Naked Blue

“Weightless” is the perfect description for the newest release by Naked Blue, which features a collection of acoustic, pop, singer/songwriter tunes that have an effortless feel to them. The music relies as much on the arrangement and mix as they do on the melody and musicianship. Throughout the CD, deliberate lyrics are painted into the score of each song, with the use of complex background vocals, stripped down percussion, and an eclectic mix of instrumentation.
The title track “Weightless,” uses the metaphor of a paper airplane as a symbol for simple, everyday living, and introduces the listener to Jenn & Scott Smith, who are the founders of Naked Blue. Jenn delivers intentional yet subtle vocals that allow the composition to breathe, and Scott’s expertise in the studio is evident as he creates a bed of sounds that provide support, yet still feel weightless.
“Little Coins” offers the listener a different take on a percussion section, with each instrument in the rhythm section taking on its own articulated percussive role. The brushed drums lay the foundation, while the descending picked line on the acoustic guitar, and the syncopated plucked bass line help create a percussive groove.
Naked Blue puts their eclectic-acoustic sound to a country feel with the songs “Left Standing” and “Solace,” where twangy guitars fill the air, and the bass drum and tambourine take on a more prominent role.
In addition to holding down the majority of the vocals, Jen Smith also provides other instrumentation throughout the CD, including the backdrop of cello on “Charm,” and the picked bouzouki line on “Left Standing,”
The standout track on the CD is “One Hit,” which has beautiful vocal lines and lyrics. The backing music on the verse offers an assortment of perfectly placed instrumentation: the guitar plays the root on the beat and the chords on the offbeat, while the the bass drum hits on beat one with a tambourine on beat three, and the bass lays the foundation with long notes. “Life is one hit, and one hundred misses.”
Helping to create the sound of Naked Blue are some of the absolute top musicians in the Baltimore area. Eric Scott & Jay Turner lay down the foundation on bass. John Thomakos & Mark St. Pierre transformed their drum sets into percussion sections. Jen & Scott Smith used a mixture of stringed instruments to perfectly accent the stories in their songs. Ruut provided piano and background vocals. And vocalist Ellen Cherry, took the lead on “Passing Season.”
“Weightless” was recorded at The Wood and Stone Room, which is owned and operated by Scott & Jen Smith. The expert attention to mix and instrumentation is very evident throughout the entire CD. What helps to create the subtleness in sound, the poetic shaping of the vocal lines into music, and the ability of the music to feel as if it is breathing, is the deliberate placement of each instrument in the mix. This attention to detail in the sound, combined with the purposefulness of the lyrics, and the expertise in performance by the musicians is what makes Naked Blue’s “Weightless” a must have for your music collection.
For more info on Naked Blue: website / Facebook / twitter
For more info on The Wood & Stone Room.
Featured Musicians: Jen Smith (vocals, guitars, cello, bouzouki), Scott Smith (guitars, vox, keys, wurli, percussion,bass), John Thomakos (drums), Mark St. Pierre (drums), Eric Scott (bass), Jay Turner (bass), Ellen Cherry (vocals), Ruut (piano, background vocals)
Recorded & Mixed by: Scott Smith at The Wood & Stone Room.
Mastered by: Drew Mazurek
Review by: Scott Paddock - Mobtown Music Guide

