Media - Press - CD - Reviews

WILDY'S WORLD - July 2010

Terry Holder found her musical calling late in life. A stay at home mom for many years, Holder's youngest child left for college around the time her own mother died. These radical changes enveloped Holder in an emotional whirlwind from which she escaped through writing songs. What started out as catharsis quickly turned to career. Holder's debut album, 2001's Am I Here Is This Me, garnered critical acclaim and notable sales from an independent folk release. Her second album, Colored Rooms, furthered Holder's reputation as an honest songwriter who built stories out of human events and human emotion. Holder returned with her third album in 2008. Ticket To The Moment represents a step forward for Holder. Several years on the road have seasoned her songwriting abilities and helped her develop a story-teller's touch to go with her honest, emotive folk songs.

Ticket To The Moment opens with "Cross Your Mind", a gentle pop song with a bit of backbeat. Holder has great energy here, mixing tough and vulnerable and a pleasantly earthy voice that's a pleasure to listen to. "In God's Eyes" is a song of existential angst & a call to begin living life as opposed to simply letting it happen. "Wrecking Ball" is a brilliant performance that Holder wears as if it were her own story. On "Satellite", Holder captures the act of falling in love in meticulous and poetic grandeur. It's a tremendous example of deft songwriting as Holder brings you into the moment.

"Turn The Car Around" is a dynamic rocker about finding love when you least expect it and when it's least convenient. It's a wow moment; an amazing bit of songwriting that's destined to be covered by others. "When Will I Be Loved" is a melancholic turn with a great melody that shows off Holder's voice in very positive light. "Don't Forget" is a solid love song with a memorable melody and arrangement; the sort you'll be humming along with the first time you hear it. Holder hits a social justice theme with "Crack In The Sidewalk", a song bemoaning society's failure to care for its weakest members. The song has an almost martial air at times, an interesting mix within the country/rock arrangement Holder has crafted. Holder closes with a pair of low-key tunes, "Let's Go Away" and "Sail Goodbye".

Ticket To The Moment is a solid effort with a couple of bright, shining jewels in the crown. Holder's is the sort of voice that quietly catches your attention and holds it. She's not flashy, but her warm, earthy voice and subtle delivery have a way of sneaking up on you. If nothing else, Terry Holder has written some material here that will be revived again and again by other artists over the years. But if there's justice, there's a hit or two on Ticket To The Moment for Holder herself.

Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5)

MINOR 7th - MAY 2010

"Ticket to the Moment," 2009 - The lovely C# minor guitar arpeggio that opens "Cross Your Mind" makes a statement. Throughout, this record will have no fear of being pretty. In an album where most everyone is falling in or out of love, there's little new to say, but all the loveliness proves more than enough to keep this disk in the player. The highlight of the record is a revelatory cover of Phil Everly's "When Will I Be Loved." I always considered the versions we've heard before -- even the Brothers' -- a bit too jaunty. In this down-tempo take, just the knife on strings slide is enough to make you weep let alone Holder's sultry-sad vocals. "Satellite's" shimmering twelve-string Rickenbacker suggests someone's a Byrds fan. This track should come with a warning label: when Ms. Holder coos, "Let's drink fine red wine in my living room," some listeners will find themselves combing their hair and donning their snazziest outfits.

INDIE SHOWCASE - April 2010

Terry Holder ingratiates herself straight into our hearts with this latest Release called “Ticket To The Moment.”

This album has it all. 12 Tracks of sheer heaven. Terry Holder has the voice of an angel and proves it in no uncertain terms. Long have we waited for a female singer of her magnitude. She moves easily through genres of Pop, Folk, and Americana with just a kiss from Country. Her expertise is quite astounding. The level of songwriting is superb, taking you the listener deep within the lyrics.

For those of you who have not yet heard Terry's voice, fasten your seatbelts. This lady has the ability to capture your imagination and attention from the first track to the last. Terry's soft, sultry vocal draws you in and lives within your soul. Just as easily, Terry can make your blood boil with excitement and the urge to dance. Instrumentation is absolutely top notch. These veteran musicians have excelled in making this album incredible. They have showcased Terry Holder's vocals making her unforgettable. A finer match has never been made, perfectly suited for Terry. Production, recording, mixing, mastering and engineering is perfection in motion.

The Three Tracks I have singled out with much difficulty are :

1) In God's Eyes - Terry Holder has shown she can stand shoulder to shoulder with some of today’s most elite female pop singers. Her style is unmistakable. This track, while pleasing to the ear, has a strong story line. You will be swept away by both the complexity and simplicity of it. One of our favorites of this incredible album.

2) Satellite - This is an upbeat song with a catchy melody, impeccable vocals and lyric. It's the kind of song you will find yourself singing in your mind as you go about your day. You hear it half way and already you've been zapped into the Terry Holder Zone! One of our most requested tracks. Instrumentation will astound you!

3) Turn The Car Back Around - Prepare to be swept into a frenzy of chair dancing with this one. Terry turns it up a notch and takes you on a ride. Terry Holder rocks it country style, taking us on a journey into this story. Her vocals hold you hostage till the last note. Instrumentation is brilliant.  Her gift of delivering spectacular music is not missed on this one. See for yourself.

