Reviews:
Marked Man
Robbie Greig’s 2015 release, Marked Man, paints a consistently attractive picture of the artist’s skills as a singer/songwriter. There isn’t a weak song to be found on this CD, which is a solid roots rock effort that recalls the singer/songwriters of the 1970s and 1980s. Melodically, lyrically and vocally, Greig is very much a product of the 1970s and 1980s. So it isn’t surprising that Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Leonard Cohen are direct or indirect influences on this album.
Happily, Marked Man favors an organic production style, which works well with Greig’s earthy vocals. Marked Man never sounds slick or overproduced, and Greig is well served by a rootsy-sounding group of musicians that includes Gary Soloman on electric bass, Andrew Fueggle on acoustic piano and organ, Justin Humphries on drums and Ramona Ray-Greig, Jacqui Bell, Kate Berry and Chaya Ray-Greig on backing vocals. Greig himself contributes guitar and keyboards in addition to singing, and his lack of slickness is a definite plus.
The Land Down Under has had its share of roots rockers over the years. And on Marked Man, Greig fits in well with the Australian roots rock tradition. Marked Man is a memorable example of what Greig still has to offer as a singer/songwriter, and his CDs are well worth exploring.
4 stars out of 5
Review by Alex Henderson
Reviewyou.com
Authentic
Authentic is a 12-track release by Australian singer-songwriter Robbie Greig. Harmonica, mandolin, violin, electric guitar and plenty of backing harmonies all work to make up this album. But at the centre of everything is always Greig’s trusty guitar. His song structures are very melodic, and the female backing vocals in tracks like “The Way It Used To Be” give this album a warm, island feel.
With a similar style to James Taylor or Bob Dylan, you’ll find yourself growing quickly attracted to Greig’s work. It’s his bluesy, jazz-infused tracks, attention to songwriting, and slightly raspy vocals that draw him constant comparisons with Dylan over the years.
Greig is able to blend genres like a master chef into a playful, inviting brew that showcases his years of experience. There’s something eminently charming about his signature sound and his delivery. It’s warm, inviting, and creatively honest, and it’s a lot of fun to listen to. Authentic is a quality, worthwhile release, with many memorable tracks and many pertinent things to say. If you found the time to delve further into Greig’s catalogue of 11 releases, listeners are guaranteed to find enjoyment in the rest of his work.
Rating: 4 stars (out of 5)
Review by Alec Cunningham
Reviewyou.com
Sing On Songwriter
Sing On Songwriter deserves to be a big success, as it is, in my opinion, Robbie Greig’s best work to date. It combines his superior lyric writing talent with a creative blend of styles and moods, and contains many melodic hooks. He is one of few artists who are able to write stories that are truly worth telling. Sing on, songwriter!
Robyn Keane
Leader Newspapers
Melbourne
Songman In India
The eight tracks on Songman in India cover a broad spectrum of emotions, skilfully balancing the tragic with the upbeat and jaunty songs of love and optimism. Ensuring the success of this major project is a stellar ensemble consisting of Howard Cairns (double bass), Raju Sharma (tabla), Dene Ford (electric guitar), Michael Jordan (drums), Sandro Donati (trumpet), Rodney Waterman (recorder), Kavisha Mazzella (vocals), Ramona Ray-Greig (vocals) and Ricky Ozimo (saxophone).
Peter Dougherty (Arts Reviewer)
Diamond Valley News
