Lorraine Devon Wilke - Somewhere on the Way

'...among the year's finest accomplishments in Triple A rock.' Michael Sutton - CDReviews.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * "SOMEWHERE ON THE WAY is the perfect title for road trip quality this release contains. It's got everything covered, from love to heartbreak to how to move on with your life! Lorraine Devon Wilke's power ballads could land a permanent spot as background music to some of your favorite Lifetime shows. Picture Melissa Etheridge driving a '57 Chevy, stopping to pick up Bonnie Raitt and Reba McEntire on the way. Before the trip ends, hitchhikers Lucinda Williams and Sheryl Crow jumped in for a long, girls only trip out to the West coast. Pure enjoyment, Lorraine Devon Wilke's SOMEWHERE ON THE WAY should be "somewhere" on your CD changer. It's awesome!' Heather Corcoran - GOGIRLSMUSIC.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 'SOMEWHERE ON THE WAY should be a film. This is more than just a collection of songs; instead, it's a storyline, a tale of a woman going through a series of relationships until she is finally content. Singer/songwriter Lorraine Devon Wilke has produced the kind of album that listeners will still play years from now. Not only is the subject matter timeless material, but the music - Adult Contemporary rock with a bluesy backdrop - has no references of time.' 'But first focus on Wilke's voice. How she expresses her feelings of romantic disappointment, especially on 'Drowning' and 'Comfort Me,' should be used as a model on how it is done. Her singing sizzles with real feeling; they are confessions from a fiery spirit who has suffered and yet is refusing to cool the fire in her heart.' 'The lyrics are brutally honest, and men will most likely see themselves in one or more of her narratives. However, this should not be mistaken for some kind of feminist road rage; far from it. Wilke is merely telling it like it is; whether she is in love or pain, she let's it out without holding anything back.' Jacob Dykstra - GirlPosse.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 'There are two kinds of '80s rock & roll veterans - those who continue to pursue the path they had originally embarked upon, shifting trends be damned, or those who change gears. Only the keenest ears will be able to detect that singer/songwriter Lorraine Devon Wilke once fronted a New Wave band in the '80s, even opening up for future industrialists Ministry. Having had the pleasure of hearing the unreleased recordings of Los Angeles group Devon, I can safely say that Wilke's solo debut has virtually nothing in common stylistically with her old work. Like Ian McNabb of the Icicle Works or John Griffith of the Red Rockers, Wilke has left her post-punk days behind for a sound embracing American roots rock. The result is a soulful, down-to-Earth record that rides a roller coaster of emotions.' 'The opening cut, 'Drowning,' begins the album on a downward spiral. The laidback acoustic intro is torn to shreds once Wilke rips into the chorus: 'Somebody give me an anchor/Somebody throw me a line/Somebody tell me to breathe, I just might drown this time.' The sense of urgency in her voice is vivid and compelling. Moreover, she is a disciplined singer, knowing when to reach the heights of emotion and when to cool down. 'You Say I Say' continues her pain over a failed relationship, brittle guitars tracing every wound in her lyrics. But, despite the heartrending subject matter, these are not sad songs; rather, they are cathartic. Everybody, no matter what gender, has been through the crap that she sings about here. 'Comfort Me' concludes the initial chapters of sorrow, and it is on this tune that Wilke's vocals sizzle with bluesy intensity.' 'By 'Believer,' Wilke has started the healing process. It's an exhilarating turning point on the LP, opening the doors to a brighter future. 'My Good Good Man' is as tender and warm as the first few songs are ticked off and disconsolate. 'I've sung so many harsh words/About the ones who've broken my heart,' Wilke sings in a clever reference to the album's introductory tracks. It's a powerful moment, among the album's many highlights.' 