13
released January 5, 2013
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Track listing

1. TMA Cool [ lyrics ]
2. Half Moon Sky [ lyrics ]
3. Laura Lou [ lyrics ]
4. Time We Wasted [ lyrics ]
5. Fall of the Rice Kingdom [ lyrics ]
6. A Man Needs a Home [ lyrics ]
7. 13 Years [ lyrics ]
8. 100 Cigarettes [ lyrics ]
9. A Night Like This [ lyrics ]
10. Save Your Life [ lyrics ]
11. When the Night Will Let Me [ lyrics ]
12. Rock and Roll [ lyrics ]
13. Drink [ lyrics ]

Listen to the album now!

The debut of 13 played to a SRO crowd. It may be the first CD released by the Bitter Liberals, but it will not be their last. These four remarkably seasoned musicians and songwriters are moving into their maturity with amazing musicality and life experiences that reflect their astute world views, at times with great poignancy.

The music and the lyrics on this CD are original works. While a few are from the past, most are new works and contemporary expressions of the times of their lives. They are great storytellers.

Clark Hansbarger is a master songwriter, creating haunting lyrics of love, relationship, and life that can make you cry. The arrangements are terrific and easy on the ears with lovely rhythm and complexity. His “civil war” songs are memorable.

Drummer Mike Jewell brings hot licks with him to BL, having kept time for many bands since the 70’s, including Genghis Angus.

Allen Kitselman’s turquoise stratocaster with mother of pearl inlay provides him a great sound to rail at the world with powerful rock and roll. 13 is his first CD since heading up Genghis Angus which toured for 12 years and played on Mountain Stage. His music is solid and his lyrics always tell stories that ring true and take you back.

Gary McGraw is an amazing violin player who can weave any mood through any kind of music with well…. genius. His classical training with Suzuki himself and playing with Symphonies have provided him with layers and layers of repertoire.

All these musicians can sing. They write the lyrics and music; they tell the stories of life, and they obviously love playing together. If you like Dylan, Springsteen, and Cat Stevens you will enjoy listening to The Bitter Liberals CD 13.

Full disclosure… these guys are from my home town and I’m really proud. Check `em out.

The four gents of the Bitter Liberals bring together many years, perspectives, styles, and fine musicianship to produce a record that is at once melodic and swinging, heartfelt and humorous, soulful and tender. The harmonies are delicious, the violin is soaring, the guitars are rocking, and the drums give it all great rhythm. Every song tells a fine story, of love or loss or learning or all of the above, without taking themselves too seriously. These guys do have some serious fun, though, as does their enthusiastic audience. This is original music, in every sense of the word. Buy it – you’ll be glad you did!

The Bitter Liberals are a new group of experienced singers, songwriters and musicians who have come together and captured the magic of making beautiful music in a short time. The CD, “13”, comes replete with songs that will make your heart leap, at points, ache, and repeatedly dance, in both body and spirit. These songs are haunting, yet lyrically beautiful, and very fresh. Their music is hard to characterize-at points, folk, rock, country, and bluegrass, yet easy to enjoy. I highly recommend this music to you. You won’t be disappointed.

I was fortunate enough to host The Bitter Liberals for a house concert before their new cd came out. The concert went beautifully and everyone was aching for the release of this cd. Well its here! And it is terrific. This is the groovin blues cd everyone must have as you tool down the road. You will want to wiggle in your seat and press on the gas. Then you will be recalling the moments in your life that were oh so special. Because these melodies touch your core and remind us of those beautiful moments in our lives which need a melody. My favorite is Half Moon Sky….a silky and textured song that reminded me why nothing is going to change the way I feel about you.

Buy this cd!