Reviews

Quit Quotes

“His sounds oscillate between pop and rock, and his subjects move through mostly spiritual or therapeutic themes, as if Link were working through some primal hurt.” - Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman

“The humanity displayed here is accessible to anyone who’s ever felt left of societies center.” - Larry Flick, Billboard

“The music in ‘Color of Rain’ explores spirituality in a gentle, real and accessible way. “ - Ann Pierceall, Quincy Herald Whig

“I had listened to the CD on headphones as I went to sleep last night and found many tracks sounded remarkable.” - John Frame, Radio 4ZZZ fm102.1 Brisbane, Australia

“I've played songs from ‘Color of Rain’ for the past 3 weeks…This is a very solid CD. Every cut is good, really.” - Jimmy Carper, KPFT-90.1FM Houston, Texas

“We would love to have Daniel back on the show in the near future. What a refreshing, inspiring artist!” - Chris Allen, KPFK 90.7 FM Hollywood, CA

Print Reviews

Quincy Herald-Whig
Native Son Returns for Hannibal Concert, October 27, 2005
By Ann Pierceall
HANNIBAL, Mo. — When singer/songwriter Daniel Link returns to Hannibal, each trip is pure nostalgia. Link, 40, grew up in Hannibal, and said that experience is an "intricate part of my creative development." That creativity will be on display Friday evening when he performs an acoustic show during a release party for his new CD "Color of Rain," along with producer and sideman Johnny Big on bass. The show begins at 7 p.m. at Java Jive, 211 N. Main St. Cost is $10 at the door. Link, who now lives and works in Austin, Texas, chose Hannibal for the release party because of the many contacts he still has in the area. "I thought it would be cool to come up to Hannibal and do the CD release up there for people who don't see me all the time and who want to get ahold of the music," he said. The Hannibal native grew up listening to rockers Fleetwood Mac, the Eagles, Tom Petty and Dan Fogelberg, influences that are apparent on "Color of Rain." His music is a mix that ranges from alternative rock and alternative country to Motown-influenced pieces, and even a poetry slam set to jazz. The CD is released through Recovering Catholic Music, Link's own independent label. He said the music in "Color of Rain" explores spirituality. "My mission, my vision as an artist, is to communicate, to connect and to inspire inner peace. And in order to do that it's very important to make peace with the mistakes we've made," he said. "Our mistakes are just as important as our triumphs." After graduating from Hannibal High School, Link packed his bags and headed south to Austin to chase his dream of being a songwriter. It's an early lifetime experience referred to in "Alter Boy," one of the tracks on "Color of Rain." Link said with his first two CD's, "Out of Silence" and "Ghost Stories," he was a "fledgling performer." "This CD is very well produced. It's some of the best songwriting I've ever done — it's the album I've always wanted," he said. He gives credit for that to Johnny Big, who he said as producer brought focus to the CD. The pair teamed up in 2003, when the bass player signed on with Link's band. Johnny Big has performed with Ted Nugent, Billy Idol and Bo Diddly. "This is a big CD for me," Link said. "This new project is where I really opened up and really am at my stride both performing and songwriting. So this is really a big achievement for me."

Austin American Statesman, June 23, 2005

Daniel Link: "Color of Rain"
(Recovering Catholic)
Daniel Link fits no obvious Austin type. The Missouri native wrote most of the music and lyrics for "Color of Rain," a thickly arranged effort produced and mixed by Johnny Big. His sounds oscillate between pop and rock, and his subjects move through mostly spiritual or therapeutic themes, as if Link were working through some primal hurt ("My heart sought resurrection/I longed for explanation") A lot could be read into the name of his independent label — Recovering Catholic music — and the subject of his defiant, yet reflective song "Altar Boy."

Link is an accomplished tunesmith (the only dicey cut from this, his third album, is "4 a.m. Slam Over Coffee," with music by Big). But two things stand out on "Color of Rain" — Link's resilient voice, which recalls Michael Stipe's at times — and Big's arrangement of countless instruments and backup vocals, which threaten to overwhelm Link, but never do. Contributions by Jon Dee Graham, Pat Mastelotto and Chelle Murrey also raise the general level of excellence on this studio winner.
— Michael Barnes

Daniel was featured in “Best Bet’s” section of the Austin American Statesman, Tuesday, March 8, 2005

In less than two months, “Color of Rain” will be on music store shelves. In the meantime, Daniel Link and Cyd Cassone are getting the word out in Austin with live performances in a lineup that includes members from Dysfunkshun Junkshun and Argyles. The album itself also features guest performers such as Jon Dee Graham, Pat Mastelotto and Chelle Murrey. 7pm today. Momo’s (above Katz’s) 618 W. Sixth St. $5.

