Church Street Freedom Press
By Freddy Freeman
Nashville, TN
November 10, 2005

Love and Other 4 Letter Words
BILLI & PATTI

This Florida duo is sure to be compared to the Indigo Girls, but their voices are much more bluesy than Amy and Emily. Their songs are simple and direct, which can sometimes be their very charm as on "Let Me Love You" and "Believe in Change"(I can't get it them out of my head). The whole record is simple acoustic arrangements and after a while I found myself wanting some other sounds thrown into the mix, maybe even a band. I hope they do a full band recording in the future. Go to www/billiandpatti.com and check out some of their infectious tunes.

http://www.churchstreetfreedompress.com/

Rambles a cultural arts magazine
By Nicky Rossiter
Rambles.NET
22 October 2005

Love and Other 4 Letter Words
BILLI & PATTI

This is acoustic folk-rock with various influences from Billi & Patti, a duo with great talent. The harmony singing on "Believe in Change" sets the tone of a very good CD. One of my favourite offerings is "Three Little Angels," which combines an interesting lyric and a nice rocky beat. This album is wonderful in the way it brings us the ordinary minutiae of lives lived by all of us ordinary people and blends the emotions and music into a magical element. Nowhere is this more evident than on "Forever Last." Who has not thought these thoughts when alone in the presence of another? The theme continues on "Ordinary Woman" and a number of other tracks. The pair tackles a bigger issue on the final track, "Until There is a Cure." Here they ask us to confront the reality of AIDS on the real lives of real people. Influences ranging from Dolly Parton to Jimi Hendrix are cited on the publicity, and this comes through on tracks that have a wonderful humanity and fellowship.

http://www.rambles.net/bilpat_loveand04.html

Weekly Planet The bi-monthly homegrown-CD roundup continues
By Scott Harrell, Mark Sanders and Cooper Lane Baker
Published August 24, 2005

Love and Other 4 Letter Words
BILLI & PATTI

For a while, Sarasota's been known as a haven for country-blues artists, both retired and working. For the uninitiated who might be wondering what the Suncoast is capable of producing, well, that train stops at Billi & Patti's doorstep. Love and Other 4 Letter Words is, as the title suggests, a mostly love-centric affair, as evidenced both by the song titles (the word "love" appears four times) and by the songs themselves. Billi Hall, who shares vocal duties with Patti B., energizes each of the album's 14 tracks with a casual confidence seldom heard on local discs. Ms. B. is just as strong, often harmonizing with Hall while adding her own slightly twangy lilt. This is the type of group best enjoyed live, and although this album suffers a bit from its own slickness, it's nevertheless a welcome addition to the ever-growing Suncoast blues canon. (www.billiandpatti.com) 3 stars

http://weeklyplanet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050824/TPAMUSIC01/508240431/-1/TPAMUSICl

FemMuse Reviews for March 2005

THE BEST IN FEMALE INDIE ARTISTS
Patti B. "breakin' through" Genre: aggressive rock/pop
Billi and Patti "love and other 4 letter words" Genre: acoustic country/rock
This is a 2 CD review. One about Patti B. and her band and the other about Billi and Patti, an acoustic country rock duo. Patti B. is the second part of "the duo". They also feature several guest musicians who play on both CDs. Florida based, Billi and Patti have cooked up some great music that this reviewer had a lot of fun listening to.

I listened to Patti B.'s CD first and here's the scoop.

Song Summary:

Vocals: Not what I expected I gotta say. By that I mean I was expecting folk or pop..BUT..This woman ROCKS! Hard and heavy! The CD opened up with a bang..."Lies" the opening number kicked into an almost heavy metal feel with the slamming guitars, the big cuts on the drums and then Patti B.s vocals just took over. A mix between Ann Wilson of Heart, Melissa Etheridge and the best of the rock singers out there.. Patti B. is THAT good. This cut reminded me of '80 rock and I love that stuff. So a thumbs up here. You go girl. Cool wha solo by Mikey Silbaugh.

