How I Want to Live -- The Catman Chronicles 2 by Catman Cohen

Assisting Catman is his inspired producer/arranger, Henry Iglesias, who also plays keyboards with feverish intensity; James Lum, engineer/mixer extraordinaire, who also plays guitars and touches God with each and every note; George Englund, whose soulful, wailing Sax penetrates right through the heart; and drummers James McCarty / Gabriel Santana Falcon, who both pound skins with enough zeal to raise the dead.

In the vocal department, Catman's deep-bullfrog is joined by a tremendous cast of guest singers, including Jimmy Swan, Shea Alexander, Simonne Simmons, Sarah Taylor, Elly K, Annette Lum, Barabara Ochoa, Shasta Strange, and last but not least...........Henry Iglesias, who delivers a song with the kind of skillful, melodious, dreamy voice that Catman only wishes he had!

10% of CD sales proceeds to be donated to PACIFIC INSTITUTE (www.pacinst.org)

10% of CD sales proceeds to be donated to BLUE PLANET PROJECT

(www.blueplanetproject.net)

*** Stay tuned for news pertaining to future live performances by:

Catman Cohen and His Prayer for America.........

(Note: the Catman will perform in silhouette only)

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Reviews:

"Catman Cohen's series of music CD's are becoming the talk of the town."

Kat Kramer

Entertainment Today

http://www.entertainmenttodayonline.com

April 7, 2006

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Just as with the previous CD the theme of social engagement - in this case through environmental preoccupation - is a means to promoting different human behavior as desirable: that of altruism, love, emotion, understanding, bonding. And again it is treated both from a global point of view as from a more individual point of view.

The songs tell different tales of people who are on both sides of the line, of people who are shifting from one point to another. The song most adhering to the overall theme is WATER IS BLOOD. The anti-establishment song can be found in CAPTAIN OF INDUSTRY. There are songs about faith (NO LUCK AT ALL), about love (LOVERS AFTER THE TWILIGHT ENDS), and about wanting to do good for the many (IF I COULD DIVIDE THE SMELL OF FLOWERS). Once again, this rock epic presents us with a lot of human values, behaviors, beliefs, and aspirations. The Catman is on a mission and the mission is far from over. As their producer says: "Perhaps these songs can act as a lightning rod of social awareness, shedding light beyond our short lives and becoming a part of the greater good." Musically strong, just as the first CD and full of great tunes and artistic ideas, yet the listener needs to be open for a portion of social awareness raising, of "Christian" values (though here more presented generally which is an open approach as they are actually general values). The listener needs to be open for a quite American approach of things and for some songs especially I am sure this might prove quite difficult for the European listener.

Reviewed by Joeri De Ren (Antwerp, Belgium)

http://www.dogmatik.be

December 29, 2005

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"It is great to see someone trying to revive the time-honored tradition of music with both a soul and a purpose. Having just seen the first part of Scorsese's documentary on Dylan, I'm reminded of how important this is for society. And I'm delighted (Catman) is tackling the issue of water...I'm afraid we are indeed heading into an era of growing conflict over water, and anything we can do to avoid that is worth doing."

by Dr. Peter Gleick

MacArthur Fellow

President

Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security

http://www.pacinst.org/

October 3, 2005

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HOW I WANT TO LIVE is the second project from the mysterious mastermind that is Catman Cohen and it follows the 'How I Want To Die' album, this time round the focus of this musical venture is water. A combination of spending years in the desert and encountering a book by Marq de Villers alerted Catman to the scarcity of our water supply and the possible event of war because of the dwindling supplies. To show how committed he is to this cause, Catman is donating 20% of record sales profits to two different water organizations. That's all well and good, but how does concern over polluted water and the theft of water by opportunistic profiteers translate into music?

Quite well actually, the opening two tracks, the title track and WATER IS BLOOD both seek to amplify this message; a heady mix of dark brooding bass, gospel vocals and epic guitars. The message of water being life and wanting to live is hammered home in a bold and memorable way. It is a shame the rest of the album isn't as concise with its message as it starts off strong but wavers a little in quality and consistency around the middle, this lull doesn't last long though and it picks up again on INGRID KNOWS WHO I AM. One of the highlights of the album, a sublime instrumental piece that opens with a piano riff that even Tori Amos would dream of, before descending into a Venezuelanesque infectious foot-tapper. The overall sound of the album has that 80's bombastic big epic rock sound, vocals by Jimmy Swan and Henry Iglesias are heavily reminiscent of Bono and Bruce Springsteen respectively.

