Alice Peacock
Who I Am
Peacock Music / Universal
By Mark Fisher
1340mag.com

Minnesota born Alice Peacock returns with her third album, Who I Am, and I predict that this will be the album that puts her on the map. Alice Peacock has been steadily making a name for herself as one of Chicago's premier singer/songwriters. Any fan of great music will quickly note that Chicago is a town FULL of great musicians and artists, making it an extremely hard place to rise above other talented artists. The live feel of Who I Am should be more than enough to announce her arrival and firmly place her alongside talented writers like Carole King, Barry Manilow, and Tom Waits. Although it's tempting to place her among more recently successful singer-songwriters like Shawn Colvin and Sarah McLaughlin, there is something more profound and important sounding about Peacock's music. She has the unique ability to write music that sounds timeless, whereas artists like Colvin and McLaughlin will always be associated with the decade in which their music was born. Who I Am is an emotional journey led mainly by Peacock's understated vocal. The album splits the lead instrument between the acoustic guitar and the piano. Personally I prefer Peacock as a piano player due to the fact that it seems to bring more emotion out of her vocal work. Evidence of this is certainly the low key "Time." It's laid back approach is absolutely heartbreaking quickly establishing it as a favorite. "Sunflower" is another highlight. It has a more upbeat feel to it and the horns (although at first they sound out of place) add an unexpected element to the song that makes it feel "different" from comparable pop songs. The more familiar sound of "Taught Me Well" is unquestionably the album's centerpiece. The lyrical theme of lost love and being thankful that said love didn't lead to marriage is both bittersweet and victorious sounding as Peacock confides "You taught me well/ You were my teacher and I thank you for the hell you put me through/ I'm very grateful because I finally really learned what was important in my life/ I thank my lucky stars everyday I'm not your wife." Alice Peacock's Who I Am is set to be an instant classic for fans of well rounded singer-songwriters. The album dabbles in Jazz, Blues, Country, and Pop without ever committing to a genre yet maintaining a cohesive feel that is both familiar and refreshingly different. Who I Am will be available everywhere via Universal Music Distribution on July 4th, 2006.

Alice's Golden Music
By Bruce Von Stiers
bvsreviews.com

When I heard the first song on Alice Peacock's new album, I wondered where she had been all my life. This song was incredible. A velvety, yet whispery voice, catchy lyrics and wonderful pop background music make this album one of my best finds in a long time. The title of this album is Who I Am. The album is being released on Alice's own label and distributed by the Universal Music Group. It was produced by Andrew Williams. This album has been termed as kind of a throwback. And that is meant as a good thing. Chip Schutzman, one of the people helping promote the album, has some interesting things to say about it. He says that the album "recalls the golden age or singer-songwriter pop." According to Chip, listening to Who I Am will take you "back to the days when people listened to a recording from start to finish ala Fleetwood Mac's 'Rumours' or Carole King's 'Tapestry'. I couldn't agree with Chip more. You will indeed be reminded of Fleetwood Mac, Carole King's So Far Away or Where You Lead from Tapestry. The song that took my interest right away was Different From The Rest. It begins with some terrific piano ala Carole King. Then Alice kicks in the vocals that you will find distinct. I couldn't help but think of Sheryl Crow for the content of the song. Alice is singing to a guy she let get away. He was different from the rest, yet she let him get away. She hopes that his new bride cares and "when you need someone to hold you I hope she's there." From this first song, you can just fell that this will be one hell of an album. Another terrific song is Baby Come Back. This torch song has subtle orchestral background music. Alice gives the listener a hook laden song that will have you singing along with the chorus. You will find a slower song, with strong acoustic guitar in Here I Go Again. Alice brings her voice an octave or two with the chorus. This song also has some terrific piano and a bit of orchestral influences. Time is a piano laden tune that made me think of a jazz club torch singer. Taught Me Well is a lament on a past bad relationship. Through the trouble times they she ended up learning that "it's not about taking, it's all about the giving." Anyone But Me is telling him that he should find someone else. Someone who can give the love that he truly deserves. The chorus will melt your heart. Runaway Day is a fun, lazily paced piano laden tune. Love could have come out of the catalog of a late '60's pop singer's songs. It definitely has an old school pop sound to it. The way Only A Memory started out, Alice reminded me a bit of Carly Simon. But Alice doesn't appear to be trying to copy anyone else's style. Sunflower is a kind of lighthearted tune with some interesting orchestra movements. The title track, Who I Am, has some dramatic piano action to start it out. This is a song that will surely draw comparisons to Carole King or one of the other pop greats of the past. It has strong vocals that move to a subtle, sultry level at various points. One of the things that I like about Alice, besides her wonderful singing, is a foundation that she started up. This foundation is called Rock For Reading. The foundation raises money to help promote literacy in both children and adults. According to their mission statement, the foundation's goal is "to provide our communities with the tools and incentives that they need to experience the joy of reading." A lofty goal, but they seem to be making some progress, primarily in the Chicago area. You will be missing out on a fantastic talent if you don't check out Alice Peacock. Her vocals are terrific and the songs will bring you back to an era of pop music most people have thought long gone.