'SOMEWHERE ON THE WAY has some of the best and cleanest production you'll hear on an independent release. The guitars and drums are crisp and every nuance in Wilke's voice is captured wonderfully. And, even when the lyrics are grim, the songs are catchy. Call it an album if you will. It actually resembles a good book; one with it's share of tragedies but has a happy ending. There are records that are merely listened to and ones that are experienced; Somewhere On The Way is beyond that. It's a summary of what we've lived through, how we coped and eventually triumphed.' Michael Sutton - CDReviews.com * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 'Before Melissa Etheridge became a glossy sellout to Adult Contemporary radio, she had the rawness and artistic integrity that Lorraine Devon Wilke, former leader of the obscure Los Angeles group DEVON, showcases here. Perhaps it's the difference between being a major-label musician and one that is on her own. No matter. This is the album that I've been waiting Etheridge to do since I saw her blast through the Grammy Awards begging for water in the late '80s. Much of the material here is confessional; Wilke has a melancholy streak or at least she's been through enough rocky relationships that left towering bruises on her heart. There's pain in her lyrics, real pain: In 'It's Not Over,' she asks, 'Would you step over a heart left on the floor?' Wilke doesn't restrain herself from expressing the hurt inside. 'Drowning,' for example, is merciless; there is no silver lining here at all. 'Maybe this one will be the one to stay/The one who sees behind her eyes/But when he leaves without ever noticing/She reaches out to emptiness and cries,' Wilke sings as the story concludes.' 'Her bluesy delivery, carrying the weight of a lifetime's worth of romantic disappointment, films her tales in DVD clarity images. One can almost see these tracks forming a feature film. The heroine struggles through the aches of failure and disillusionment until she finally meets Mr. Right in 'My Good Good Man.' Since most of today's music is geared towards kids, it's such a rewarding experience to hear a record as mature and ultimately uplifting as this. Lyrics aside, Wilke has top-of-the-line backing musicians who capture the sparks in her words. Indeed, this is almost like a band effort than a solo album. However, it is Wilke who stands tall at the end. Having suffered through a trail of dashed hopes, she does find true love at the end. There's nothing sugarcoated about it, either. Wilke keeps it real, presenting Life As We Know It with no artificial sweeteners.' Kyrby Raine - SHOTGUN REVIEWS, entertainment webzine * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 'There is a quality in singer/songwriter Lorraine Devon Wilke's voice that is hard to find in these artificial, studio-glossed times: character. Like Bonnie Raitt or Chrissie Hynde, Wilke sings from the deepest recesses of her soul. There is a kick, a punch, or a wallop in her vocals that comes from human experience but also astounding talent. Once you hear her, the once striking voices of youngsters such as Tori Amos and Fiona Apple lose their strength to really move us. They sound flat in comparison. Musically speaking, Wilke's brew of blues and country is rich with passion and fire; this is a woman who's 'been there, done that,' and 'isn't going to take anymore crap.' However, her frustrations are expressed in more subtle ways.' 'For years men have had a monopoly on the blues, forgetting that women have their bad days - and bad lives - too. On Somewhere on the Way, Wilke struggles with the kind of men many of us have dated in the past. Nearly every girl my age will be able to relate to 'Comfort Me' and it's indecisive man. Nevertheless, it's not all Dear John letters here; there are moments of joy, such as on 'My Good Good Man,' which will probably be my theme song if the science fiction of finding Mr. Right does become a reality.' Karla Ash - THE WIG FITS ALL HEADS, music webzine * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 'Gritty, passionate, earthy, literate and earnest...AMG picks: Misguided, Comfort Me, Drowning, Richer For Rain.' AMG - All Music Guide * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 'Our Rating: 9 out of 10 stars...this lady can sing the blues! Unlike so many contemporary female vocalists today, singer/songwriter Lorraine Devon Wilke can really reach into her gut and unleash those buried emotions with scorching intensity. No, I'm not talking about screaming, which is what numerous women musicians do these days, especially post-Alanis. Wilke has a grip on her voice as an instrument; it is raspy like Bonnie Raitt's but conveys strength as well as compassion and sorrow. She is able to shift gears with her vocals effortlessly, illustrating the feelings in her words. Her voice also reminiscent of the sisters from Heart, Wilke balances sweet and sour with equal aplomb.' 