Track 2 "Got my eyes on you" is a groovy number with a rock/blues feel AND guitar solos. Yeah. I like this number. Patti's vocals are pretty soulful on this one.

Slowing things down a bit, which is nice. Track 3 with a mellow intro and some southern tinged vocals by Patti. The guitar sound was sort of droney but it worked on this one. I would have liked to have had more of the cool keys later in the song, but hey... who am I to say? But lemme tell ya.. Patti sounds like Klaus Meine of The Scorpions at the end.. with the high end vibrato on the last chorus.. KEWL..

"Not Again" is sort of a standard rock tune. Same droney guitar sound, which by now is getting kinda old. Let's hear some variation Mikey. This songs is okay.. went by and onward to the next.

"Wake up my sleeping angel" -- this is a good song but again.. I don't care for the guitar sound at this point. I would have preferred something different but then again, I'm a guitarist and you know how we are. Picky picky picky. The kick drum is REALLY out there. I like it. Gotta keep that sound in mind for some of my sequencing. Patti again sings her heart out as she does on all tracks. Her bass playing is right on the money.

"Concrete Edgar" is a sort of standard blues progression. Well done though. Guitar solo is a bit forgettable.

The next three numbers all have a lot of definition, especially from the guitar. Nice to hear textures.

Musicianship: Well played by all. Love the vocals as you can tell by now. And the drums rock. Brian Moore is DA skin man. Patti's bass playing is grooving and in the pocket. Mikey Silbaugh's guitar playing is for the most part nice. I think he could have used more variations on the tones but overall it is okay.

Songwriting: The writing is fair to excellent, depending on the song. Some tracks just sound too generic to me but Patti makes it work nevertheless. ANY song she sings happens because of her.

Recording Quality: Recorded at Audio Images, Bradenton, Florida and produced by Mike Badalamenti, Greg Voorhees and Cat Silbaugh (any relations to the guitarist?). Good sound overall. Drum sounds in particular are well done. Love the reverb and space surrounding them. Some nice delays on the vocals ever so often. Makes it nice and concert like. It's a good sounding CD. Nice and big.

Overall: Patti B. is a kick ass singer who brings across the hybrid of classic rock with a bit of country and some soul to make the recipe complete. Love to see her live. A good CD to have in one's rotational arsenal, like in the car. Driving down the freeways and listening to Patti B... with a Starbucks. That'll get the adrenalin going.

Song picks: Lies, Got my eyes on you, The Enemy within, Love Screams

"love and other 4 letter words" Billi and Patti

After listening to Patti B.'s charged up rock CD this one with Billi is a completely different animal. Stripped down to basically acoustic guitar, 2 vocals and the occasional guitar contribution by Mikey Silbaugh who also plays guitar on the above mentioned CD, this is sweet. Billi's voice is much more restrained than Patti's but both their vocals fit like a glove when they harmonize.

I like variety when I listen to music and this was kinda cool after the sonic onslaught of Patti B.s CD. Made me wanna sing along with some of the nice hooks they have in their songs. Sitting around a camp fire and playing guitars, singing and harmonizing is what this conjures up. Basic but way nice.

A good song is a good song and they've got plenty on this 14 song CD. The opening cut "Believe in Change" is awesome. The lyrics on all songs make statements ranging from love, loss, sickness, politics etc. Touching on the HIV crisis "Until there is a Cure". Song minstrels at their finest. Patti's acoustic guitar playing is really nice. She's multi faceted, playing bass (on her CD reviewed above) guitar with Billi and has a killer voice. All songs were written by Billi and Patti.

Make no mistake.. despite the sparse instrumentation there IS lots of energy coming from these two. If you like stripped down acoustic singer/songwriters music, this is a great CD to have.