Alice Peacock: Who I Am
discoveringsartists.com

Listeners will really get an impression of who Alice Peacock is with her latest release. It's full of simple harmonies and her raspy voice coupled with overlaying piano trappings that bring these acoustic-folk songs to perfect fruition. Think Alice Peacock on the musical drug of Carole King. She's dropped a lot of her country tone here and picked up a more simple sound throughout the majority of the songs. She sings candidly of relationships in "Time" as she sings, "And so I wept and raged and cried/And came through on the other side." This album is much softer than her last album, and there's nothing pop-friendly ala her hit "Bliss" with John Mayer. Her title track is compelling, softer, more true...a glimpse into her emotions instead of a catchy sound. But the lyrics in the track unveil the motive behind this collection: to be true to herself, share herself and inspire others to do the same. Favorite Tracks: Who I Am, Only a Memory
Rating: 4.5 stars

Alice Peacock
Who I Am
(Peacock Music) By Gregg Shapiro
Illinois Entertainer

Far and away a superior album, Who I Am says more about Peacock than her previous release. The organic flow can be attributed both to the fact the album was cut live and to producer/songwriter Andrew Williams (of Williams Brothers fame). The songs themsevles also have a more commercial quality, which ought to broaden her reach. Proactically every song on this disc has a radio-friendly spirit that was in short supply in the past. "Different From The Rest" has a universal message about watching an ex-love move on with their life, where as "Taught Me Well" is the antithesis. The charming "Here I Go Again," about throwing acution to the wind, was co-written with Williams, and "Time," reminiscent of the recent musical transition of Susan Werner, has a jazzy essence. "Runaway Day," which contains a lovely horn part, sounds custom-made for the summer, and "I'm Still here," "If Only You Could See Your Eyes," and the title track earn Peacock a place among predecessors such as Carole King and Carly Simon.

8 out of 10

Alice Peacock: Who I Am
infuzemag.com

This will be the album that places Peacock on the musical map.

Alice Peacock has been steadily making a name for herself as one of Chicago's premier singer/songwriters. Any fan of great music will quickly note that Chicago is a town full of great musicians and artists, making it an extremely hard place to rise above the rest. The live feel of Who I Am should be more than enough to announce her arrival and firmly place her alongside talented writers like Carole King, Barry Manilow, and Tom Waits. Although it's tempting to place her among more recently successful singer-songwriters like Shawn Colvin and Sarah McLaughlin, there is something more profound and important sounding about Peacock's music. She has the unique ability to write music that sounds timeless, whereas artists like Colvin and McLaughlin will always be associated with the decade in which their music was born. Who I Am is an emotional journey led mainly by Peacock's understated vocal. The musical vehicle for the album alternates between the acoustic guitar and piano, although I prefer Peacock as a piano player due to the fact that it seems to bring more emotion out of her vocal work. The low-key "Time" certainly provides evidence of this. The song's laid-back approach is absolutely heartbreaking which quickly establishes it as a favorite. "Sunflower" is another highlight. It has a more upbeat feel to it and the horns (although at first they sound out of place) add an unexpected element to the song that makes it feel "different" from comparable pop songs. The more familiar sound of "Taught Me Well" is unquestionably the album's centerpiece. The lyrical theme of lost love and being thankful that said love didn't lead to marriage is both bittersweet and victorious as Peacock confides "You taught me well/ You were my teacher and I thank you for the hell you put me through/ I'm very grateful because I finally really learned what was important in my life/ I thank my lucky stars everyday I'm not your wife." Alice Peacock's Who I Am is set to be an instant classic for fans of well rounded singer-songwriters. The album dabbles in jazz, blues, country, and op without ever committing to a genre yet maintaining a cohesive feel that is both familiar and refreshingly different.

Alice Peacock
Who I Am
Peacock Music By Anna Maria Stjarnell
www.lunakafe.com

Alice Peacock's third record arrives in balmy summer and it's a warm-sounding record, from the vocals to the sophisticated arrangements. "Baby Come Back" recalls early Sheryl Crow or perhaps Aimee Mann. Its catchy chorus and stirring arrangement works well. "Time" is slow and jazzy Peacock's delivery sweetly accentuating the meaningful words. "Taught me Well" manages to pen a lyric of a hellish relationship and still find something meaningful about it. It's musically reminiscent of the seventies singer/songwriter era. "I'm Still Here" shows off the singer's gorgeous vocal and talent for subtle melodies. This contemporary answer to "You've Got a Friend" should appeal to many. Peacock's new record is the work of a mature artist at the peak of her powers.

Maverick Music Magazine - October 2006
By Alan Cackett

Alice Peacock is a world-class vocalist. The problem is quite where to pigeon-hole her music. A talented singer-songwriter, she easily criss-crosses from country, through folk, mainstream pop and even a slight jazz flavouring on WHO I AM. Production by Andrew Williams, who has previously worked with Victoria Williams and Peter Case is subtle, utilising softly strummed guitars, swirling keyboards and sensitive strings, without at any time overpowering Alice's emotional vocalising. Exploring human relationship issues, she opens with Different From the Rest a stunning song about ending a relationship, followed by the commercial Baby Come Back, a catchy song made for radio play and Here I Go Again a fearless song about seeking new paths and friendships. Very much a lived-in record, this feels like that old but comfortable pair of slippers after just a couple of listens.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Review: Alice Peacock
Who I Am (Peacock Music)
melodic.net

This album will probably win the "best female singer songwriter" award when we sum up the year 2006. Alice new album is a perfectly produced album somewhere between favourite girls like Jann Arden, Shawn Colvin, Norah Jones, Aimee Mann, Charlotte Martin and Nicole Nordeman. Great songwriting with catchy tunes and thoughtful lyrics, a voice soft as silk without losing the edge and as I said a real damn fine production signed by Andrew Williams who also produced the melodic.net faves in Dogs Eye View among others. Listen to the Norah Jones smelling "Time" - that is a worldwide hit if Norah would have done it. Now we can only hope that Alice will have the chance to show the world that she sits on the same qualities. Nah, not more to add actually. Grab a copy at once folks. This is a really strong album and four strong stars in grading is delivered without any doubts.

