ABOUT THE GOOD HORSE From the fertile creativity of Portland singer/songwriter Paula Sinclair has grown The Good Horse, a collection of stunning songs with lyrics contributed by preeminent Oregon poets like William Stafford, Dorianne Laux and Joseph Millar, as well emerging poets Jarold Ramsey and Debbie West. The Good Horse evolved after Sinclair put a Langston Hughes poem to music and recorded it on her album Avalanche. After that, she met several writers and poets who encouraged her to develop The Good Horse project further. With more than half of the poetry/songs ready to record, a friend pointed out that Sinclair had naturally gravitated toward Oregon poets. From that observation forward her focus was clear. Passionate about the project, she self-funded the album.
Sinclair continues to be captured by the possibilities of integrating the work of Oregon poets with her own musical stylings -- so much so that she now has enough new material for another poetry album. She hopes that the new album will find grant funding to move forward. Until then, listeners have the good fortune to enjoy The Good Horse. REVIEW OF THE GOOD HORSE The Sweet Gift of Words by Don Campbell The Oregonian - Oct 20, 2007 For poets and songwriters, there is great power in the word. Portland singer-songwriter Paula Sinclair (pictured), a transplanted Kentuckian, has released a project that will thrill poets and listeners alike.
Battling a severe case of writer's block, and at the urging of a close friend, Sinclair offers The Good Horse, a 10-song self-produced project using the potent verse of notable poets William Stafford, Dorianne Laux, Joseph Millar, Debbie West and Jarold Ramsey against her plaintive and simple original folk music.
Two things stand out. First, the genesis of the two-CD project. It's not unprecedented to set poetry to music, but Sinclair's organic approach let the poems feed and distinctly color her original music. Second, Sinclair lets her audience in on the song-creation process, offering one CD of her simple acoustic-guitar-and-voice renditions of the cuts, then expanding the scope on the second CD with full productions, rendered in the capable hands of producer Rob Stroup at his 8 Ball Studios.
Sinclair moves ably among folk songs, waltzes, gritty rockers and ballads. With big assists from, among others, drummer Reinhardt Melz; Paul Brainard on lap and pedal steel and trumpet; and multi-instrumentalist Chris Robley. Standouts include the antique tinge of "The Good Horse" (words by Stafford), the Spanish burn of "Love Pirates" (Miller) and the insistent grit of "Dust" (Laux).
Literate stuff, set to a sweet and melancholy sound bed. Dear Paula Sinclair, I am brought to abundant tears by what you have done with my father's poems. Thank you. You see clear to the heart of the words, and your way with a phrase, a brief plateau of recognition, a knowing slide into the inevitable- these are humbling to me, Thank you for so purely being who you are with the words of my father.
The other songs are similarly wondrous. Thank you for this gift.
Kim Stafford. Avalanche was reviewed in the Oregonian A&E on Friday, July 28th. Download the article. Review of The Good Horse It is rare when an album strikes me at first listen. Even rarer for me to go "HOLY SHIT this is good - this is something different," Your treatment of these poems - the musicality, the way each song/poem lives in its own environment is extraordinary. A real genius work.
Dream. Do. Dazzle. Lisa Lepine ProMOTION Queen Hey Paula, Thanks for the CD! It is an amazing piece of work. it obviously is a labor of love and represents a huge investment in your time and energy. It has really paid off!
I've been listening to The Good Horse today while working and want to tell you what a great CD it is. You've really kicked it up a notch. Wonderful. I like it all, but I think 'Sunday Radio' is one of the best country songs I've heard, period. Your voice is amazing.
