Discography
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Wendy & Lisa
White Flags of Winter Chimneys
For many who are unfamiliar with Wendy & Lisa, this duo of Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman are the most celebrated members to work with Prince as members of the Revolution; Wendy on rhythm guitar and vocals and Lisa on keyboards and vocals. They are widely acknowledged as having contributed substantially to Prince's sound during his most creative and successful periods from Purple Rain, Parade and Around the world in a day.
In 1986 when Prince disbanded The Revolution, childhood friends Wendy & Lisa went on to start their career as a recording duo. The next year they released their first album simply titled Wendy & Lisa, with the lead single “Waterfall” receiving some airplay the album was moderately successful and it opened the doors for them to continue as recording artists.
Now into a career that has seen them release six albums, they also currently score the music for the NBC series Heroes as well as the upcoming Fox series Virtuality, and Showtime’s Nurse Jackie.
They have also received the ASCAP award for "Composers of the Year" for their work on "Dangerous Minds", the theme to HBO’s Carnivale, Crossing Jordan and Heroes and will be composing the original score for the upcoming production of 1937 CBS Radio drama “ The Fall Of The City”.
“White Flags Of Winter Chimneys”, the title of the album, is a lyric taken from Joni Mitchell’s ‘Hejira’. Here, Wendy & Lisa return to the more ethereal and esoteric sound of their debut. At first listen you can hear the growth of two artists who have been making music together for over twenty years and who are very comfortable in who they are and the kind of music they create.
After working with several labels during their recording career, this album is being released totally independently and in several formats for their fans. The sense of freedom of not being dictated to by a major record label or A&R personnel shows in their music. If you are looking for the three minute hit single that plays on pop & urban radio formats everyday of the week, you won't find that here. If you are looking for a quality listening experience and great musicianship, then you will be very content with this album.
The album opens with a very majestic opening number titled “Balloon” which took me back to one of my favorite tracks from their first album “Stay”. “You and I” is really a stand out track, it clearly shows you the talent and creativity they brought during their time in The Revolution and is one of the reasons they remain in the demand writers and producers. I noticed early on in listening that Joni Mitchell is very much an influence on this recording lyrically and musically. There are times where the songwriting and vocals gets a bit lost in the layers of sound, but on the mostly acoustic numbers they manage to pull it all back and the music opens up as you are listening.
This album may not be something you enjoy if you are basing the quality of it by what’s being played on pop radio, but if you are open to a unique listening experience and give this album some time you will really enjoy it.
05/13/2009 22:22:24 ♥ carl () ♥ wendyandlisa.com ♥ myspace.com/girlbrosnetwork ♥ twitter.com