In fact, the track DANCING WITH MR. DADDY is a sister song to Springsteen's 'The Rising'. In the midst of this full on rock is Catman's, what can only be described as unique, vocals, which come across as a mix of Tom Waits and Fozzie Bear. Sometimes they work, but sometimes like on LOVERS AFTER THE TWILIGHT ENDS they grate with the music instead of complimenting the guest vocalists like on some of the other tracks.

Despite, this if you can tolerate a sensory overload of American sentiment (the album also features a cover version of SUPERMAN (Its Not Easy)), the theme song adopted by firemen in the aftermath of 9/11), the album is interesting, ambitious and rarely dull. In reference to the New Orleans disaster, Catman's anxieties over the ominous nature of water and the desire for the human spirit to survive are chillingly realized.

by Helen Sadler

www.subba-cultcha.com

September 8, 2005

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Catman Cohen is a composer, singer and talk vocalist. Catman writes meaningful songs about environmental issues, social concerns and tributes to rescue workers. Catman's music is a diverse blend of electronica, sound effects and rock theater. Cohen is supported by a team of talented players, producers and vocalists. All fifteen tracks on his second release are unique. Each song could be from a different band with the assortment of people involved but the unifying force is Cohen's supportive, distinctive vocals and his vision.

'WATER IS BLOOD' starts off with a strong, steady rhythm and then Catman's ominous warning that "in the 21st century, all major wars will be water wars." Despite the solemn topic the instrumentation is snappy yet turns more dark and urgent as the song progresses. Lead vocalists, Henry Iglesias and Sarah Taylor convey their message with passion and power.

"CAPTAIN OF INDUSTRY" is another hard-hitting tune criticizing corporate greed. It has a catchy beat, dynamic instrumentation and potent, harmonizing vocals. '

"INGRID KNOWS WHO I AM' is an intense instrumental starting off with passionate piano and picking up the pace with Latin inspired guitars and rhythms.

Cohen's music is blunt and intriguing. Catman not only expresses his concern for the world but has pledged to donate 20% of the net profits from How I Want To Live to organizations that prevent the privatization of water.

* Recommended Tracks: ( WATER IS BLOOD, CAPTAIN OF INDUSTRY, INGRID KNOWS WHO I AM)

Laura Turner Lynch, Reviewer

KWEEVAK.com

August 31, 2005

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HOW I WANT TO LIVE is really at the nexus of funk and gospel; the soulful female lyrics that are so dominant on the track really take listeners back to the days of disco for the tracks five-plus minute runtime. The triple-vocals present on WATER IS BLOOD really add a controlled chaos to the track, something interesting that really gives individuals a reason to look at the liner notes. The liner notes really show Catman's concern about the oncoming water shortage that will hit the United States in the next few years (to combat this, Catman is donating proceeds from each album that will benefit water organizations). Later tracks like IF I COULD DIVIDE THE SMELL OF FLOWERS do not have the urgency of tracks like WATER IS BLOOD and try desperately to make up for this lack with a more nuanced instrumentation.

TOMORROW'S NOT ALWAYS LIKE TODAY is perhaps the most chilling song present on the entirety of HOW I WANT TO LIVE. Most exciting about the track is that Catman's vocals transcend the Cookie Monster terminology for the duration of the song to have a certain catchiness that is only increased by the smooth vocals of Henry Iglesias. In fact, the continual repetition of "Wake Up!" is almost with the same urgency and importance that the same phrase had in Spike Lee's School Daze. The tenor of Catman's voice during the second half of the CD really is an improvement from the first disc, and gives listeners hope that future discs will incorporate these small aural differences.

SOUNDS OF LOVE is a track that starts out with a fair share of wobbliness, especially during the faux-ethnic vocals that dominate at times, but really has a kernel of catchiness that is truly allowed to pop in one's ears at certain times. SUPERMAN (It's Not Easy), the disc's one cover is done in a way that far outstrips the schmaltzy Five For Fighting original, and also has stylistic ties to Warren Zevon's last few CDs of work.

HOW I WANT TO LIVE should be How The Fans Want Catman To Live; this disc is far more compelling and impressive than Catman's last go around, owing much (in my opinion) to the increased presence of Catman on the disc. Catman's grizzled vocals on Superman are the perfect encapsulation of the disc in toto; there is no emotion verboten to pass unmodified through Catman's lips this time.

Top Tracks: SUPERMAN (It's Not Easy), IF I COULD DIVIDE THE SMELL OF FLOWERS

James McQuiston, Editor

NEUFUTUR.COM

August 28, 2005

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