'The power of Wilke's singing is revealed immediately as it builds up in the opening track, 'Drowning.' 'Somebody give me an anchor/Somebody throw me a line,' she pleads, her vocals set ablaze with fiery passion. The blues is all about emotion, and Wilke is in total control; she is aware of when to reign it in or when to let it rip.' 'There's much sadness on this record, and Wilke's poetic heartaches draw blood. In 'Comfort Me,' she sings, 'You play the role of being undecided/While I just suffer love like a bitter wine.' This is personal, powerful, and intimate material. Nevertheless, the love song 'My Good Good Man' opens the door to sunlight.' 'A mixture of blues, country, and acoustic pop, SOMEWHERE ON THE WAY distinguishes itself from it's competition with it's soulful songwriting and a new voice that crackles the ice.' Adam Harrington - WHISPERIN & HOLLERIN, UK webzine * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 'Before country music became as pretty as fashion models, it had the kind of grit and heartfelt woe that is present on Lorraine Devon Wilke's debut album. A veteran of the Los Angeles music scene, some might remember her fronting the early-'80s new wave band Devon. Gone are the hairspray and bright outfits, and Wilke certainly doesn't sing like a post-punk star here. Nevertheless, the emotional honesty of the genre drives her songs. Wilke isn't scared to open her diary to the world; if these aren't autobiographical tales, then she must be an outstanding actress to express such sadness so convincingly.' 'Wilke is looking for love in the all wrong places, as the cliché goes. With 'Drowning,' 'You Say I Say' and 'Comfort Me,' Wilke begins the record with a trio of downbeat numbers elevated by the breathtaking rush of her soulful, blues-y vocals. Lyrically, Wilke is plumbing the depths of despair -- however, none of it is depressing. Not once does Wilke sound like she is giving up, letting the black clouds of busted relationships rain over her. Rather, she is questioning, searching for answers and a way to repair the damage. There's sardonic humor, too: 'I know that I've got some of my own baggage/But damn...yours could fill a room.'' 'Melissa Etheridge and Bonnie Raitt are easy comparisons, but Wilke follows a path of her own. This is a woman completely unconcerned about the commercial appeal of her songs, whether or not they're too long or unhappy for FM radio. She speaks from inside; hear her roar.' Kyrby Raine - INK 19 Magazine * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 'Reject the idea that independent music must be some low-fidelity weirdness, played amateurishly, and peppered with high-I.Q. sarcasm. Lorraine Devon Wilke's SOMEWHERE ON THE WAY is none of those things. This is a straightforward, possibly autobiographical record that is haunted by the blues and drunk from the whiskey of country. Wilke was once in a New Wave band called Devon, a group that was apparently overlooked in the '80s Los Angeles music scene. Hopefully Wilke's solo career won't meet the same fate. Her '80s roots certainly don't show, as there's nothing synthetic or danceable here. This is a mature album but not in the negative sense of the word. Usually 'mature' is used to describe records from aging rock stars that've been sapped of their creativity and raw emotions. That's not the case here. Take a sip from 'Comfort Me' and taste the bitter pills in the water.' Elizabeth Pangan - Alternative Rock Review - UK webzine * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 'One of the things that music always needs, well, any form of performed art, needs new material. The art of songwriting is something that kind of vanished in terms of the golden days of the Brill Building. But these are very, very literate and emotional songs. One of the things that I love about the CD - you know, we hear this all the time, they don't write 'em like they used to. Well...you do!' Doug McIntyre, KABC Talk Radio 790 AM * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 'We have great success with the rootsy, bluesy, ballsy female vocalists; Lorraine Devon Wilke will sound very nice next to the likes of Melissa Etheridge and Lucinda Williams.' AOL RADIO - Female Focus Station * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * SOMEWHERE ON THE WAY, the new release from singer/songwriter LORRAINE DEVON WILKE, is a collection of songs written from the heart and soul of a woman who's seen and experienced life's ups and downs and discovered she's not only still standing, but ready to keep dancing up the road. Written, arranged, and produced by Devon Wilke and guitarist Rick M. Hirsch, co-produced by ace engineer John Perez at Audioworks Recording in Glendale, CA, Devon Wilke is backed by the exceptional team of Hirsch on acoustic and electric guitars and guitar synth, Tony Brock (The Babys, Rod Stewart) on drums, Will MacGregor (Tori Amos, Exene Cervenka) on bass, Chris Many on keys, and Sandra Beane on cello. Briefly released as Richer for Rain under her band moniker, ROAD TO BLUE, the release of Somewhere On the Way came as the result of the project's evolution from it's band incarnation to Devon Wilke's emergence as a solo artist. WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING: 'I don't know how anyone can listen to this music and not be affected, soothed, understood, moved, and inspired. Two songs in particular stopped me in my tracks and brought me to tears...a truly astounding piece of work.' P. Royce 'I am very picky about the music that I listen to these days and even more picky about the music that I buy. If it doesn't create a reaction deep inside me, it is wasting my time. Within 25 seconds of listening to Misguided, I knew that I had to have this album. As soon as it arrives it will go straight into rotation in my car's CD changer and stay there for a long time!' J. Kennedy 'I can't begin to tell you how much I'm enjoying the CD. I don't think I've ever had a collection of songs affect me quite so strongly. When I first started listening to it I was a little disturbed because the words hit home so hard. I can also tell from the way you sing the songs the words are coming from your heart. The really strange part is I feel I know you. You are an amazing talent and I am a new fan!' J. Cook 'This is a wonderfully crafted CD, both musically and lyrically. As a male of the species, I am amazed at the impact this CD had on me. This is a recording that deals head-on with women's issues and delivers them with passion and guts, communicating their intent fully. And for those men out there who might be afraid of these concepts, look at if from the male ego's point of view. It's all about you.' B. Caillier 'Blues, rock and folk with passion! This CD brings the listener from the all-too-often pain of life's necessary lessons to the understanding that sunshine is fully appreciated only after a storm.' B. Hayman 'I really love the CD. A very powerful, but expressive voice, and the songs have hit potential.' C. Olson 'These days you find a CD with one good tune on it. The rest are usually mediocre or really lame. This CD has so many that I would call my favorites...where do I begin? 'Comfort Me' is my favorite. Then 'My Good Good Man,' 'Drowning,' and 'It's Not Over.' I loved them all. It is singularly brilliant. From lyrics like 'He said, keep your knickers up but let your guard down, baby' to the chorus of 'Drowning'... I could go on and on and I will. I will listen to it over and over.' T. Romanus 'Love 'My Search For You.' Great voice, love the mood of the music, has radio quality.' J. Hamm 'Laughing and crying and loving every line! I loved the song 'MY GOOD GOOD MAN' so much that I have decided to play it at my wedding for my husband to be, while guests are waiting for me to walk down the aisle. I laughed and cried when I heard this CD. It reminded me of all the years I never thought I would find someone to love and when I finally surrendered and saw my life from a different perspective, I found my soul mate. Thank you for this amazing and profound and rocking CD.' D. Parsons 'You have succeeded in blowing my mind. I love the heartfelt lyrics. I think your voice is awesome, the songwriting is very tight and direct, the production has more punch and imagination than a lot of the major label stuff I listen to. I especially enjoyed 'Misguided' and 'Comfort Me.'' A. Collins 'Man, the girl can rock! The lyrics speak to us whose life experiences have banged up our hearts but not our spirits! Great album!' M. Hamlen.

1) Drowning
2) You Say I Say
3) Comfort Me
4) Believer
5) My Good Good Man
6) It's Not Over
7) My Search for You
8) Misguided
9) Healer
10) Like a Child
11) Richer for Rain