“Weightless” is the perfect description for the newest release by Naked Blue, which features a collection of acoustic, pop, singer/songwriter tunes that have an effortless feel to them. The music relies as much on the arrangement and mix as they do on the melody and musicianship. Throughout the CD, deliberate lyrics are painted into the score of each song, with the use of complex background vocals, stripped down percussion, and an eclectic mix of instrumentation.
The title track “Weightless,” uses the metaphor of a paper airplane as a symbol for simple, everyday living, and introduces the listener to Jenn & Scott Smith, who are the founders of Naked Blue. Jenn delivers intentional yet subtle vocals that allow the composition to breathe, and Scott’s expertise in the studio is evident as he creates a bed of sounds that provide support, yet still feel weightless.
“Little Coins” offers the listener a different take on a percussion section, with each instrument in the rhythm section taking on its own articulated percussive role. The brushed drums lay the foundation, while the descending picked line on the acoustic guitar, and the syncopated plucked bass line help create a percussive groove.
Naked Blue puts their eclectic-acoustic sound to a country feel with the songs “Left Standing” and “Solace,” where twangy guitars fill the air, and the bass drum and tambourine take on a more prominent role.
In addition to holding down the majority of the vocals, Jen Smith also provides other instrumentation throughout the CD, including the backdrop of cello on “Charm,” and the picked bouzouki line on “Left Standing,”
The standout track on the CD is “One Hit,” which has beautiful vocal lines and lyrics. The backing music on the verse offers an assortment of perfectly placed instrumentation: the guitar plays the root on the beat and the chords on the offbeat, while the the bass drum hits on beat one with a tambourine on beat three, and the bass lays the foundation with long notes. “Life is one hit, and one hundred misses.”
Helping to create the sound of Naked Blue are some of the absolute top musicians in the Baltimore area. Eric Scott & Jay Turner lay down the foundation on bass. John Thomakos & Mark St. Pierre transformed their drum sets into percussion sections. Jen & Scott Smith used a mixture of stringed instruments to perfectly accent the stories in their songs. Ruut provided piano and background vocals. And vocalist Ellen Cherry, took the lead on “Passing Season.”
“Weightless” was recorded at The Wood and Stone Room, which is owned and operated by Scott & Jen Smith. The expert attention to mix and instrumentation is very evident throughout the entire CD. What helps to create the subtleness in sound, the poetic shaping of the vocal lines into music, and the ability of the music to feel as if it is breathing, is the deliberate placement of each instrument in the mix. This attention to detail in the sound, combined with the purposefulness of the lyrics, and the expertise in performance by the musicians is what makes Naked Blue’s “Weightless” a must have for your music collection.
For more info on Naked Blue: website / Facebook / twitter
For more info on The Wood & Stone Room.
Featured Musicians: Jen Smith (vocals, guitars, cello, bouzouki), Scott Smith (guitars, vox, keys, wurli, percussion,bass), John Thomakos (drums), Mark St. Pierre (drums), Eric Scott (bass), Jay Turner (bass), Ellen Cherry (vocals), Ruut (piano, background vocals)
Recorded & Mixed by: Scott Smith at The Wood & Stone Room.
Mastered by: Drew Mazurek
Review by: Scott Paddock - Mobtown Music Guide

“Listening to their new disc, Five by Five, one can't help but be lured into a mental game of names that sound-alike: some Alanis Morissette here, some Aimee Mann
there, a touch of Jonatha Brooke and Lucinda Williams tossed in for good measure. That's not to negate their craft however; theirs is the type of sounds that's ready-made for radio; obvious hooks, engaging melodies and songs that are consistently easy on the ears. ...this is an album so filled with mass appeal melodies, it doesn't take a song about sunshine to warm up to their efforts.”
- Miami News & Entertainment

“Listening to their new disc, Five by Five, one can't help but be lured into a mental game of names that sound-alike: some Alanis Morissette here, some Aimee Mann
there, a touch of Jonatha Brooke and Lucinda Williams tossed in for good measure. That's not to negate their craft however; theirs is the type of sounds that's ready-made for radio; obvious hooks, engaging melodies and songs that are consistently easy on the ears. ...this is an album so filled with mass appeal melodies, it doesn't take a song about sunshine to warm up to their efforts.”
- Miami News & Entertainment

Baltimore husband and wife due Naked Blue did a set that totally put me into heaven. These two are just heartbreakingly good. The lyrics, the chemistry, the tempo and the addictive songs sent me home feeling like I had won a music lottery. Dianne Lilli - JerseyTomatoPress

Baltimore husband and wife due Naked Blue did a set that totally put me into heaven. These two are just heartbreakingly good. The lyrics, the chemistry, the tempo and the addictive songs sent me home feeling like I had won a music lottery. Dianne Lilli - JerseyTomatoPress

Naked Blue open their newest album with
Jennifer Smith’s little-girl-lost vocals in
lilting melody, halfwhispered over acoustic
guitar played like sweetness given ? ngers. The
term “tour de force” is
thrown around too easily, but if there’s one
album that lives up to that description, it’s
Naked Blue’sWeightless.
The duo ? eshes out airy arrangements
with relentless optimism, Prince-like guitars
heavy on thewah, and drums that nail the
airiness to the edge of the bedside table.
Smith’s lyrics are brave adventures in the
exploration of themes that are well-worn but
rarely this well understood. She addresses
adult themes in a wide-eyed voice with the
kind of wild knowledge earned on emotional
battle? elds; she sings of fallen love (“Left
Standing”), chances lost (“One Hit”) and on
“Poison Me,” easily the bluesiest tune on the
album, lost love and bad relationships.
On the driving rocker “Radio Song,” Eric
Scott’s background vocals and gorgeous
guitars throw smoke down over ground
covered by Smith’s “life goes on” outlook. In
fact, Scott’s guitars and production are both
pointand counterpoint to Smith’s lyrics.
Alternately sweeping and wildly crunchy, his
guitars are full of tone and heat.
Weightless sounds like two veteran
musicians with something to say and the
tools with which to say it giving full rein to
a breathtaking artistry. D AV I D M O R R E A L E - Elmore Magazine

