Worth Another Listen - Gregory Douglass

Photos by Alex Rumsey

I am a fan of Gregory Douglass, and have been the last 3 years or so. The funny thing is Gregory is from Vermont, and I lived there for a couple of years, and didn't have a clue he existed. Now that I would love to see him live, I read about him playing places like Higher Ground, a space I had gone when I lived there, just not to see Gregory. He is, by the way, adorable, and an out gay man.



Photos by Alex Rumsey

Gregory has received great reviews in most publications, from local papers to the Advocate magazine. His videos usually sit in the Top 10 on LOGO once they are released. I have 4 full-length CDs and three more EPs Gregory has put out. I had featured his latest release, Battler, in an earlier post. Gregory released Stark in 2005, and one of my favorite songs is Upside Down. The video is so evocative and compelling.



The following year, he released the album Up & Away. I really love the song Hang Around, a wonderfully textured and layered song.



Teeter was an album he released in 2001, and I have to admit I don't have it. Don't know why, because a kick-ass song I love was originally on it. I have it on the Retro Active Volume One EP I own. This is the song being performed in front of a crowd of kids from UVM - the University of Vermont. When I first moved to Vermont, I passed by UVM every day on my way to work.



So, this kinda catches you up with Gregory Douglass. I love his music, and think he is a gifted musician. I have yet to see him live and in person, but hope to one day soon. In the meantime, I will enjoy the music I have. And be happy knowing he has a Christmas offering coming out soon. To find out more about Gregory, go to his official website here. You can follow him on Twitter by clicking on @GregoryDouglass.

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New Music - Gregory Douglass

Gregory Douglass is taking pre-orders for his new release, the Christmas-themed Merry due out next month. I am a fan of the Vermont-based out singer/songwriter, so I stepped up and ordered it right away.



The EP offers 5 tracks with a holiday theme. It includes the Christmas classics Last Christmas (Originally by George Michael/Wham!), Walking In The Air (Originally from "The Snow Man"), God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen and O Holy Night, as well as the original song written by Gregory, What A Long Year It Was.

To find out more information or to place an order, click here. You can hear a sample there of Gregory's recording of Last Christmas.

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New Music - Gregory Douglass - Battler

How funny is it that I lived in Vermont for a couple of years, and didn't find out about Gregory Douglass, a Vermont resident, until I had moved away? Go figure. So, I moved back to Delaware, and discovered this talented guy, someone who has put out 7 CDs and a couple of EPs since 1998, when he put out his first at the age of 18. He is an amazing musician, amazing on the keyboard and strong with the guitar.



His latest is Battler, which features twelve layered and texture-filled cuts, mostly piano and guitar-driven. Unlike his earlier work, which was more in the pop/rock vein, the sound is more textured and dramatic, with greater nuance and dark edges. Broken Through was the first single, showcasing the range and emotion of his voice. The latest single is Cathedrals, which opens with an A cappella choral chant, and picks up a strong guitar.



There is also the song Sadly, featuring a beautiful guest performance by Anais Mitchell, a brooding ballad with strong jazz influences. And Ordinary Man, featuring Grace Potter, a nice pop tune with some soaring vocals. No Apology is another number that starts off with no instrumentation, which is only used sparsely in the final quarter of the song, and it is just beautiful.

The following is I Wanted To Run, a song from his 2003 release, Pseudo-Rotary. Funny, if I had known Gregory's music when I lived in Vermont, I would have been able to catch him live in Burlington, and now, he is still on the list of performers I have yet to catch live.



You can find more on Gregory and his music at his website.

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