CD REVIEW: Alice Peacock - "Who I Am" By Gian Fiero
musesmuse.com

Genre: Adult Alternative
Sounds Like: Carly Simon/Shawn Colvin
Technical Grade: 10
Production/Musicianship Grade: 10
Commercial Value: 10
Overall Talent Level: 10
Songwriting Skills: 10
Performance Skill: 10

Best Songs: Time, Only A Memory, Finding My Way, Love, Taught Me Well, Baby Come Back

Weakness: None

CD Review: Every now and then I get a project that captures the essence of what great songwriting is about. Alice Peacock, a singer/songwriter/musician from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, via LA, sent me such a project. This - her third independent offering - brilliantly showcases her vocal skills and lyrical talents and proves that you can master the craft of songwriting through osmosis if you you are fed a steady diet consisting of the Beatles, Joni Mitchell, James Taylor, Carole King, and Carly Simon as a child. The opening track, "Different From The Rest," is aptly titled and immediately introduces and establishes the adult nature of this project as she sings about the discovery of a former love's impending marriage. It is also there that we are greeted by the magical, musical chemistry created between Alice and her project's producer, Andrew Williams, who co-wrote and oversaw the string arrangements that weave an emotional fabric and cohesion throughout this CD which musically elevates it and gives it greater depth. While Alice may have learned the craft of songwriting through studying proper song structure and emulating the melodic tendencies of her legendary influences, she joins their ranks with just one song: "Time." A sparse, deeply introspective ballad comprised of piano and a plush string arrangement that is so beautiful in lyric, message, performance, production, and musicianship, that it is easily the best song that I have ever reviewed. Songs like "Time" are the reason why collaborations are so important and music artists like Alice Peacock who are open to them, become so successful. Other outstanding tracks include The Carpenters inspired, "Only A Memory," the Country flavored, "Finding My Way," and the more contemporary, Beatlesque, radio-friendly track, "Love." All would make excellent singles, but each soldify the completeness and greatneness of this project which will provide hours, years, and decades of listening pleasure to the next generation of music lovers and songwriters who Alice Peacock will soon be influencing.

Advice: Keep doing what you do, both in and out of the studio.

Alice Peacock
Who I Am by Keith Hannaleck
muzikreviews.com

Artist: Alice Peacock
Title: Who I Am
Genre: Pop-Rock
Label: Universal Music Group
Website: www.alicepeacock.com

Alice Peacock sings about herself on a self-explanatory titled album Who I Am. There are deep personal messages in all of these tracks and Alice has a beautifully expressive voice that brings all of her lyrics home to the heart. This woman gets in a groove that carries her right until the last note. This is an incredibly appealing and enjoyable performance. This is an album jam-packed with enticing acoustic pop rock, the kind of airy and light music you would listen to on a warm summer day underneath your favorite tree while looking at the clouds take shape in the sky while imagining what they look like. Do not think that the lyrics are not solid however because the music is laid back. This lady sings about her life, well everyone’s life really. The simply titled “Love” is a fine example of Alice’s soft touch but realistic and straight up approach. She has a way of easing you into a song then making you face with the truth, so don’t think for a minute that this is just fluff because it is not. That is one example of many that fill this great CD. Alice Peacock is a top-notch artist and as good as any of the female vocalist that are cashing in right now just because they have one thing going for them, they look good. Well this lady is beautiful from the inside out; she is the whole package, a talented vocalist singing about her life with purpose and conviction, and all backed with some fine music, which covers the entire musical gamut for this listener.

Alice Peacock
Who I Am
rhapsodyradish.com

Alice Peacock is the President of Rock For Reading whose mission is to "fight the rising trend of illiteracy and renew interest in reading." She's also a musician, who had a major label, self-titled release with Columbia in 2002. This new album is on her own Peacock Music label, but distributed by Universal. It's a must hear for fans of Rikki Lee Jones, Diana Krall or Sheryl Crow. The album was recorded live in the studio and has a flowing warmth that you can curl up with.

Alice Peacock
Who I Am
By J-Sin
smother.net

Alice Peacock is a talented female singer/songwriter who emerges in the Adult Contemporary pop scene with a penchant for luxurious hooks. Wincingly strong vocals croon amid great musicianship that isn’t just your normal studio session player affair. Easy listening for a nice afternoon or evening in which you want to relax and hear music again for a change.

Alice Peacock
Who I Am
thisismodern.net

Alice Peacock walks the border between pop and folk incredibly well in all of her music, but this time she tiptoes a little more on the folk side than in the past. She's returning to her songwriting roots on this album and has put together a collection of tracks that any fan of female songwriters would be able to appreciate. Filled with the usual themes, Peacock pours her heart out in each and every song. Although there's no abundance of standout, radio hit tracks like there was on her previous release, every listener will be able to connect with her music, making it that much better than just a catchy tune. She is certainly one of the most talent female songwriters out there, and with this album, proves that it's really all about the passion and love for the music and the song.

