Love and Other Words by Short & Sweet

immediately transports you back to the time when folk songs and the stories that fueled them were the mainstream norm and kept groves of people packed in coffeehouses in complete silence listening to every word in the story...I often wish the people would create some sort of folk revival on a big scale--and if they did, you would hear Short & Sweet in the frontlines of it."

- Julian Skye, AlphaMusicGroup

"Amsden at the vocal wheels [sounds] a bit like a tenor Johnny Cash..reminding me of some of the better 70s folk artists...*While Trees Fall* is Landis' political ecological statement that comes off ten times better than some of the current attempts...subtle and indicting lyrics...James Taylor or lesser known guitarist Bob Bennett would be proud of the musicianship...unashamed love songs...the songs that we all wish to write to our better/other half...Somehow Landis and Amsden have done it and done it well...an overdue tribute to their engaging stage performance...the sound of a polished folk band that could and should make it big."

- Jake Nuckolls, Editor, CDReviews.com

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AWARD-WINNING SONGWRITING

Robyn and Steve have won or placed in a staggering 30+ national and international songwriting competitions just since 2005, appearing at folk festivals across the country.

* Robyn was a top 6 finalist in the 2005 Suwannee Springfest Songwriting Competition for "While Trees Fall."

* Robyn was a top 10 finalist in the 2005 Tucson Folk Festival Songwriting Contest for "Winter Blues" and "Say Goodbye" (the latter co-written with Steve).

*"Say Goodbye" also won an Honorable Mention in the 2005 Songprize.com International Songwriting Competition.

*"Say Goodbye" was a semi-finalist in the 2005 U.K. International Songwriting Competition.

* Robyn was one of 10 finalists in the 2005 Solarfest Songwriter's Showcase in Vermont (although could not attend due to previously scheduled shows).

*"Winter Blues" won an Honorable Mention in the 2005 Woody Guthrie Songwriting Competition.

* Robyn was one of 10 finalists in the Tumbleweed Music Festival's Songwriting Contest with "When I Get There" in September 2005.

*"While Trees Fall" won in the acoustic category in the William Robert Abate Song Competition in September 2005. This contest, in conjunction with the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, awards songs that promote peace, love, community, and/or speak out against violence, war or hate, and only one winner is chosen in each category.

*"While Trees Fall" made the second round of finals in the 2005 International Songwriting Competition.

* Robyn won an honorable mention in the 2005 Billboard Song Contest for "When I Get There."

* Steve and Robyn won an honorable mention in the 2005 Billboard Song Contest for their co-written "Say Goodbye."

* Steve won an honorable mention in the 2005 Billboard Song Contest for "Closing Time."

* Steve was one of three finalists in the 2006 Susquehanna Folk Music Society Songwriting Contest.

* Steve won an honorable mention in the Peacedriven Songwriting Competition for "Cutthroat" in April 2006.

* Robyn was a top 40 Finalist in the Peacedriven Songwriting Competition for "While Trees Fall" in April 2006.

* "Say Goodbye" received honorable mention in the folk category of the 2006 West Coast Songwriters International Song Contest.

* Robyn was one of 10 finalists in the 2006 Tucson Folk Festival Songwriting Contest in May 2006.

* Robyn was one of 10 finalists in the 2006 KRCL/Founder's Title Folk & Bluegrass Festival Songwriter's Showcase in July 2006.

* Robyn was an alternate finalist in the 2006 Solarfest Songwriter's Showcase in July 2006.

* Robyn won FIRST PLACE (for "Glad to Hear The Rain") *and* an honorable mention (for "I'm In Love") in the 2006 Woody Guthrie Folk Festival Songwriting Competition in July 2006.

* Robyn won SECOND PLACE (with "While Trees Fall") in the Acoustic/Folk Category of the 2005 Unisong Songwriting Competition in July 2006. "While Trees Fall" also was a Top 20 winner in the contest's Social/Political category; she was a Top 20 Winner in the contest's Lyrics category for an as-yet unrecorded song; and the co-written "Say Goodbye" received an honorable mention in the Acoustic/Folk category. Steve's "Comes A Flood" won honorable mention in Unisong's AAA/Americana category.