For more information on Billi and Patti log on to Billi and Patti and also visit Patti B's website at Patti B.

written by Shredmistress Rynata

http://www.femmuse.com/cdreviewpattib.html

Demorama Reviews for September 2004

Billi & Patti: Love and other 4 letter words
PO Box 10763
Bradenton FL 34282
941-755-2882
www.billiandpatti.com

Chick folk rockers Billi & Patti have all the angles covered. No one can misinterpret their songs. Not only do they sing crisply, but they include a four-letter word synopsis for each song in their press packet. Yeah, the album is called "Love and other four letter words," but I could have guessed on the other ones myself. I rarely look at the press packet before I write a review because (I guess) I don't want to be "tainted" by other people"s opinions, but the release was sitting on the top of a pile and it caught my attention by accident. My problem with most folk music is its lack of subtlety. If the reason for a song has to be spelled out, then the lyrics aren't doing their job. So, you can imagine my disgust for having these four-lettered words spelled out for me. Now that I've gotten past that, let me say I think Billi and Patti B. have strong musical talents. The acoustic guitar and percussion is muted enough to allow their strong voices to carry the weight of the song, and their harmonies don't sound forced. Those who love the Indigo Girls will find kindred spirits in Billi & Patti. Nevertheless, their ability to singing candidly about God opens their music to a whole other audience

http://www.demorama.com/reviews/archives/sep2004.html

OutSmart
Houston's gay, lesbian, bi, trans, magazineBillie & Patti Love and Other Four Letter Words

The latest album from Billi & Patti is a dynamite acoustic record and gives listeners everything they could want in a country-rock group. The hard-edged grooves of their upbeat tunes and the softer sounds of their poignant ballads perfectly represent the talent of this band, and any fan of acoustic or country-rock could easily make a collection cornerstone out of this offering. Expressing very personal feelings of love and loss, Love and Other Four Letter Words deals with the happiness of life, but also larger issues such as AIDS, with the final track "Until There Is a Cure." More info: www.billiandpatti.com, www.cdbaby.com/cd/billipatti. -SL

http://outsmartmagazine.com/this_issue/?storyid=1093977318

CD Review

Smother.net October 2004

Review by - J-Sin

Now this is a duo that passionately has dynamics and works well off of one another's talents. Tackling upper subjects as well as more gritty topics such as AIDS, Billi & Patti play bluegrass, country, guitar-based rock that no one can easily escape from. They're groovy and never seem to forced in the studio; indeed this sounds like a creation made over an expansive amount of time it's so relaxed. Both of their vocals really do shine when they're combined together and are sure to wow audiences in any sort of venue.

http://www.smother.net/reviews/world.php3?ID=53

BILLI & PATTI - "love and other 4 letter words"