Artist Profile: Alice Peacock
towerpod.com

Lived-in. That's how Alice Peacock's new album feels. "When we were recording the strings, one of the musicians said to me, 'This record feels like an old shirt - familiar and comfortable,'" she says. Alice was deeply touched by the remark. In fact, she and producer Andrew Williams were striving to make a classic-sounding record. Warm as faded flannel, Who I Am recalls the golden age of singer-songwriter pop. It is impeccably crafted, but what's most affecting is how easy and organic it feels, how directly Alice's voice connects with the listener. Listen to the podcast, go to www.towerpod.com and click on "LISTEN".

Birdsongs
By Kathryn Mostow
womenfolk.net

Belonging to a family that has consisted of several generations of actors and singers, it seemed that Alice Peacock was destined to be an entertainer herself. Raised in White Bear, Minnesota, Peacock started her serious foray into music while attending college in Wisconsin. There she joined up with several different bands performing many different types of music until ultimately going it alone, writing her own songs. In 1999, Peacock released her debut, Real Day on her own independent label, Peacock Music. The album received many positive reviews, a strong local following and eventually, a distribution deal with the Aware imprint on Columbia Records. Peacock's self-titled second album (and major label debut) arrived in 2002 and featured the songwriter collaborating with many big names including songwriter John Mayer, famous producer Bob Clearmountain and Indigo Girl, Emily Saliers. Alice Peacock immersed the songwriter's music into a melting pot of high-end production, poising the singer for radio alongside hitmakers like Sheryl Crow. The result is a solid, accessible album. Heavily influenced by a broad array of genres, Peacock's own songs are difficult to label; she doesn't belong to any core category. Sometimes the music fits well into the vein of songwriters like Jonatha Brooke and Sheryl Crow. Other times, Peacock is more fitting in Diana Krall territory. Her talent is in her incredible songwriting, which predominantly covers relationships of love and life.

"I don't know the mystery
Of why we're here or how we came to be
I think we're measured by our heart
If we've been kind and done our part"
- Alice Peacock

With Who I Am, Peacock's third album, we find the artist back on her own label (in partnership with a major label) and returns her sound to something a bit less glossy than heard on Alice Peacock. The focus here is more on Peacock's remarkable songwriting than a deliberate aim for radio. The songs here unfold like a story and were all recorded in one take, resulting in what sounds both sincere and genuine. Nothing Peacock sings sounds artificial. Whether you're listening to the nice and slow jazzy 'Time,' or the sunny and optimistic 'Sunflower,' you're just as easily mesmerized. The music of Alice Peacock possesses the comfort and charm of classic songwriters like Carole King and Joni Mitchell, two artists Peacock says have been huge influences for her. Alice Peacock is currently on tour supporting her latest album, Who I Am.

Alice Peacock - "Who I Am"
Peacock Music / Universal DG 02
By Chris Field, The Birmingham Post

Alice Peacock's third and latest album recalls the great days of singer songwriters and their often confessional records. It is a record just full of great songs and great feelings. Someone described as a lived in album full of warm familiar feelings and contentment. That doesn't mean it's just Alice going through the motions - quite the opposite in fact. This is a collection of songs recorded live in the studio which gives it a bit of an edge, and then sequenced to bring out the affirming qualities of her writing.

A native of Chicago, Alice has gone back to the independent route for this album, allowing her to make in her own words "the album I wanted to make: how many people can say that?" Because the songs are mainly piano driven, contemporaries like Carole King spring to mind. The production by Andrew Williams is first rate and he was also responsible for the outstanding string arrangements, not surprising really as he is a disciple of Paul Buckmaster. Even the cover was shot by another legend in Henry Diltz.

There are some truly talented singer songwriters around at the moment - Alice Peacock is just one that people should be listening to and so making her a star!

Who I Am by Alice Peacock
By Ruth Almer
folking.com

'Who I Am' is Alice Peacock's third album. It was recorded at the Hollywood Sound Factory. Born and raised in Minnesota, Peacock now lives in Chicago, where she is a well known musician, songwriter and is also famed for being the founder of charity: 'Rock for Reading'. Alice simply describes 'Rock for Reading' as a charity that aims to make books available to all children and to raise money, mainly through high-profile benefit music concerts, to fund literacy and reading programmes in Chicago.

'Who I Am' comprises of fourteen beautifully written songs; all of which blend the highest quality song writing talent and accompanying musical genius; with contributions from guitarist: Danny Howes (Alice Peacock, Tender Idols), bassist: Curt Schneider (of Five for Fighting), drummer: Jay Bellerose (Suzanne Vega, Paula Cole, Sam Philips) and producer: Andrew Williams on acoustic guitar. The amazing string arrangements that certainly do contribute to making the album as uniquely alluring as it is, are also thanks to Andrew Williams; an apprentice of the legendry, honourable arranger: Paul Buckmaster. These arrangements add pure heartfelt emotion to tracks: 'Here I go again' and 'Only a Memory'.

Comparable in sound, to artists: Diana Krall, Beth Nielson-Chapman and also the more recently established talent: Joan Wasser ( Antony and the Johnsons); Peacock's album is an eclectic profusion of American folk, soul, blues, soft rock and also a distinct classical sound; emphasised by Peacock's own piano playing talent, the string arrangements and also the addition of French Horn. The horn undertones add a mystical depth to 'Anyone but Me' and 'Runaway Day'. Catchy choruses throughout, make this album one to be listened to again and again. 'Who I Am', as a whole, portrays intelligent song writing at its very, very best.

