Elyse Spies By Josh McLane Elyse Spies is an up-and-coming artist who is rocking New York's downtown music scene. With a keen ear for songwriting and a voice like a siren, she is well on her way to being major industry success.

Stalemate is Spies’s follow up to her debut album Trip (2000). Both albums are composed of original material - a bold effort in this day and age of covers and hired songwriters. But for a talent like Spies, this is nothing. After getting her Masters from Columbia, she was the runner-up in the National John Lennon Songwriting competition in 2002.

In Stalemate, Spies has melded together folk, rock, and jazz into a well structured collage of sound. The album is well produced and Spies’s voice glides over the instrument arrangements with the greatest of ease. Not only is she a great singer, she also demonstrates pure artistry on the flute and the piano. This is an album that is meant to be listened to without any distractions, so the listener can capture all the nuances.

I really liked the song placement. The selections are strategically chosen to flow together. From kickin' upbeat songs like Time's Not On Our Side and Quiet (a cleverly deceptive title I might add), to beautifully crafted ballads like Good as Gold and the heartbreaking finale December. One of my favorites is this really cool jam tune called I Would Climb, in which Spies riffs on the flute in the style of Jethro Tull. Elyse is an artist who sees her album as a piece of music, not just a compilation of her favorite songs.

Elyse and her Westchester based band play regularly in and around
the city - so check them out. Visit her website at www.elysespies.com to listen to and purchase Stalemate as well as Trip. You won’t be disappointed.