Mr. Holland's Opium by Iceberg Noel

What followed were a solo album by each, and the newly released "Mr. Holland's Opium". Iceberg's solo album, "Highway Songs", is best described as a blend of alternative-country and rock. It received extensive radio play in several states and in Europe.

Immediately upon finishing "Highway Songs" (of which Iceberg was also the producer, engineer, and mixer), he began working on "Mr. Holland's Opium" - a project that seemed to have a life of its own right from the beginning. It led Iceberg and Noël down a different road than the previous albums had, and the finished result was a collection of songs more intimate and personal than either had anticipated.

Reaction to "Mr. Holland's Opium" has been nothing but positive, proving what Iceberg and Noël had suspected all along - that they make an excellent team. Also produced, engineered and mixed by Iceberg, "Mr. Holland's Opium" is filled with energetic guitars, hypnotic rhythms and soul-baring lyrics.

Shannon Noël was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and grew up in the beautiful Annapolis Valley, about an hour away. With musicians on both sides of the family, it was hardly surprising when Shannon began taking an interest in music at an early age. By the age of five, she could sing a wide variety of songs accompanied by her father on piano, guitar or fiddle. At eight she began taking piano lessons, and by nine she was singing soprano in the school choir.

In her teen years Noël began to blossom into a fine young writer and soon began to consider a career in writing. This new road eventually led her to earn her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English, with emphasis in Creative Writing, from Acadia University. After graduating, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee to pursue a songwriting career, joining her love of music with her love of the written word. A short while later she met producer Shane Iceberg and the two started collaborating on a collection of country-pop songs that would become Shannon Noël's 1998 debut release, "Come What May". The project was produced, engineered and mixed by Iceberg and released on the Tiger Moon Records label. The CD was an instant favorite with independant radio stations on the east coast from Florida to Nova Scotia, resulting in much radio activity for Noël. Heavy airplay in France resulted in several appearances on their charts as well.

In 1999, Shannon and Shane formed a rock band called Iceberg Noël. Released in 2002, the new CD, "Mr. Holland's Opium", is an appealing collection of trippy alternative-rock tunes with psychedelic guitars, hypnotic rhythms, cool arrangements, strong vocals, and intense, thought-provoking lyrics. With a unique voice that's been described as dark, earthy and full of raw emotion, Noël is ready and poised to take the Alternative Music Industry by storm.

Average Customer Review: 5