'Who I Am' is ear candy that should be taken note off. Alice Peacock is a talent that is only going up. The freedom of an independent artist is reflected throughout this extraordinary creation. Listening to the albums lyrical content creates a feeling similar to when reading a personal diary, you know you are not supposed to be reading. It's about real life, the ups and downs; the inspiration and the hurt that comes from being in love; all of which are expressed via a one off talent, not to be missed.

Alice Peacock
Who I Am
Peacock Music / Universal
By George Harris
All That Jazz

Alice Peacock's Who I Am harkens back to the days of the singer/songwriter '70s. Four years from her last release that featured guest appearance by the likes of John Mayer, Peacock releases a highly personal Who I Am that searches into the depths of relationships. Accompanied by a guitar quartet with well crafted string augmentation, Peacock mixes blues, jazz, folk and cabaret that evokes aural images of Carole King or Sheryl Crow, as on the bittersweet "Baby Come Back" or the sparse and spacious "Time." "Taught Me Well" features Peacock at her most wounded, vulnerable and ironic; the wounds have not healed yet. The uplifting "Sunflower" keeps Who I Am from turning into a Janis Ian anthology. All of the songs have moments of deep reflection, yet are presented in a way that is accessible without being cloying. Who I Am is intriguing music and thoughtful lyrics from someone who certainly has something to say.

Peacock, Alice: Who I Am
By Michael Popke
seaoftranquility.org

From time to time, a CD of stunning musical clarity - but not a clear genre fit - finds its way to Sea of Tranquility headquarters. Who I Am is one of those CDs, a warm and friendly disc featuring one of America's unsung female singer/songwriters. Chicago-bred Alice Peacock has gone from independent artist to major-label darling and back again. Who I Am was recorded in two weeks as she sat at her piano singing and playing while her band played live with the tape rolling. It sounds like a lost Seventies album, one in which the songs flow freely into one another, taking their time reliving lost loves and childhoods while searching for ways to age with dignity. In short, Who I Am is an album to savor. It doesn't rock, and it doesn't really roll. But it's nevertheless a worthwhile listen, laced with honest and vulnerable lyrics that not only give you insight into Alice Peacock - who she is - but also manage to teach you a little bit more about yourself.

Score: 4 stars

Alice Peacock
By Rick Mason
citypages.com

White Bear Lake native and longtime Chicago resident Alice Peacock slips easily into the classic singer-songwriter mode alongside such luminaries as Carole King, Joni Mitchell, and Rickie Lee Jones. Peacock is nearly a perfect pop master, a pianist who readily taps the pop lexicon while coming up with plenty of her own memorable melodies and twists. On her delightful third album, Who I Am (Peacock Music/Universal), Peacock's confessional lyrics easily translate the personal into the universal, and she douses them in a refined musicality that matches her alluring voice with a hint of a girl-group chorus here, a judicious touch of strings there. Most of her songs deal with the adult variety of love, riding the ups and downs with compelling buoyancy. One tune, "Love," is right up there among the best Beatles tunes never written.

Music Makers - Alice Peacock
Keyboard Magazine
By Michael Gallant

Homegrown and bittersweet, Alice Peacock's piano-driven songs weave eloquent melodies around stories of love and loss. Though Who I Am aptly showcases the Chicago singer-songwriter's harmonic and lyrical prowess, perhaps the most impressive aspect of the self-released album is that it was recorded almost completely live. "We did it all the Sound Factory in Hollywood," says Alice. "They had a beautiful Steinway and Jerry Lee Lewis had signed the inside. It sounded amazing and had great sightlines - I could see the control room, the drums straight through, and the guitarist to my left. We really wanted that vibe that some of my favorite '70s singer-songwriters had when they recorded albums - Jackson Browne, Carly Simon, or Carole King - where it's almost jam-y. The band's playing and it's mot all perfect, but it has that vibe of people making music together. "All my vocals are live," she continues. "It's risky, but we wanted to make it a performance. When you're playing and singing at the same time, also, you sing it differently than if you were just standing at the mic. I tend to get a little too much in my head when I'm in the vocal booth - I need to get that perfect, or I need that phrase to be more pretty - instead of just performing it. And when you're playing and singing at the same time, you're forced to do that. I needed to set aside my perfectionist hat and say, "We had a good performance.'" On the road, Alice performs with a Kurzweil PC88, though at home, she plays and writes on a vintage acoustic piano. "I have an old Chickering upright I bought for $300 off the Chicago Reader," she says. "It was an old piano from the Blackstone Lounge. The ivory's on there, though it's all faded. It's got good mojo. It's like a Tom Waits piano. It's got drink marks on it, and it stays in tune incredibly well." Though she is also a skilled guitarist, Alice stays true to the piano for a number of application. "What I'm not able to achieve as well on guitar is to spread things out," she says. "I took jazz piano lessons from Alan Swaim. He helped give my playing more of a modern sound. Instead of just adding the seventh in the right hand, maybe I'll try putting it in he left hand, or doubling the third, then adding the ninths or elevenths. It adds so much color to a song. I'm trying to stretch out more as a writer that way." Alice developed her ear for songwriting early on, and highly regards the benefits of a diverse musical palate. "I grew up listening to the radio, hearing everything from country to bluegrass to gospel to Americana to acid rock," she says. What advice can she offer to aspiring singer-songwriters? "You gotta know those old tunes and you gotta know the Great American Songbook. Look at those chords, listen to those lyrics, Frank Loesser and Cole Porter. What were they doing? Listen to the Beach Boys and the Beatles, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra as interpreters."