Daniel was featured in “Best Bet’s” section of the Austin American Statesman, July 5, 2004.

- Kathleen Nacozy
Musician finds groove with his missing link. Daniel Link is a singer/songwriter pinao player who fronts a two-man band that will perform at 8 tonight at Momo’s. Link’s folk-rock has caught the attention of Austin and elsewhere. His first two releases recieved favorable reviews. “The humanity displayed here is accessible to anyone whos’s ever felt left of societies center,” Billboard magazine wrote in 2001 of Link’s debut, “Out of the Silence.” Of 2002’s “Ghost Stories,” Billboard wrote, “Once listeners scratch past the surface, they’ll discover an artist who is honing his own distinctive voice and sound.” Last November, Link put an ad in the paper calling for a fellow musician to join his act. Johnny Big, formerly of DysFunkshun Junkshun, answered and quickly proved to be the perfect musical counterpart to Link. Now, with Johnny Big on board and striving to create a new album, Link says this is the most poignant time of his career. He says his goal is “to stay true to my voice, my spirit, and make music that connects and resonates with people.”

From the front page of the Hannibal Courier Post! Saturday, July 24, 2004

Musician to perform Sunday in Hometown
By MARGIE CLARK
Of the Courier-Post

For the first time since leaving Hannibal 20 years ago, Daniel Link is returning home to perform at 7 p.m., Sunday, July 25, at Java Jive. Link, who currently lives in Austin, Texas, left Hannibal in 1984 after graduating from Hannibal High School to pursue a life in music, and has since caught the attention of people in Austin and elsewhere with his performances and CD releases. "This is the first time playing in Hannibal since a high school talent show in '84," said Link. "I'm very excited about it ­ it really cooks. I credit Hannibal as a nurturing place for my creativity. I'm connected to the land and river. It feels really good to be coming home to do music. My mother is very proud and thrilled." Link describes his music as Americana new-folk. "It's not really country and not really rock and roll," he said. "I compare it to James Taylor, Jackson Browne and Chris Isaac. Although my greatest influence has been Fleetwood Mac. I love great songwriters and Fleetwood Mac has three of the best." Although Link is usually accompanied onstage by bass player Johnny Big, formerly of the band Dysfunction Jynction, he will be performing on stage as a one-man show with his keyboard Sunday night, while his partner fills other obligations. "Johnny and I work very well together," said Link. "He was looking for a different flavor of music and liked where my musical direction was headed with my voice and song writing. We play and work very well together and share a lot of chemistry." Big has toured with Billy Idol, Bo Diddley and Ted Nugent in the past. As a part of the original cast of the Mark Twain Outdoor Theatre in 1979, Link performed for six years onstage. When he expressed a desire to play the piano, his parents purchased one. "I learned from watching my mother, who is not a professional, but very good," he said. "I don't read music, I play by ear and my strong desire to make music works for me." Hannibal was also an inspiration for his CD, "Ghost Stories," where the "Someone in Austin" came in at number two on MAJIC 95.5 FM's 2003 Local Music Countdown. "We lived in Oakwood on 36th Street," said Link. "The house was haunted, and it inspired me to write ghost stories with interesting metaphors. One of the songs is called 'Seance.' I wrote all the songs on the CD. Everything I play is my own material. I'm currently working on my third CD. The emphasis is on lyric content and a lot of people really like what they hear." One of the most memorable events Link has experienced lately is when he debuted in March for the premier episode of Nashville Star ­ and muffed the lyrics. "It was hilarious on the clip. The song I picked was John Mellancamp's 'Jack and Diane.' I forgot the words. But I guess it was memorable enough to show on a clip. I can't believe I did that," he laughed. "I love music and feel blessed to be doing it on the level where I'm at right now." The youngest of six children born to Rosell and the late James W. (Jimmie) Link, he said there is a lot of family remaining in Hannibal, as well as some in Austin. "Austin is a very creative and liberal city loaded with talented musicians and singers," said Link. "But it's great to be home. Right now (Thursday), I'm about 1 1/2 hours from Chicago, standing in a cornfield in the rain, talking to you and loving every minute of it. "I'm debating playing the song I performed all those years ago, 'Track a Ghost,' which by the way is the first song I've ever written. I recorded it in a friend's home studio in Hannibal. I hope all my friends and family will make it to this special show on Sunday." Admission to the show will be $5. CDs will be available for sale.