* Robyn was a finalist in the 3rd Annual Williamsburg Live (Brooklyn, New York) Songwriting Competition with "While Trees Fall" in September 2006.

* Robyn won an honorable mention in Nashville's River Bluff Music Festival for "While Trees Fall" in September 2006.

* Robyn & Steve won first place in the 2006 International Narrative Song Competition for "Say Goodbye," announced January 2007.

* Robyn won an honorable mention in the 2006 International Narrative Song Competition for "I'm In Love."

* Robyn won an honorable mention in the 2007 Singer-Songwriter Awards for "I'm In Love."

* Steve won an honorable mention in the 2007 West Coast International Songwriting Competition for "Comes A Flood."

* Robyn won an honorable mention in the 2007 West Coast International Songwriting Competition for "Winter Blues."

* Robyn was a finalist in the 2007 Tucson Folk Festival Songwriting Contest in May 2007.

* Robyn was a finalist in the 2006 KRCL/Founder's Title Folk & Bluegrass Festival Performing Songwriter's Showcase in July 2007.

* Robyn was a finalist in the 2007 Solarfest Performing Songwriter's Showcase in July 2007.

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This exceptional debut release by Northwest-based acoustic duo Short & Sweet introduces a gifted pair of singer-songwriters to the indie folk/acoustic/Americana scene. Thirteen original songs (some penned by lead guitarist Steve Amsden, others by rhythm guitarist Robyn Landis, some co-written) manage to gracefully and effortlessly traverse a diverse musical landscape stretching gently toward the borders of rock/pop, country/bluegrass and even jazz/torch while holding on to its clean contemporary folk thread.

Consistently intelligent, literate, sometimes cunning lyrics--ranging from matters of heart and soul to those of church, state, and world--are framed by confident, heartfelt, yet understated vocals and ambient, sparkling guitars. Amsden delivers a passionate Springsteenesque baritone; Landis's clear, intimate and wistful soprano reveals husky depths and shadows, and offers an occasional surprise bite. Harmonies serve up a pleasing blend that's sweet indeed.

With emotional resonance, character and honesty, the partners cover ground from love's first blush to its impending demise, from political to personal hubris--not too literal, but rendered with dexterity in thoughtful, articulate verse.

While relatively spare in instrumentation, the music is strikingly textured with the brilliant, breathtaking fiddle work of virtuoso Paul Elliott. Bassist Cary Black (formerly of the Kingston Trio and other great bands) raises the bar with exceedingly solid backbone on every song. Steel guitar by Dan Tyack--sometimes high and lonesome, sometimes rocking David Lindley-esque--rounds out the impressive musicianship represented here.

Amsden's lead playing reflects a gift for creating signature hooks which, coupled with both writers' ability to craft appealing and accessible melodies, gives each song a quick and lasting imprint.

From the riveting, muted fury of the eco-political indictment "While Trees Fall" to the quiet, haunting resignation of "Say Goodbye"; from the yearning called forth by the richly-imaged, mesmeric and meditative "In Your Arms" to the restrained menace in the chillingly prophetic "Cutthroat"; from the impish hint of lounge lizardry in the clever, tautly wordsmithed "Closing Time" to the tender nostalgia of "Calico Creek"; and from the bittersweet stirring of awakening evoked by the roadsong-worthy "When I Get There" to the buoyant, unabashedly sticky "Kiss/Met" (a bright popsicle of a song telling the couple's own story in three head-bobbing verses)--and more--each of these 13 tunes is distinctive, honest and engaging.

Since the CD's release, a mere five of Robyn's songs have generated 27 national and international honors and awards. Landis, a professional writer all her life, has turned her deft and powerful command of language toward songcraft, and has already garnered comparisons to Richard Shindell and Dar Williams.

While the duo have been performing together for years--and Amsden was a Nashville regular before taking a decade off to singlehandedly raise his three children--this is their first full-length CD release (self-produced on the artists' own label, Take One Again Music). Enigmatically (or perhaps randomly) named--they're of identical height, and not all the songs are especially short nor purely sweet--this is a talented pair of musicians, offering a formidable recording debut sure to satisfy fans of the genre. You'll want to hear more from these two--and you will.