Alice Peacock
Performing Songwriter Magazine
By Mare Wakefield

Make no mistake - Alice Peacock knows how to get things done. Without any help from a label, she sold over 15,000 copies of her debut release in 2000, which earned her a short-lived major-label deal with Columbia Records. But she bounced back as an independent artist and has had songs placed in movies (Because of Winn-Dixie) and on TV shows (Dawson's Creek). She's getting airplay on over 100 radio stations, and she's toured with John Mellencamp and Aimee Mann. In addition to her musical accomplishments, Peacock was featured in a marketing campaign for the clothing company J. Jill, and she's the president of Rock for Reading, a non-profit organization supporting literacy. Currently promoting her latest release, Who I Am, we caught up with the Chicago-based artist to ask where her drive comes from. "I grew up in a musical family," she says. "There were six kids, and we were always putting on shows. I just always knew that I'd be an the arts somehow." Her charmed musical career began on a high note with the successful release of her debut, Real Day. EMI took notice and offered her a publishing deal. She also managed to catch the ear of a marketing consultant in Boston, which resulted in her campaign with J. Jill. "They had heard my music on a radio station in Boston," Peacock recalls. "J. Jill was looking for an up-and-coming artist who could represent their brand in a younger, hipper way. They felt that my music was very real and organic - consistent with the image of their clothing line. "The exposure was great," she continues. "I felt completely comfortable working with them because J. Jill is a very women-centered company, and they give a lot of their profits to women's organizations." Peacock feels so strongly about giving back to the community, she founded the non-profit Rock for Reading in 2004. "Literacy and reading have always been important issues to me," Peacock says. "I grew up without a TV and spent many happy hours with my nose in a book, so I was shocked to find out that so many Americans are considered functionally illiterate - barely reading at a third-grade level." What started as a book drive for a local school blossomed into an organization which raised nearly @100,000 in 2005. "Reading is a basic human right," Peacock asserts. "I thought that if I could get other musicians talking and singing about the importance of reading, we could have a visible platform and get media attention to spread the word about the issue." But the road to Rock for Reading was darkened by a few storm clouds - literally. "The first year we produced a one-day benefit that took nine months to organize," Peacock recalls. "We had over 30 Chicago musicians ready to play, and then the rains came and sheared the roof off of our stage. This was mid-August, and it was cold, rainy, windy, ugly...just a complete bummer." Within hours, Peacock and company decided to pull the plug. "The most heart-breaking moment was realizing that we were not going to get to play the music we had worked so hard to prepare," she says. "But everyone's spirits were amazing. I will never forget the love I felt huddling with other artists backstage, rain whipping through the tent, when I had to call the show. There were tears and looks of defiance, but it was a blessing in disguise: I took a deep breath, applied for non-profit status and haven't looked back since." Nor has she stopped making music. On Who I Am Peacock's folky, intricate melodies float on top of layered strings while her positive energy and bouyant personality shine. "You Were Different From the Rest" carries echoes of Blue-era Joni Mitchell with rolling piano as Peacock turns what could have been a woe-is-me song of lost love into a sincere blessing "Godspeed, God bless / I guess you were different from the rest," she sings in her clear, soulful soprano. "Taught Me Well" is another tune that turns a bad experience into a positive lyric: "You were my teacher, and I thank you / For the hell you put me through." While some musicians might worry that presiding over a non-profit group would take away from their creative energy and time, Peacock maintains that Rock for Reading inspires her. "Giving back to your community really puts things into perspective," she says. "I care far less about commercial success than I used to because I realize that life is short and not to be taken for granted. I want to make a difference creatively, because if I'm not stretching as an artist, what's the point of making music?"

Folk-pop artist Alice Peacock travels in heady company
tennessean.com
By Peter Cooper

Chicago-based singer-songwriter Alice Peacock writes new-millennium folk-pop songs. Her music is often inspired by Laurel Canyon troubadours of the late '60s and early '70s, and she decided to head to Los Angeles to record her latest album, Who I Am. The album is lush, hopeful and romantic enough to appeal to adult radio types, yet it retains an earthiness and a compelling lyrical honesty. In the past, Peacock has worked with guitar pop honcho John Mayer, esteemed folk singer John Gorka and plenty of others, and Who I Am offers plenty of reasons why she travels in such heady company.

Alice Peacock
Who I Am
By Lahri Bond
Dirty Linen Magazine

Alice Peacock hails from White Bear Lake, Minnesota, and her first two CDs, Real Day (1999) and Alice Peacock (2002), were independently released. Her latest, Who I Am, finds her on a subdivision of Universal Records, and she benefits greatly from superior production and sound quality. She has an amazing fifth for writing songs that have both depth and a pop hook that rivals those of 60s-era songwriters such as Carole King and Burt Bacharach. The album begins with "Different From the Rest," which sounds like a kindred should to both "Walk Away Renee" and Bowie's "Rebel Rebel." Elsewhere, "Baby Come Back" would have been a great song for Dionne Warwick, and "Taught Me Well" feels like the kind of tune that intelligent country artists such as Lori McKenna craft. At the heart of her sound is her excellent piano playing, which is reminiscent of both Laura Nyro and Tori Amos. Peacock also possesses a lovely, strong voice with a clean Midwestern accent that is perfect for articulating her finely crafted lyrics. The smart production on the CD draws on a wide circle of inspiration, including the Beatles-like strong bass and loopy strings of "Love," and the classic James Taylor-style fingerpicked acoustic guitar on "Sunflower," which also sports the best use of French horn heard on a non-classical album in years. Peacock seems to have assimilated the best parts of popular music made in the last 50 years and has managed to integrate it into some really fine original music. One suspects that you will be hearing much more about Alice Peacock in the near future, and her songs should provide material for more well-established artists who are looking for great songs to add to their albums.

