Todd Smallwood - Singer Songwriter Producer

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a quote from the artist:

“. . . in order to keep up with today’s hit music, one must constantly upgrade to ‘state of the art’ technology”, Todd says, with little emotion. “It used to be that a song and a singer were at the heart of the matter, but it’s now a world of pitch correction, time quantization, emulation, simulation, duplication . . . there’s no longer a need for inspiration, dedication, or even stimulation.”

“. . . scientists and accountants — anyone with a computer can now be the great “artists” of our time — just tune in your radio . . . that’s why I’m keeping my day job.” T.S.

This quote could possibly be misconstrued. Check out "The Music" page and see if you agree . . . Editor

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featuring Jonathan Goldman, Bass Trombone (from The Buddy Rich Band)

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"Your music is the heart and soul, I believe, of what America used to be and should be and what we hope can be again!" — Brandon Markowski

What the critics are saying about "Something Big"...

5 STARS JUST AIN'T ENOUGH!!

Reviewer:

J. D. Porter

This is that very rare sort of disk on which every song is better that the last one - the sort of disk that I feel like listening to over and over again without ever hitting the SKIP button! Todd Smallwood's songwriting, vocals and instrumental work is nothing short of outstanding, and a perfect compliment to Mick Fleetwood's thundering, innovative, straight-ahead drum-craft! Hope we hear a lot more from this collaboration of extraordinarily talented folks!

ROCK ON!

Awesome!

Reviewer:

Leslie J. Luoma

I just got this CD and simply speaking, it is awesome! Absolutely recommended, I love each and every song on this album. The songwriting is excellent, musicality is amazing, and the singer's voice is magical. Love, love, love it!

A MUST HAVE CD!

Reviewer:

Susan Ransford

This CD is just AMAZING! It is rare that I find a CD that I love ALL the songs, and with this CD I love EVERY song! The lyrics are amazing! I recommend this CD to everyone! What talent!!!!! :):)

Wow! This is an Awesome CD!, August 31, 2005

Reviewer:

T. B. Vick "Learn 2 Discern" (The Lone Star State)

This CD is a mind blower. I actually did not know what to expect when I bought it (this is Mick Fleetwood, you know! Mr. Eccentric himself). However, I was wonderfully surprised.

The CD opens with a monster of a song, "Bitter End." This is a very bluesy, slide guitar song with a huge sound and a wonderful tune/hook. I'll be surprised if this song is not a hit. After this song, the CD moves into great song after great song. Todd Smallwood's vocals are wonderful, they blend well with every song, and he sounds like several great singers from Jackson Browne (who appears on the CD helping on certain songs as performer/songwriter) to Bob Dylan to Bruce Springsteen all mixed up together.

One of the better songs on the CD is 'Where the Wind Blows' which has a bluesy Bob Dylan/Jackson Brown type sound to it. It is a heavy slow waltz that has a lot of body, a big sound, great drum work and great vocal blending by Smallwood and Lauren Evans. This is one of my favorite songs on the CD (you have to sample it).

Following this tune is a funk rock type song titled "Its Only Money." The Hammond organ in the background really makes this song have some great texture. Every song on this CD is good and has a life of its own. The whole CD is good, so there is not a bad apple in the bunch (this is rare, most CD's have at least one mediocre song - but not this one!)

From blues, to rock, to ballads (like 'Making Other Plans, which has a twist on John Lennon's lyric "Life is what happens when your busy making other plans), this is becoming one of my all time favorite albums. If you like Mick Fleetwood or Fleetwood Mac, then you will most certainly enjoy this album (even though it really does not sound like a Fleetwood Mac album). I highly recommend this CD! Sample it and see for yourself.

Rock & Roll The Way It Was Meant To Be Played . . .

Excerpts from Reviewer:

Jef Fazekas

SOMETHING BIG is the kind of solid rock record Fleetwood loves to make and the kind you just don't (sadly) see much of any more. Changing from vibe to vibe and flavor to flavor with each song, this chameleon-like disc opens with the slinky "Bitter End." All sultry vocals and stinging guitars, the song is melodic and heavy all at the same time. Next up is the rollicking title track, a call-to-arms to try and attempt "something big", even if it's living your life to its fullest . . . there's sweetness to the song that's tempered by a healthy dose of wisdom. The instrumentation is sharp, yet uncluttered; Lauren Evans provides sterling backing vocals and Todd Smallwood's lead vocal, which comes across as equal parts Dylan and a male Kim Carnes (particularly in his phrasing) is heartfelt and powerful. "Where the Wind Blows" opens with an airy spoken prologue from Fleetwood that perfectly sets the stage for the wistful pub ballad. With it's strumming guitars, gentle drumming and muted accordion, you can just picture the band playing this song in some far-off Irish countryside pub, the patron's eyes and minds wandering off to better days as Smallwood and Evans' voices entwine around melancholy lyrics ("As sure as the darkness/Will swallow the day/Where the wind blows I will follow", "There's a full moon above/Staring down from the sky/To a world that is captive and frozen"). Awesome, absolutely awesome! Ditto the gut-punching "It's Only Money"....picture Dire Straits with Christina Aguilera sitting in (seriously!). SOMETHING BIG's most rousing rocker, Fleetwood provides some spot-on percussion, while Evans' backing vocals are nothing short of awe-inspiring . . . Without a doubt, my favorite cut on the disc! Next up is the blistering 70's blues guitar-driven "Walking with the Angels." With its haunting lyrics and low-key arrangement, the track could have easily fit on any of Fleetwood Mac's early 70's/pre-BuckinghamNicks albums (I can just picture Christine McVie providing backing vocals for this song!). "Making Other Plans" . . . is a song that Smallwood delivers in an honest, down to earth manner, while the arrangement is lush, gorgeous and understated, all at the same time. The bouncy harmonica-driven "These Walls" just makes me smile...this is the kind of classic pop/rock I grew up on! Fleetwood's drumming is rock solid, the chiming guitars are captivating and Smallwood's vocals snake in and out in the most charming way. And did I mention that harmonica?!? Another winner!! "Looking Into You" is a Jackson Browne song that dates back to his own debut album. The hushed ballad is classic Browne, but the fact that Smallwood can make it his own attests to A) the universal power of Browne's writing abilities and B) Smallwood's interpretive skills. Yet another beauty! "Watching Over You", a lovely lullaby-like ballad, and "Heaven Sent", a jazzed-tinged sidewalk cafe number that dovetails into a Santana-like wailer that just drips emotion and energy and excellence from every chord, every note. The track ends things on an incredibly high note, which is saying a lot, considering the CD's overall brilliance. So....pick up SOMETHING BIG...you'll be treated to the amazing stick work of Mick Fleetwood that you've come to expect, the sizable talents of newcomers Todd Smallwood and Lauren Evans and one of the best, most diverse rock records in many a moon . . .