Review by Robert Urban, URBAN PRODUCTIONS, NYC

'I'm just an ordinary woman. Looking for some ordinary love ' - sings Patti B. in the song ORDINARY WOMAN - one of many fine ode-to-love torch songs on the new BILLI & PATTI cd "love and other 4 letter words". And those two lines may well sum up the heart & soul of the duo's charming, down-home slice of acoustic country-rock fixin's.
Billi and Patti bake a great cake (so to speak) out of just a few good ingredients. This is thanks in part to their own song-making resourcefulness and also to the fine sound engineering by renowned producer Mike Badalamenti. Except for a few guitar solos dubbed in here & there by "Mikey", and some hand percussion by Billi, the only musical accompaniment to the dual vocals on this album is a solitary acoustic guitar - aptly played by Patti in classic flat-pickin' country-rock style. There's never more than two-vocal parts sung at a time. No doublings, layerings or fancy sonic-effects gimmicks. These gals are straight-shootin' and true.
Patti B.'s songwriting formula follows the tried-and-true, simple & solid "everywoman" style that's produced million seller hits for artists like Peter Frampton, John Cougar Mellencamp, Melissa Etheridge, Melanie, and a whole slew a' southern blues/rock bands from Doobie Brothers to 38 Special.
Most of the cd's songs are of the torch song type - a pining for true love. Here Patti's lyrics shine with genuine simplicity - and the loneliness of heart she sings of is directly transmitted to the listener.
The lead vocals and duo vocal harmonies are generally delivered in an easy-goin', middle-of-the-road manner. Once in while, however, (as in the finale of the vivid & angry working-class lovers' quarrel - IN THE NAME OF LOVE) Patti lets loose and wails - showing off an awesomely edgy, airy, howlin' head voice ala Janis Joplin, Macy Gray, Bonnie Tyler that made this listener jump up and take special notice. "Tell me you love me then you act like you hate me. Call me names when you say you wanna date me"..."You wouldn't know the truth if it bit you in the ass. If this is love, then I'm gonna pass".
Billi and Patti acknowlege their God in both the cd's credits and many of their song lyrics. One might consider several of the tracks (including one of my favorites - the amblin'/heavy rockin' opener BELIEVE IN CHANGE) as "Christian rock". I must say, even a diehard nihilist like myself can appreciate the thoughtful & touching ways they invoke their diety's name and weave His/Her felt presence into their lyrics.
Here and there, song-styles vary - as in the Sade'-like FOREVER LAST. Though played on acoustic guitar only - it conjures up a quasi Afro/Latin mood - with sonic imaginations of conga type percussion, fretless bass, electric piano, vibes, etc. In REMEMBER ME, REMEMBER YOU, perhaps the most "backwoods" sounding of all the album's songs, one is transported to a lazy summer evening out on the front porch - conjuring up fiddle, accordian, blues harp accompaniment into the mix.
Of special interest is the cd's final track - a heartfelt AIDS anthem - UNTIL THERE IS A CURE. As Patti explains "It was written back in the day when the 'death sentence' was still on everybody's mind". With AIDS-related discrimination, moral crisis and social tragedy of the virus as its subjects - Patti's lyrics here are so straight-forward/matter of fact/to the point as to be startling - and to great effect. Instead of heady sullen poetry she offers the simple viewpoint of a good Samaritan.
To her credit, Patti has worked as an AIDS volunteer and as manager of the UNTIL THERE IS A CURE Conference. She founded The Pet Support Service, which she still co-runs, and is part of the Trinity Charities at her local MCC Church. Furthermore, one dollar from the sale of each "love & other 4 letter words" cd is donated to The River Fund.
My big wish for Billi & Patti after hearing their cd is to have their songs also get a full rock group production. These tunes are custom-made for ROCKIN'! I keep picturing them fronting a full-tilt boogying band in some packed roadhouse club. Hell, if Bonnie Raitt can do it - these gals surely can! - Robert Urban, URBAN PRODUCTIONS, NYC

http://roberturban.com/reviewbilliandpatti.html

WOMAN ROCK RECORD REVIEWS: SEPTEMBER 2004
By Carrie Crespo
Billi & Patti
Love And Other 4 Letter Words
www.billiandpatti.com
Billi & Patti might have made a splash as a female, singer-songwriting duet if the Indigo Girls hadn't already staked claim on the title years ago. They're bold enough to weave social commentary in their lyrics and their acoustic guitar skills abound. More evidence that pop music isn't all about pleasures of the flesh, Billi & Patti make many mentions of angels and the spiritual 'Big One.' A little more diversity is probably the only thing lacking though "Send Me An Angel" borders on perfection.
RATING 2.5

http://www.womanrock.com/CD%20Reviews/Latest%20Reviews.htm

Kweevak.com September 2004

BILLI & PATTI - LOVE AND OTHER 4 LETTER WORDS:
Billi and Patti meld acoustic rock with a flavorful dash of country, bluegrass and folk to create their own unique blend of music. Love and Other 4 Letter Words is their first full length CD, which was mastered and mixed by Grammy nominated Mike Badalamenti. This fourteen-track collection tackles serious topics such as love, loss, fear and AIDS. Their melancholy melodies are well written and often offer hope. Billi handles lead vocals and percussion and Patti also sings lead and plays guitar. Mikey is a guest player on a number of songs. The format is simple and straightforward with a focus on harmonizing vocals. Billi and Patti each have a different range, one of them handles the lower notes as the other sings the higher ones and the combination works well. 'Believe In Change' is the opening track with layered vocals and a sturdy acoustic guitar lead. 'Forever Last' has a subtle groove and a strong vocal combo as the story of fear and love unfolds. 'Until There is a Cure' is both moving and meaningful in its content and the passion that both women bring to the song. Billi and Patti's music is poignant and poetic and their first full-length release truly captures that sprit! " Recommended Tracks: (1,6,14) [USA/FL 2004 - web] (Review by Laura Turner Lynch for Kweevak.com)