*FULL REVIEW: CDReviews.com*

Island life is much different than life on the mainland. Things are slower and more peaceful. The wandering explorer finds many more empty barns and overgrown cottages to explore. Being surrounded by water forces the visitor to realize that any appointments on the mainland are going to have to wait for the ferry. People often are different. This is the kind of atmosphere that is evoked when listening to Short and Sweet, a folk band from Vashon Island in Washington State.

Composed of two musicians, Robyn Landis and Steve Amsden, Short and Sweet have been around for several years and yet this is their first official release. Amsden, already an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, teamed up with Landis in 2001 under the moniker Short and Sweet. Landis, when not playing music, is also an established author. Within the last year she has participated and competed in a variety of songwriting competitions and won first prize at the William Robert Abate Songwriting Competition for her song "While Trees Fall." Love and Other Words is the logical extension of both musicians' talent.

Beginning with "Winter Blues," Landis and Amsden evoke the image of a cold bleak landscape that extends into the dark where the sun refuses to shine. "In Your Arms" gives us Amsden at the vocal wheels sounding a bit like a tenor Johnny Cash and reminding me of some of the better 70s folk artists. "While Trees Fall" is Landis' political ecological statement that comes off ten times better than some of the current attempts. Subtle and indicting lyrics like, "They never touch the earth or they might feel its pain. If they could calculate its worth they'd sell the rain," give us a picture of an epic villain that we find out we live around constantly. "Say Goodbye" is a lullaby wrapped in the biting words of the one leaving in the dark while the other is sleeping. "When you catch on I could be long gone. Say goodbye." James Taylor or lesser known guitarist Bob Bennett would be proud of the musicianship on "Cutthroat," which, along with "That Was Then," blends the delicacy of the vocals with the restrained anger in a way that is believable but stunning.

Lighter moments on Love and Other Words are abundant. "When I Get There" is as much a traveling song as it is one of coming of age. "I'll be there first in my dreams. I won't be home until I know where these roads all lead, but I'll be there when I get there." The gentle "Calico Creek" tells the story of two lovers who met, fell in love and grew together beneath a willow tree next to Calico Creek. The unashamed love songs "I'm In Love" and "Kiss/Met" are sappy, yes, but as much as they are sappy, they represent the songs that we all wish to write to our better/other half. Putting words to all of those emotions when in love is hard enough, but trying not to sound "movie-quotish?" Near to impossible. Somehow Landis and Amsden have done it and done it well (all the while retaining the silly things we say when in love).

Love and Other Words is not a first effort for Landis and Amsden. To fans, it is an overdue tribute to their engaging stage performance. To outsiders, it is the sound of a polished folk band that could and should make it big. There is a huge market out there for bluegrass and folk right now, and with the right push, Short and Sweet could gain a greater audience.

JAKE NUCKOLLS, Editor

CDREVIEWS.com

*FULL REVIEW: Alpha Music Group*

Short & Sweet, an acoustic folk duo comprised of Steve Amsden and Robyn Landis, brings an earthy, intelligent and deeply expressive message to their songs. Individually they both have been singing, playing guitar and writing for over 30 years and have been recognized in numerous, prestigious folk songwriting contests. Their song "While Trees Fall" immediately transports you back to the time when folk songs and the stories that fueled them were the mainstream norm and kept groves of people packed in coffeehouses in complete silence listening to every word in the story, so as to not miss any profound insights or endearing thoughts. I often wish the people would create some sort of folk revival on a big scale--and if they did, you would hear Short & Sweet in the frontlines of it.

The opening line of "While Trees Fall"-- "How we treat the least of us reveals the beast in us"-- Hello? It hits you over the head and sends your brain swirling and waiting on the next lyric. It gives you chills. "While Trees Fall" is a song about how we treat our people and our world, and it is also a song that delivers a message of hope and ultimately of justice for those in power who carelessly destroy. Itís a philosophical attack on corporate America and its use of media manipulation, lies, and pursuit of financial gain at all costs that leave the trees (that would be you and me and the planet) in the wilderness stripped bare, withered and ready to fall to the barren wasteland. I personally like the strong message in the song and their belief that things can change.

JULIAN SKYE

AlphaMusicGroup

www.alphamusicgroup.com

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