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| Rock 3 Radio - January 2006 |
| Packed through with heartfelt lyrics and mood
shaping music, the Tracie Hunter band are tight and very good with an intuitive
use of their instruments to complement the mood of the lyrics. Tracies vocals
are not only expressive but she has a great range that brings out the best in
the songs, the album leads of with a mood shaping song 'Like you' and continues
the theme with 'If this is all' once set the album holds the moment throughout
all eleven songs. 'Race' is a great album.
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| Total Music - April 2004 |
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| Kerrang! - April 2004 |
| On the
surface, the 'Race' album appears your basic collection of ballads and slow
burners - sometimes sultry, mostly beautifully wounded - yet, once the intimate
layers start to really leak and gush, you've got the kind of record that'll
accompany you, your broken heart and your whiskey bottle safely through the
melancholy twilight hours. Why, if you leave it on repeat play, it'll even
gently nurse your morning hangover.... Ray Zell, Kerrang!
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| Powerplay April 2004 |
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I'll come clean immediately: I am a colossal fan of, and am unashamedly
enthralled by the music of The Tracie Hunter Band. I think they are a phenomenal
act, playing totally unique modern rock music that's gutsy, rootsy, organic,
groovy, and as passionate as heck. This
full length debut has been a very long time coming, but has very much been worth
the wait. The siblings turn in incendiary performances, with guitarist Matt Pearce (new boy) and Steve Washington both performing with languid aplomb, and the overall effect is stunning. What does let the package down a tad is the production, which could be sharper & brighter, but given the budget involved, and the fact that the album is self produced, the fact that it sounds this good is a testament to the band's skill and determination. I
can't find a weak link amongst the 11 songs found on "Race", all are
newly recorded-there's nothing poached off the band's earlier EP, and at long
last we finally get a recorded version of Tracie's anthemic and crowd pleasing
"Astoria Morning", always a thriller when the band end their live set
with it. We're only in February, yet in "Race", i've found another
contender for my album of 2004.
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| A long
time coming, but boy it was worth it! The new album from the Tracie Hunter
Band shows just what talented musicians and songwriters they are.
From
the opening haunting sound of Like You to the closing crowd pleaser There is some solid production led by brother Mel and the seductive, beautiful and sultry vocals of Tracie Hunter, set this album apart from the herd. There are some solid rockers here such as Did Me In and Mercury and they sit very comfortably with ballads such as Race and Lost Inside You. On the down side, I wish there were more than the 11 tracks included, as the band have an excellent catalogue of songs to choose from. Also included is the favourite Religion done slightly different to the original single. Some thoughful artwork goes to complete the main contender for "album of the year". This album deserves to win the Mercury Music Prize for sure. Phil Holbrook
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Powerplay Magazine Issue 26 - September 2001 |
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Now here's a quandry for you. You're a young band...you get a recording deal...your all set to record your debut album, and the deal falls through at the last moment. What do you do? Well, if you're talented, write superb songs and have enough faith in yourselves. You record an EP and pay for it yourselves. Welcome to the world according to Tracie Hunter... Tracie's band play what is probably best described as jagged, hard, modern, melodic pop rock, mainly acoustically driven, with serious bite. As l say, it's mainly led by acoustic guitars, but the percussion features some intriguing drum 'n' bass sampled bits, with loops 'n stuff too, and consequently it's very organic sounding, but infected with a millennium style chill pill. Tracie has a husky, really quite sensual voice, and she has a wonderful band behind her, flexing their musical muscles. Neil and Mel Gabbitas are the axe wielding brothers whose sound Tracie pours her heart over with such effect. All four songs-"Black And Blue", "Didn't l?"," Bring It On", and "Put It In A Jar"-are worthy of mention. All have fine tunes, killer choruses and true cross-genre appeal (even our beloved 'true metal' editor has given it his seal of approval), so you know it's all good. If pushed I'd lean towards the luscious "Didn't I?", where Tracie's voice becomes nothing less than gorgeous, and the chorus is to die for. If you want to find out what I'm getting all hot 'n' sweaty about, then go to www.traciehunter.com.
Songs
8/10. © Simon Gausden, Powerplay Magazine
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| Tracie's follow up to Religion
(the single that never quite was) sees four incredible songs sung as only Tracie
knows how. Tracie's voice is a sensual cocktail of warmth, emotion and sheer
power. Tracie has inherited her Dad's talent but she has her own, unique style. Two rockers start and end the EP with Put It In A Jar developing Tracie's songwriting to new levels. Catchy hooks abound throughout the song, which leads into my favourite Didn't I. It's a melancholy ballad with Tracie's voice in fine form. I reckon this would make a terrific single. There is also some excellent guitar playing from Neil Gabbitas throughout the EP. If you haven't seen the band live yet, then catch them on tour with Dan Baird at the end of this month. Production is superb on the EP and even Rich's drums are kept under control! Tracie deserves a major record deal and judging by this EP, the album will be a masterpiece.***** Phil Holbrook |
