j.poet: Press

“[poet] writes songs that’ll keep you laughing, even when the dogs of madness are nipping at your heels. He kinda reminds me of Shel Silverstein with his ability to laugh at things that aren’t really funny. ‘Southern Cross’ is an important song, people need to hear it.”
– Kris Kristofferson

“[poet has a] wicked sense of humour, but in the service of deep insight and honesty. He does beautiful work”
- Leonard Cohen

“j. poet is one of the most original and creative musicians in the weird world of folk music. Watch him closely -- he's always about to do something wild and entertaining.”
- Oscar Brand - “Oscar Brand’s Folk Song Festival” is heard on WNYC AM every Saturday evening.

“On LSDOA poet lives up to his name with a collection of tunes from life’s shadowy side marked by understated melodies spiked with a remarkable lyrical sense and mordant wit, delivered in a deadpan voice somewhere between Tom Waits and Darth Vader.”
- Bonnie Hayes, hit songwriter (Bonnie Raitt, Cher, Bette Midler)

“Great inventive stuff - everything from the truly touching to the truly strange - but all of it delivered with honesty and integrity.”
- Tom Rapp (Pearls Before Swine)

“Visionary garage folk from a parallel universe where Tom Waits was bigger than the Beatles. Wielding several chords and surefire wit, j. poet delivers blistering insights with a burned-out jester’s amoral authority. You could spend a fruitless lifetime in thrift stores searching for the essence and eccentricity this disk drops in your lap.”
- Adam McGovern, MusicHound, Village Voice

A demo version of “Southern Cross” made #2 on Adam McGovern’s Top Ten in 2004. Here’s what he said about the song:

The anti-Bush songs that will last are the ones that don’t mention him by name, tapping into an eternity of unfit leadership instead of tying themselves to one year’s model. j. poet’s tragic sweep makes for a classic of the sing-truth-to-power form.

See McGovern’s entire Top Ten at www.perfectsoundforever.com