*** Special Mention*** When Will I Be Loved - Cover Terry Holder is one of the few women who does justice to this memorable song. She nails it. Give it a listen and see for yourself.

While these three tracks are magnificent, they are not at all the only excellent tracks on this album. In fact, I could single each and every track out.

It is a rare thing when an artist is this generous on one album. Ticket To The Moment is filled from cover to cover with songs you will feel connected to. This is one of "those" albums. You know the ones I mean. The kind you still pull out 20 years later. It will stand the test of time. It is one of THE best albums I have heard this year. Do yourself a favor, grab it today.

This is how I see it.

Yours in the music,

Shashona

Indie Showcase

www.indieshowcase.net

VICTORY REVIEW - Acoustic Music Magazine - November 2009

Terry Holder – Ticket to the Moment - (Saffron Blonde Records)

Nolan Pepperdine - Olalla House Concerts

Olalla, WA  - (see video)

"Terry’s performance in our house concert series was pure delight! The very personal, introspective stories Terry delivered with her beautiful voice, the guitar and vocal accompaniment by her husband Jerry, the background story Terry and Jerry wove between songs about their time together and her transition from stay-at-home Mom to singer songwriter, and the touches of comedic banter with the audience all had folks engaged on multiple levels and asking for more." 

Bill Lippe - Concerts at Our House

Seattle, WA

"Terry performed a great show at our house concert series, playing an engaging blend of folk-oriented music that had our audience asking for more. Thanks for a great show!"

Gabriel Scheer - Chesterfield House Concerts

Seattle, WA

Alaska Public Radio Network Interview - November 4, 2006 - Alaska Public Radio Affiliates.

An interview on Alaska Public Radio with Ashley Gross.  Terry discusses her journey as a singer/songwriter.

(click here to listen - 6:47)

Anchorage Press - May 2004  CD Review  - “Colored Rooms”

Fans of her previous album, “Am I Here, Is This Me”, won’t be disappointed.  Holder’s knack for songwriting and a distinctive voice still carry the record.

The lyrics are sparse enough to let the listener relate but at the same time Terry sprinkles her songs with fifty-cent words and gets away with it, “Interrogated by your own Conscience”...”harboring heartache.”  This is the stuff that ordinary people can barely say, let alone sing.  The absolute bottom is “Broken no more” but when you get there the fall is cushioned by harmonies as soft as a flannel-lined quilt.  Not a bad landing.

Anchorage Daily News - 2004  CD Review  - “Colored Rooms”

The second CD from local chanteuse Terry Holder seems to have everything going for it: her adorable voice, a feather bed of acoustic guitars, decent songwriting and a warm intimate recording job by Toneworks studio of Anchorage.  There are 14 pleasant tracks with the thrill moment when Holder and daughter, Erin harmonize nicely on “In Shadow.”  It’s the best track on the disc aside from the mildly rocking opener, A Kiss Away.

Alaska This Month - May 2004  “Stay at home mom now stays out nights, performing without limits.”

Took a death and her kids leaving home to jostle Terry Holder’s latent talent with words.  Empty nest syndrome set in, till one day Holder began writing her way out of depression.  One line led to another and all of the sudden she had a hat full of songs and a fierce desire to record them for her kids.  Couple of those works, “Twilight Love” and “Good Night”, recorded on her debut CD  “Am I Here Is This Me” landed in the top 5 folk and pop categories in APRN’s  2001 Alaska Song of the Year Contest.  “People my age tend to limit themselves,” she said.  Now three years later Holder’s releasing her follow-up CD “Colored Rooms.”

Anchorage Daily News - May 14, 2004  “Empty – Nest Blues Cured by Music”

Terry Holder doesn’t recognize her life anymore.  A growing album catalog.  Release parties.  Minor celebrity.  Strangers confiding that they’ve connected with her music.  Where did all this come from?  The local singer/songwriter led a different life five years ago, when her full-time job was stay–at home mom.  The position was downsized when the youngest of her three daughters moved away, a transition that coincided with the passing of Holder’s own mother.  Holder’s home was empty, and her heart was broken.

While Holder used her first record “Am I Here Is this Me” as therapy, “Colored Rooms” is an outgoing disc, mirroring her bubbling confidence as a performer and writer.  It’s also a journal for the relationships in and around Holder’s life, a place of lovers, family and friends.

Anchorage Daily News 2001  CD review -  “Am I Here, Is This Me”

Some words to describe the Anchorage singer and acoustic guitarists impressive debut CD:  pretty, tender, breathy, sweet.  Holder possesses a voice that sounds young and petite.  If you go for sensitive female singers, a mellow version of Lisa Loeb, then check out this disc.  The production is airy and tight and Holder shows nice songwriting skills, letting down an unwanted suitor in one tune with “cordially I’m saying goodnight.” 

Holder offers lots of gentle gems here.  The opening track, “Twilight Love”, had me listening over and over.