Billboard

Both of Daniel’s previous CD’s were reviewed by Larry Flick, Editor and Chief of Billboard. Below the articles are reproduced in full as they appeared in Billboard.

From Billboard, March 3, 2001

Link Breaks ‘Silence’: It’s not easy to be an artist who stands for more than the proverbial sex, drugs and rock’n’roll. One sharp political word or pointed declaration in a song can (and often will) brand a career, potentially limiting commercial and creative reach - and sometimes with good reason. After all, “message” music can get pretty dry.

The Austin, Texas, singer/tune-smith is currently promoting his self-made debut, Out of the Silence, a sterling EP that beautifully illuminates the emotional evolution of a gay man coming to terms with his life. Unlike similarly fashioned recordings, this project doesn’t get lost in preachy rhetoric. Rather, it’s rife with rich with slice-of-life interludes that are less about convincing the listener to see the singer’s point of view than they are about merely sharing small kernals of one person’s truth. “That’s the way to reach people,” Links says. “By being human, by being real. If you exist on their level, then they have no choice but to see you in a light similar to the way they see themselves.”

Link couches his lyrics in well-crafted, often piano-driven arrangements appear to draw influence from Counting Crows and Rumours-era Fleetwood Mac. It’s a sound that suits his introspective vocal style extremely well. It also lends a haunting edge to the set’s strongest tune, “Altar Boy,” which touchingly outlines the inner conflict of a young boy coming to terms with his sexuality and his religion. Although Out of the Silence may not initially seem to be mass-appeal fodder, largely because of its subject matter, think again. The humanity displayed here is accessible to anyone who’s ever felt left of societies center. And the music is potent enough to work for those who simply want sweet melodies and memorable hooks.

*****************************

From Billboard, September 21, 2002

STORYTELLER: It’s always a pleasure to watch an artist of immense promise grow and continually hit the creative mark. Unfortunately, it’s an all-too-rare treat, too. But Daniel Link can easily be counted among the few. The Austin, Texas singer/songwriter ends a 2 year absence from public view with Ghost Stories, a sterling collection that firmly expands upon his debut Out of the Silence.

But once listners scratch past the surface, they’ll discover an artist who is honing his own distictive voice and sound. Link is clearly a product of his undeniable influences. The element that sets him apart from other similar yound artists is that he’s not leaning too heavily on his influences. Rather, he’s using his influences as a springboard to fully develop himself. Ghost Stories also shows Link rocking a little harder then he did on his last project. It’s move that provides an appealing contrast to the vibrant, textured poetry that his lyrics often can be. Cuts like “Tangled,” “Good Life,” and “Storm in my Heart” have a nice hard edge that work well when taken on a purely musical level, but they deliver far more to those who listen for more than a solid beat, sweet harmonies, and sharp guitar work. Those listeners also get a carefully drawn series of songs that follow a specific storyline - a ghostly one, if you will. “The ghost is that part of us that has been forgotten,” Link says. “That essential essence of ourself. But because of the dark things that happen in life, we sometimes forget who we really are because we build up walls to protect us. Sometimes we protect ourselves too well. We become angry, cold, and distant. But that ghost deep inside us is there haunting us, trying to come back and trying to remind us what we are capable of doing.” Link spent a year meticulously crafting the songs that would become Ghost Stories. Despite his intent to make a technically sharp record, he had a fairly loose, communal approach to working in the studio. “I chose my players based on their talent, intuition, and compatibility,” he says. “They are all excellent musicians. I believe that allowing them to be creative artists is the best way to get the best performance from them.” They’ve also apparently urged Link to perform to peak capability. He more than shows improvement on Ghost Stories; he shows that he’s now a serious contender for national attention. If you need proof, check out one of his shows on his upcoming tour. If justice and art prevails, Link is an artist whom you’ll be hearing quite a bit of in the years to come.