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BEFORE THE SEPARATION
 

"Best known for a long career as a sideman to some of rocks biggest names, including a decade as bassist for Bonnie Raitt, Freebo has stepped up into a new role-Singer-Songwriter.  It suits him well.  Before the Seperation, the LA based ex Philadelphian's third album, flows with a compassionate spirit rooted in '60's ideals, but packing a gently urgent relevancy.  The songs are built on Freebo's acoustic guitar and fretless bass, giving them a sublimely folkish foundation that occasionaly heads off into rock and soul (the horn kissed "The Beauty of Life").  The finale, "The Freedom Wall," shows that, in addition to an engaging ernestness, Freebo is also capable of biting irony.  

Nick Cristiano, Philidelphia Enquirer

 

Before the Seperation, Freebos newest, and most musically complete recording, was released in late 2005.  The overall texture of "Before the Seperation" is very soulful, introspective, heartfelt, and thoughtful.  Listening to the lyrics, one can almost feel the itch that Freebo needed to scratch as he penned those songs.  The CD is passionatly crafted and enthuisiastically sung, and Freebo enlisted the talents of many old friends in its recording.  "Before the Seperation" deftly transports the listener into the eye of the hurricane to quietly observe, while Freebo calmly describes the spiritual storm that rages on all sides.  Its really quite an experience, and almost exactly the feel that one would imagine a Freebo CD to convey.

Bill Thames, Shake Magazine, Nashville

 

What the CD reveals is a very good songwriter at work, with thoughtful, articulate lyrics and original melodies, beautifully arranged.  There's a variety on the album too, with the final track sounding like a Randy Newman song.  I loved track 1, plus "A Soldier at War" has a calm feel about it, to offset the the important theme.  "Stand Up" and "You Dont Have To Live This Way" echo the concern that a lot of people, not just in your country are feeling, today while "Before the Seperation" has an "If only we could turn back the clock" theme.

 Arthur Elliot, "Sidestream Radio 99.7 FM, Brisbane, Australia

 

Before the Seperation is his third solo CD and he wrote or co-wrote all 10 songs on the disc.  He has an easy delivery style and writes songs that fit his relaxed, pleasant voice exceptionally well.  The songs, his voice and his music are in a folk vein with a strong life affirmation tone to them, withouth the sappy of nauseatingly sweet, almost always pulling back just at the edge of precipice.    

      Acoustic Music.com

 

Jonathan Widran, Music Connection, Los Angeles

 

Freebo is mostly known as the bass and tuba player from albums by Bonnie Raitt.  As a solo artist he's a traditional singer songwriter, inspired by 70's folk rock (like Crosby, Stills and Nash).  On this newly released album we get a handful of great songs with lyrics dealing with some really heavy stuff.  Here's a song about the responsibility to take care of "Mother Earth," and others have very political overtones.  He tells about war's horror in "A Soldier at War," and gives his homeland a foot in the back in "The Freedom Wall."  The lyrics tell about building "the wall to freedom,"  brick by brick, to close all the evil out, about how we are controlled just to be able to be on "the inside."  He tells stories how in the days of terrorism, we divide people in "good" and "bad," and always believe that the "evil stuff" is on the outside,  in the "others".  The song is just like a hymn or an old folk song, performed with a big choir.  "We'll sing a hymn in godliness, and ring The Freedom Bells; We'll keep those Evil Doers doing evil somewhere Else.  America, America We can do no wrong.  Gathering a joyful noise, we'll sing The Freedom song."  With this ironic twist, the album closes on a very personal note.  A great album, one that really makes you think about yourself.

"Trots Allt" Magazine - January 2006   

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