Reviews from Openingbands.com (April 2003):

Review #1 - Eric Wilson

When I first popped this CD in, I thought "This is exactly what my mom listens to." Just to clarify, my mom listens to mostly female-sung folk, not death metal. Comparing Offering to the music my mom listens to does not have to be a bad thing, but what she listens to tends to bore me. Anjali, a graduate of the University of Illinois, however, does not.

First off, she has a unique voice that makes her more interesting to listen to than the usual female singer-songwriter. Second, she plays a variety of instruments on the album, including piano and guitar, and is backed up by others on guitars, drums, and a bouzouki. I really like the piano; the extra instruments really help reduce the monotony that the usual voice and guitar can sometimes bring. Third, her lyrics deal with more youthful topics, like relationships and jealousy, than vegetables, or whatever my mom's music talks about. Overall, the album is pretty catchy, without being too poppy.

I had the chance to see Anjali perform at Writers in the Round (which occurs monthly at The Iron Post; see shows listing) and I was impressed. Even with only a guitar, she (as well as the other musicians) put on a great show.

 

Review #2 - Art Mitchell

Anjali is female singer-songwriter with worlds of talent. This is very apparent in her album "Offering". Not only does she display her excellent guitar skills, but she also plays the keyboard and the piano. And just wait until you hear her sing, she has a very powerful yet angelic voice.

It would be premature to classify "Offering" into the same boat as other female artists, Anjali brings a style of her own. Her songs are not all about pain and suffering, her song show off a dazzling spectrum of emotions that could closely connect to the range of all human emotions. The first track, "Eye For An Eye" is a placid track with an excellent piano track slightly echoed by the acoustic guitar.

"Who’s That Girl" is an upbeat song telling a story about a girl in an infatuation that is not reciprocated in her direction. It’s a catchy beat coupled with lyrics such as "Her every word sounds like hell when you listen" makes a fine complementary combination. The song "Blue Eyes" makes you realize that Anjali’s voice sounds extremely well with any instrument as accompaniment, especially the piano. The CD progresses through many excellently well written songs, and one of my personal favorite songs would be track 8, "Taste Of You". The sound that the acoustic guitar gives off while she sings "Don’t make my same mistakes, babe (?) that’s the long way to go". Anjali uses a lot of symbolism in regards to doors and how she feels within the specific song.

Her album is very well put together, and after seeing her live at "Writers On The Round" at the Iron Post, it is a definite fact that this woman can definitely deliver the goods. The entertainment goods. Overall, the entire album was very calm and it was soothing to listen to. She sings of happy times, and times where one might not be smiling as much. With her wonderful voice, she accomplishes this no problem. I recommend this album for anyone who wants to hear some comforting music after a long day

 

Contact the artist herself to purchase CD's ($12)!

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