Alice Peacock
Who I Am
By Michael Swanger
Cityview

Chicago songstress Alice Peacock is one of the most impressive artists of her generation. But to pigeonhole her as a folk singer that strums an acoustic guitar simply to serve the song, not the music, is to underestimate her abilities as a multi-talented artist capable of delivering quality pop songs. "Who I Am" owes more to Carole King than it does Joan Baez because it is as musically beautiful as it is lyrically compelling. Sparse arrangements augmented by a string section match the emotional depth of Peacock's lyrics on tunes like "Time," "Taught Me Well" and "Who I Am." They also inspire the familiarity and comfort one looks for in pop, rock and country songs like "Baby Come Back," "Love" and "Finding My Way," respectively. To enjoy "Who I Am" is to admire Peacock's whole artistry.

Alice Peacock
By Ron Wynn
Nashville City Paper

Singer/songwriter Alice Peacock happily acknowledges that her new CD Who I Am was done in an "old school" fashion. "I really wanted to get that feeling of the way that singers and musicians used to record, without all the artificial things being added and retaining the warmth and immediacy," Peacock said. "So we cut all the songs live, particularly the vocals. There wasn't any pre-production there, and we didn't rehearse any of the songs before I went into the studio to do them. It was really me pouring out what was in my heart and singing what I felt at that moment." Peacock, who'll appear Tuesday night at 3rd and Lindsley along with Peter Bradley Adams (7 p.m., 818 3rd Ave. S., check venue for cover charge, 259-9891), is also happy her singing is more understated and subtle than brash and bombastic, a reflection of her desire to be expressive without becoming excessive. "I don't want to attack anyone, but sometimes you hear these songs and the vocalists are doing all these tricks and gimmicks, and you really don't even focus on the lyrics or the story. It becomes more an exercise than someone really presenting a song, and that's something I wanted to avoid as much as possible." Instead, she performs in a very intimate, sophisticated, yet also moving fashion, doing similar numbers to those featured on previous releases Real Day and Alice Peacock, while assisted by guitarist Danny Howes, bassist/engineer/mixer Curt Schneider, drummer Jay Bellerose and producer Andrew Williams, who also played acoustic guitar, while Peacock provided piano and guitar assistance as well. The release is also spiced by the inclusion on some tracks of strings, another new twist. "Andrew and I worked on the string arrangements together," Peacock said. "We didn't want anything to overpower the vocals, but we also wanted to make sure that they really fit the material." The results are Peacock's finest session to date, one that allows every facet of her background (including a stint as a jazz singer) to come into play, yet also is different in tone and sensibility from anything else she's done.

Alice Peacock ponders life's bigger questions
By Bill Friskics-Warren
Tennessean.com

Who I Am, the latest album from singer-songwriter Alice Peacock, is as exquisite and uplifting a set of adult pop to come along in awhile. Brimming with bold tone colors, sweeping bridges and heaving washes of strings, the 35-year-old Chicagoan's song cycle is ostensibly a breakup record, and yet Peacock does more than merely sift through the ashes of a dead love affair. Singing in a bruised and yearning alto, and with a bracing mix of candor and generosity, she ponders the meaning not just of intimacy and commitment, but of life's bigger questions as well. Anyone fond of confessional touchstones like Carole King's Tapestry or Joni Mitchell's For the Roses - or, say, the latest by Patty Griffin - won't want to miss her 7 p.m. show with former eastmountainsouth singer Peter Bradley Adams tonight at 3rd & Lindsley Bar & Grill (816 Third Ave., S). Tickets are $7. Call 259-9891 for details.

Spreading the words
By Jack Bess
pioneerlocal.com

As straightforward in conversation as in her songs, singer Alice Peacock was unfazed by the prospect of the notorious droning cicadas distracting the audience at her Ravinia appearance on July 1.

"I'm just going to play louder," she jokes. "Or we'll find their natural rhythm and work with them. I may have to go into my avant-garde set."

Chicago singer Alice Peacock performs at Schubas and Ravinia.

Actually, the cicadas, which tend to sing in the evening, likely won't be an issue for Peacock and other performers on Ravinia's "Celebration of Summer," a free day of music and midway games starting at noon on July 1.

And it's safe to say that Schubas, Chicago, will be an insect-free zone for Peacock's shows at 7 p.m. June 29 and 30.

A resident of Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, Peacock has won loyal fans and critical praise for her three CDs of original songs that reveal the formative influences of such singer-songwriters as Joni Mitchell, Carole King and Laura Nyro.

Bracing tunes

Like the music of those past masters, Peacock's songs have an intimate, conversational tone that speaks directly to the listener, as bracing as a cup of good, strong coffee. Aided by songwriting and arranging partners in Nashville, she can also write a song like "Sunflower" that evokes the sunny-afternoon pastoral pop of certain Beatles tunes.