Naked Blue open their newest album with
Jennifer Smith’s little-girl-lost vocals in
lilting melody, halfwhispered over acoustic
guitar played like sweetness given ? ngers. The
term “tour de force” is
thrown around too easily, but if there’s one
album that lives up to that description, it’s
Naked Blue’sWeightless.
The duo ? eshes out airy arrangements
with relentless optimism, Prince-like guitars
heavy on thewah, and drums that nail the
airiness to the edge of the bedside table.
Smith’s lyrics are brave adventures in the
exploration of themes that are well-worn but
rarely this well understood. She addresses
adult themes in a wide-eyed voice with the
kind of wild knowledge earned on emotional
battle? elds; she sings of fallen love (“Left
Standing”), chances lost (“One Hit”) and on
“Poison Me,” easily the bluesiest tune on the
album, lost love and bad relationships.
On the driving rocker “Radio Song,” Eric
Scott’s background vocals and gorgeous
guitars throw smoke down over ground
covered by Smith’s “life goes on” outlook. In
fact, Scott’s guitars and production are both
pointand counterpoint to Smith’s lyrics.
Alternately sweeping and wildly crunchy, his
guitars are full of tone and heat.
Weightless sounds like two veteran
musicians with something to say and the
tools with which to say it giving full rein to
a breathtaking artistry. D AV I D M O R R E A L E - Elmore Magazine

"For me this duo from Baltimore represents an excellent example of how it's possible for great artists to fly just below the radar of most of the world...fabulous music, great songs and a unique musical point of view are a couple of reasons to
dig a little deeper.”
- ReallyMusicRadio

"For me this duo from Baltimore represents an excellent example of how it's possible for great artists to fly just below the radar of most of the world...fabulous music, great songs and a unique musical point of view are a couple of reasons to
dig a little deeper.”
- ReallyMusicRadio

“Jennifer reminds us of people like Shawn Colvin, Edie Brickell, Jonatha Brooke and Allison Krauss. We love this one.”
- Recording Magazine

“Jennifer reminds us of people like Shawn Colvin, Edie Brickell, Jonatha Brooke and Allison Krauss. We love this one.”
- Recording Magazine

“Naked Blue, led by the super smooth vocals of Jennifer Smith, has produced a superb pop folk record with ‘Five by Five‘. Smith’s delivery is flawless, lilting, soulful and never misses. The Baltimore-based band sticks with their folk roots, but isn’t afraid to push that sound with a lot of funk infused into tunes like Break Me. Five by Five is a great record and should position Naked Blue among the best folk acts working.”
- Pop Culture Press

“Naked Blue, led by the super smooth vocals of Jennifer Smith, has produced a superb pop folk record with ‘Five by Five‘. Smith’s delivery is flawless, lilting, soulful and never misses. The Baltimore-based band sticks with their folk roots, but isn’t afraid to push that sound with a lot of funk infused into tunes like Break Me. Five by Five is a great record and should position Naked Blue among the best folk acts working.”
- Pop Culture Press

“(Five by Five is) a charming, grown-up adult contemporary album. Singer Jen out-Crows Sheryl on clever tracks like "Miami", and out-Colvins Shawn on the smoky, sexy, bluesy "Break Me". Scott's guitar lends a friendly twang to album
opener "Pink Hat", and his choogling dobro propels the sweet (but not saccharine) love song "Extraordinarily". A simple, intimate album about being in and out of love, Five by Five is adult contemporary for people who think
"adult contemporary" is a bad word.”
- Pop Matters

“(Five by Five is) a charming, grown-up adult contemporary album. Singer Jen out-Crows Sheryl on clever tracks like "Miami", and out-Colvins Shawn on the smoky, sexy, bluesy "Break Me". Scott's guitar lends a friendly twang to album
opener "Pink Hat", and his choogling dobro propels the sweet (but not saccharine) love song "Extraordinarily". A simple, intimate album about being in and out of love, Five by Five is adult contemporary for people who think
"adult contemporary" is a bad word.”
- Pop Matters

“Naked Blue has that universal appeal musicians yearn for. (Five by Five) will make you dance and cry.”
- Paste Magazine

“Naked Blue has that universal appeal musicians yearn for. (Five by Five) will make you dance and cry.”
- Paste Magazine