http://www.kweevak.com/cd_reviews_2004_q4.htm

Best Female Musicians Septmeber 2004

Billi & Patti

From the moment the percussive strike of a down-home guitar groove emerges from Love and Other Four Letter Words , the latest CD from acoustic rockers Billi & Patti, any listener who appreciates good, passion-infused southern-style rock knows that they're in for a great time. Playing in the tradition of country, bluegrass and rock and roll from the strings of a guitar and the animated duet of two voices that harmonies just seem to flow naturally from, Billi & Patti is a group that knows not only how to rock, but knows how to make music that gets into your soul. Playing together for more than two years, Love and Other Four Letter Words is the group's first full-length album, and the two have taken advantage of every second available. 14 tracks deep, the album strikes a chord with lovers of any musical format with its melancholy ballads and meaningful lyrics. Billi & Patti, with their explosively understated sound, has a new calling card in Four Letter Words to introduce the rest of the music world to their brand of country-rock.
Billi & Patti have been together for more than two years, producing the five-track LP Ordinary Woman in 2002 and developing more material for their newest and full-length offering, Love and Other Four Letter Words . While Billi Hall was raised on country with artists like Reba McEntire and Dolly Parton, Patti B. is a rock fan, identifying more with Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. Such an unlikely union, the combination of these two musicians blends to create a soulful sound and a passion for music that no listener can stay away from. Playing venues from bars to music festivals, Billi & Patti have already become a huge success in their home base of Florida, Billi & Patti have begun a southern tour to promote their new album, pulling in fans everywhere they go. Billi & Patti's Love and Other Four Letter Words is currently available on their web site (see link below) or at CD Baby.

http://bestfemalemusicians.com/billiandpatti.html

GoGirls Music September 2004

Billi & Patti " love and other four letter words "

Genre: acoustic reviewed by Annette Warner

Social consciousness is obviously Billi and Patti's passion on this project. The naked acoustics are truly nice to listen to and the insightful dreams of peace and prosperity make me wish this CD could change the world in one listen&.if it could..I'd personally mail it out

Hit Picks: "Reminds me of you (Mom)"

http://www.gogirlsmusic.com/review.asp?band_id=592

Ear Candy Septmember 2004

Billi & Patti,"Love and Other 4 Letter Words" (label)

The acoustic folk environment can be a scary place. As a performer, you're out there, fully exposed, with only a steel-stringed guitar to protect you. Your attributes and flaws are on display. You live and die by your songs.

Thankfully, the country-folk duo Billi & Patti have nothing to be afraid of. First and most important: They both sing beautifully. Pardon me while I'm probably the millionth person to favorably compare them to the Indigo Girls, but that's a major compliment. They trade lead singing and strengthen each cut with solid, exceptional harmonizing. The results sound relaxed and confident but still immediate. This is especially beneficial on the cuts that tackle uncomfortable topical issues (such as "Until There is a Cure," which discusses the AIDS crisis).

Their lyrics are righteous and sustain a high level of quality. They are sometimes simple, but I believe that (in this case) it keeps the tone conversational and honest. I have been especially critical of songwriters who rely heavily on clich�s. As I listened, I braced myself in anticipation. What a pleasant surprise to hear Billi & Patti announce, "Now I know it sounds clich�, but I love you more each day." Hey, at least they warned me that they were going to use a truism! In general, the lyrics stay firmly on the side of honesty and directness without straying too far into triteness.