She also occasionally sings the "Star-Spangled Banner" at White Sox games. Though she's a North Sider, the Cubs have yet to call her for similar duty.

"People put me on the spot and ask if I'm a Sox or a Cubs fan," Peacock said. "I say I'm a Chicago fan. But I have to say, I'm pulling for the Cubs. They're doing pretty well."

Peacock's well-crafted lyrics are grounded in a love of words and reading that she acquired as a child in a household without TV. She loved E.B. White's books and the "Little House on the Prairie" series by Laura Ingalls Wilder. She so enjoyed the "fend for yourself" pioneer ethic in Wilder's books that Peacock tried to replicate the family's method of making candy by pouring maple syrup on snow. "It wasn't very good," she recalls.

Rock for Reading

A somewhat sweeter legacy of her book-reading youth is Rock for Reading, a nonprofit group Peacock founded four years ago. Last year, through fund-raisers and book and cash donations, the group donated an estimated $1 million to neighborhood literacy programs and some of the neediest public and archdiocesan schools.

Rock for Reading, in association with Book Worm Angels, is involved in Ravinia's Celebration of Summer. While admission is free, donation of new or slightly used books for children pre-K through eighth grade is encouraged. The books will go to Chicago Public Schools.

In addition, Rock for Reading will receive proceeds from the Elvis is Alive 5K Run on Aug. 11 in Lincoln Park. It's your average 5K run except that some runners go the distance by donning full Elvis regalia, including white jumpsuit and jet-black pompadour.

"We do whatever we need to do to raise funds for literacy programs, so we'll dress up like Elvis and we'll run," Peacock says. "Actually, last year I ran, then dressed up as Priscilla. It was hard because I was sweaty and then I had to put on a beehive wig. You can't run with the beehive because it cuts down on your aerodynamics."

Alice Peacock's songs take listeners on a journey
By Bill Friskics-Warren
Tennessean.com

Some records might be faulted for their lack of emotion, but when singer-songwriter Alice Peacock heard the playback of her luminous Who I Am last year, she was worried that she might have poured too much of herself into the album.

"At first I was a little nervous," she said, speaking by phone from her home in Chicago. "I thought, 'Perhaps there's too much feeling on the record.' But it's where I was at the time and you've got to be real, right?"

Peacock, who returns to town to play at 3rd & Lindsley on Thursday, was nursing a summer cold the morning of this interview. She was mulling whether or not to give away her ticket to Lollapalooza that night so she could rest to sing the national anthem at the Cubs-Mets game at Wrigley Field the following afternoon.

Peacock's music shares next-to-nothing in common with that of rocking Lollapalooza headliners like Interpol and Daft Punk. An intimate, piano-based record more in the spirit of such singer-songwriter touchstones as Carole King's Tapestry and Joni Mitchell's Blue, Who I Am conveys a sweeping breadth of emotion — everything from anger, hurt and regret to forgiveness, affirmation and hope.

"Taught Me Well," for example, is equal parts kiss-off and olive branch. "You taught me well/ You were my teacher and I thank you/ For the hell you put me through," Peacock sings to mounting piano, strings and guitar on the opening chorus.

Then, without a hint of sarcasm, she adds, "I'm very grateful/ 'Cause I finally really learned what was important in my life/ And I thank my lucky stars everyday I'm not your wife."

'It takes you on a journey'

"There was a lot going on in my life when I wrote those songs," Peacock said. "And not just in terms of relationships, but also in my career. I'd left my major label, so there was the legal stuff to deal with, plus the disappointment.

"So a lot of reassessing was going on. I was asking, 'Who am I in the midst of all this?' But in the end, I realized I'm stronger and I'm gonna be all right."

Several songs on the album convey this resilience, including "Time," a jazz-inflected ballad where, singing in a rich, throaty alto reminiscent of Deana Carter, Peacock asserts, "And I wept and raged and cried/ And came through on the other side."

"It takes you on a journey," she said of her album. "I think music is supposed to do that. If I didn't have music I'd be a much more troubled individual."

'There's a spiritual element there'

Steeped in a pop classicism conversant in rock and soul, the arrangements on Peacock's album are flat-out gorgeous, and they gain an immediacy from being recorded directly to tape.

"We all were playing live in the studio, listening to and playing off each other," she said. "It was a rush. I'd be at the piano and go, 'Oh, the drummer's hitting this extra hard. I'm gonna come up here.'

"Recording live also kept my vocals from being too precious. It made everything more immediate."

As inspiring as recording live, added Peacock, was working with a string section, something that she hadn't done on her previous two albums.

"During pre-production we played a lot of (Dusty Springfield's) Dusty in Memphis, a record where the strings are woven into the fabric of the record," she explained. "They really had that down in the '70s. A string section is an organic, acoustic instrument. You set up a mike and it picks up that wood, that vibration. Those vibrations can be very healing."

Also healing were the spiritual reserves that Peacock, who grew up in an open-minded Christian household, drew on during the making of her record.

"I'm a searcher," she said. "I'm not such a fan of the organized church, but I definitely believe there's wisdom to be found in Buddhism,Christianity and Judaism. I think it would be difficult to go on a personal journey in search of yourself and not have faith in something higher than us.

"I mean music: How do you explain the beauty of art? There's a spiritual element there for sure."