Bill Maier’s “CRUNCHY, DEEP-FRIED & SMOTHERED”

Originally from Long Island, New York (specifically Hicksville, for “Lawn Guylanders” out there who want to know), singer/songwriter Bill Maier packed up and moved his family to the Nashville area in 2005 to pursue his musical dreams. A mere two years later in 2007, his stellar, self-titled debut solo album made Music Row sit up and take notice of his remarkable songwriting talent. Maier is now ready to wow ‘em again with his latest collection of 12 new tracks, “Crunchy, Deep-Fried and Smothered”.

Produced with experience and creative flair by Maier and Scott Neubert (Hal Ketchum), and backed by some of Music City’s top session players, this sophomore solo release is full of country rock and americana songs with goose bump-making moments. His stories resonate with all of us; he has a way of tapping into our deepest longings – be it our yearnings for love, for that time off from our jobs, for greasy foods, or for an era gone by.

“Crunchy, Deep-Fried and Smothered” has that delightful Bill Maier stamp everywhere: gorgeous, harmonic-lush choruses, lyrics that matter, grooves that’ll wear out the toes on your tapper, memorable musical hooks, romance, kick-back-feel-good fun, occasional bitter-sweetness, and warm vocal deliveries that draw the listener in for the long haul.

The man knows how to write from the heart with a very commercial ear. Lyrics are tightly crafted, yet give the impression of spontaneity – a hallmark of great writing – and his melodies are fresh and singable. He’s simply got it going on; add the emotive and believability factor of his vocals, and you’ve got an album of quality.

The CD’s artwork is cleverly designed to resemble a restaurant menu, where each song is a tasty selection. The “dining” experience begins with a beverage or “Bring on the Whiskey”, a song about casting out heartache with hard liquor, and is a nod to the age-old country music tradition of the drinking song. For starters, there’s “Crazy Like That”, a good-hearted parlor piano romp looking back on his wanton teenage years: “Sixteen and stupid with cigarettes and beer/Stole the preacher’s Buick on a double dare”, and “Flip Flops and Underwear”, a fun, Kenny-Chesney-written-all-over-it island tune; even though Chesney’s name is mentioned in the first chorus, it would be fitting for the crooner to record this laid back lyric: “Mind drifting where it wants to go/Without going anywhere/In your flip flops and underwear”.

Ah, under hot off the grill, there’s so much good listening to choose from. Title track “Smothered” is a Lee Roy Parnell kind of bluesy rocker, where Maier admits, “The folks back home never bake or broil/We were born, bred and baptized in Crisco Oil” – gotta love it! The ballad “Look At Us Now” has a swooningly moving melody that is destined to be heard on the airwaves, as is “Holding Back the Sunrise”, with it’s Keith Urban feel and guitar solo, and a message that there’s no denying the feelings of the heart – what girl wouldn’t want to hear this sung to them? Anyone who’s ever listened to music in their car will love “I’m Your Radio”: “Every time you change the station/Flashing you faces, taking you places/Spinning you back anywhere you wanna go/Oh, I’m your radio”, and “Mississippi Flat” is deliciously Van Morrison inspired, from choppy delivery down to the bluesy organ fills.

The menu’s house specialty is the catchy-as-all-get-out, new jack swing uptempo “Don’t Get Much Better Than This”, where love making in a broken down car is revisited, and Maier sings, “If this ain’t heaven girl, I don’t know what is”. Always in season is his solo-penned, drop-dead beauty, “When Autumn Leaves”, with a melody that has a direct line to the heartbeat.

The CD’s last two offerings appropriately fall under the category happy endings: “Wasn’t Nothin Somethin” is a lovely country stroll down a simpler time when we “Never got bored, never got busted/ Never lost faith, in God we trusted”, followed by “Vacation Over” – who hasn’t had a magical getaway that you never want to end? This final track clearly captures that feeling.

PERFORMING SONGWRITER once raved, “Maier writes lyrics that touch the heart, and melodies that stay in your head”. With “Crunchy, Deep-Fried and Smothered”, he furthers his reputation in town of having major storytelling chops, and writing lyrics and melodies with emotional depth.

Read on for more of Bill's bio...

Born and raised in Hicksville, New York, and currently making his home just south of Nashville, Tennessee, Bill Maier has gained a large loyal following on the strength of his award winning songs, stellar musicianship and distinguished vocal delivery, becoming one of country music’s hottest and most respected singer/ songwriters.  Listening to Maier sing his songs is like listening to country radio of the future. His songs sound like hits, and in the hands of the right artists are destined to be just that.

For years a dynamic performer on the New York music scene, Bill Maier's talents as a songwriter and singer earned him the respect of his musical peers, and rave reviews in local and national publications. Performing Songwriter Magazine said, “Maier writes lyrics that touch the heart, and melodies that stay in your head.” Newsday's Nightbeat called him “a songwriting sharpshooter ...one of New York's best kept musical secrets."   Time Out New York Magazine proclaimed,  “The soft croon of Ten Gallon Fat’s Bill Maier is reminiscent of David Wilcox or the homesick urban folk of Catie Curtis…”

Maier’s reputation is spreading from New York to Nashville and beyond. Two of his songs, Little Tin Can, and When Autumn Leaves were judged among the very top songs (out of 5000 entries) in recent CMT/Nashville Songwriters Association’s Songwriting Contests . And his song, Could Be took an amazing 2nd place out of more than 20,000 entries in the latest Billboard Songwriting Contest. Regular appearances at the world famous Bluebird Café, Tootsies Orchid Lounge, Douglas Corner Café and other Nashville mainstays have brought him a legion of new fans, the attention of a few major music publishers, and the opportunity to perform in-the-round with an A-list of Nashville hit writers, including Bob DiPiero, Deborah Allen, Pam Belford, Alex Call, Stewart Harris, Jerry Foster and many more.

Maier’s songs have already been covered by a wide variety of artists; from indie country artists like JR & The Roadkill Choir, Digger Dawg, Brad Conner & Longshot, to adult contemporary artist Charles Langley, and 50’s Doo-Wop stars Randy and The Rainbows.  His songs have been featured in Tommy Hilfiger stores nationwide, and have been featured in indie film and on numerous commercial and internet radio shows. Expect to hear some major label country artists singing some of Maier’s songs soon now that publishers are plugging his songs on Nashville’s famed Music Row.