STORY
Young blood
August 25, 2011
Molly Thomason’s prolific and powerful songwriting belie her age. Amidst the hype, she tries to stay grounded. “At the end of the day you’re left in your own head; you’re not, like, left with whoever signs you,” she says.
The whole family tells a version of the same story. She was either six or seven, her Dad thinks; they sent her to her room “for something” her mother doesn’t remember; from outside her door they listened to her sing a song about being sad that she doesn’t know the precise lyrics to. But the point, every time, is that she was very young, making up songs and singing them in key.
THE COAST: CD REVIEW – BEAUTY QUEEN
July 14, 2011
“On a second album before finishing high school, this precocious Nova Scotian holds little back. Her vocal style is free-range, in the manner of a young Van Morrison. Following a couple of exuberant opening numbers, “Amsterdam” is soothed by Ruth Minnikin’s accordion. Thomason’s lovely voice is allowed to soar, warble and moan in a nurturing setting provided by producer Dale Murray. The title song has a top-40 groove that Thomason subverts with theatrics. The Blue Engine String Quartet poshes up “My Amy (Miami).” With a sexuality that’s ambiguous but ever-present, Thomason’s the rawest thing on the album, as she should be.”
by Doug Taylor, The Coast
THE CHRONICLE HERALD: CD REVIEW – BEAUTY QUEEN
July 1, 2011
“With bigger ambitions for Beauty Queen, Thomason found a kindred spirit in Murray, who encouraged her explorations into broader emotional and melodic territory.
The indie folk-pop of Sufjan Stevens informs the accordion-and-horns shuffle of Amsterdam, there’s an ode to ’50s pop and doo wop on Shine in the Dark, and an elegant Donald MacLennan violin part on Heroes, inspired by Scarlet Rivera’s playing on Thomason’s favourite Bob Dylan song, Hurricane.”
by Stephen Cooke, The Chronicle Herald
MUSESMUSE.COM: CD REVIEW – BEAUTY QUEEN
Nova Scotia’s own Molly Thomason releases her latest CD entitled “Beauty Queen”
The CD takes flight with “All Down the Highway” an upbeat intro groove that serves up hooky vocal groove against driving rock rhythm and well placed vocal harmonies from Thomason and company. Track 2 “Shine in the Dark” keeps thing moving in the rocking direction with its 50’s style vibe, smooth melodic accents and dynamic vocals from Thomason. Track 3 “Amsterdam” is a slow moving acoustic melody with heartfelt vocals from Thomason.
The production quality is world class and the musicianship of everyone involved is above the bar. Along the way you will notice lush instrumentation with things like Hammond organ and keyboard accents, strings, saxophone, cello, accordion, mandolin, slide guitar, horns, trumpet, percussive accents, slamming guitar chops and solos and lush harmonies layered everywhere. The rhythm section pushes the natural accents well. What I like the most about this band is how well they seem to groove together.
REVIEWS FOR “THROUGH THE STATIC”
The Muses Muse
“Molly Thomason from Kent, England via Antigonish, Nova Scotia, is a singer/songwriter who taught herself guitar when she was eleven. She is now 15. Her single, “Untitled #2 (Kiss Me),” is one of the most complete, and commercially viable tracks I’ve heard by an artist her age. Replete with the characteristics that radio embraces (quick intro, short verses, strong hook, and high production values – thanks to Tim Feswick) Molly knocks a home run her first time at bat with this one. It’s radio friendly, and is perfect for music licensing on a myriad of teen television shows.”
by Gian Fiero, The Muses Muse
Junior’s Cave
“Singer/Songwriter Molly Thomason is creating music that is fun, fresh, delightful, and entertaining that is full of colorful and meaningful lyrics laced over soft acoustical vocals provided by Thomason. Another strong point about Thomason’s music is her youth which is full of endless energy. Fans will enjoy her music and this recent spotlight clearly shows why the artist is excited to be a part of the music industry. Enjoy!”
Wildy’s World
“Molly Thomason carries with her the sort of polish and maturity of an established artist whose been writing and performing professionally for a number of years. She’s been writing for seven years by now, but the fact that she’s all of fifteen years old will come as something of a surprise if you hear her before you see her. ….. if there’s ever been someone born to make music it’s Molly Thomason. Thomason makes a big impression with her debut album, Through The Static, showing poise beyond her years.”
The Chronicle Herald
“Thomason’s debut CD delivers an assured set of compositions that’s true to teenage experience while showing articulate dexterity in her lyrics. She possesses a truly fine voice that’s full of character and drama. The volatile mixture of youthful energy and talent can’t be contained!”
by Stephen Cooke, The Chronicle Herald
CBC Radio Weekend Morning
“Hard to believe that these songs were written by someone who’s likely still in junior high. Molly delivers them with a brash confidence beyond her years. Tim Feswick’s done a terrific job of arranging and producing the CD…this is a polished, pop gem.”
by Stan Carew, CBC Radio
East Coast Countdown
“…she’s incredible – she’s going to make some waves with that song!”
by Jimmie Inch, East Coast Countdown
Kiss Me was Producer’s Choice for East Coast Countdown, which reached, and stayed at #1 for three weeks and in the Top Ten for four months.
East Coast Overture
“Through The Static just doesn’t seem like a debut CD. It seems like it should be in a collection of a seasoned recording artist who’s been doing this for years. I look forward to seeing what Thomason comes up with next. Writing love songs is only going to get more complicated when the girl is old enough to drive.”
by Jillian Hamilton, East Coast Overture
CBC Radio Information Morning
“A shocking but pleasantly surprising swath of confidence undercuts Thomason’s spirited debut – someone too young to drive probably shouldn’t have such adult-like insights into heartbreak.”
by Tara Thorne, CBC Radio
CBC Radio Atlantic Airwaves
“It isn’t often that one so young with relatively little life experience is able to express feelings that are only understood with age – Molly Thomason has been given a great gift.”
by Glenn Meisner, CBC Radio