The music reminds me roughly of Shelby Lynne. But there is an almost power-pop feel on the choruses. One that really hit me was "Love is the Key" where the unorthodox chord choices and super harmonizing lift the song into the stratosphere. Patti plays a sweet rhythm guitar that gives their voices a perfect foundation. One guitar, two voices, and a whirlwind of emotions, issues, moods, and ideas. And I'd be willing to bet the songs translate even better live. Their website (http://www.billiandpatti.com) lists several festival and show dates for this fall. Check 'em out.

Review by Thomas Mitchell

http://www.earcandy_mag.tripod.com/reviews27.htm

Street Beat NY Rock August 1, 2004

Billi & Patti Love and other four letter words by Bill Ribas

The duo of vocalists Billi Hall and Patti B. (for some reason, her last name is elusive) creates a tension not unlike the Indigo Girls, although only Patti plays guitar in this duo. Billi comes from a rock background, sounding a bit like Janis Joplin, while Patti has more of a country twang to her voice. Come to think of it, there was a show on cable recently that paired Heart with Wynona Judd, and Patti does at times remind me of that Wilson sister. Anyway, this is a respectable offering, yet it does face the trapping of similarity. With no varied instrumentation, there is the risk that the listener will nod off, or chime that the songs have a tendency to sound alike. And, in fact, with just one guitar and two voices for the bulk of the disc, which clocks in just shy of an hour, that is a valid claim. When "I Love You" plays, for example, the arrival of a tambourine is almost a relief. Then again, I could be just a jaded music critic who listens to too many discs. The songs are good, the vocal harmonies and hooks entrancing, but I think it would be interesting to hear a band behind these ladies.

http://www.nyrock.com/streetbeat/2004/0804.asp#thirteen

Kweevak.com August, 2004

Billi & Patti

Love and other four letter words" is the newest CD by Billi & Patti This acoustic CD explores other four letter words like; loss, fear, AIDS and hope. Billi is a country girl raised on Dolly Parton, Dottie West and Reba. Patti cut her teeth on Jimi and Janis. Then proceeded to Black Sabbath, Led Zepplin, AC/DC and Aerosmith. This would seem an unlikely pairing, but the finished product has everyone ears buzzing. It is hard to put this music in a genre unless you create a new one. There is a little bit of something here for everyone.

http://www.kweevak.com/rd_ud_artistpages_new_01.htm

Blogcritics.org July 12, 2004

Billi & Patti Remind Us of Love by Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

Artist: Billi & Patti
Title: Love
Genre: Acoustic Country Rock
Label: Independent
Billi & Patti sing and strum their way through 14 songs about life, love and the pursuit of happiness on their album titled Love. The title really does say it all for this fiery and charismatic duo. They are from two decidedly different backgrounds and styles in music yet they manage to find a groove that works, and one that flatters each other's talents nicely. Their voices and guitars are a unified chorus of musical excellence fighting for a cause, that cause is a cure for the fatal disease *AIDS. Billi is a country girl and Patti is a rocker, they seem to balance and ground each other forming a tasteful and upbeat tempo in each song. Their music and lyrics is an abundant match indeed, and every word is clear, concise and straight to the point, thereby helping them to entertain and educate their audience in songs like "Until There Is A Cure." How can you miss with words like this? Until there is a cure we must all work together. Forget about the shame. Stop pointing out the blame. There's one thing I know for sure. We must all work together until there is cure. It does not get anymore point blank honest than that. Not only was I tapping my feet while listening to this music, my heart and soul was touched in a deep and convincing way. These two women are selfless and talented people offering themselves to help those less fortunate. Great rockin' countrified tunes with a message that rings aloud and clear is what you get on this CD. I sure appreciated the whole package offered on this CD and you will too. Get ready for a rockin' good time with a duo that means business. Billi & Patti will help you to find true Love. It's like going to a five star restaurant and getting dessert too, and you can't beat that.

Keith "MuzikMan" Hannaleck

July 10, 2004

* One Dollar for each CD purchased goes to AIDS research at The River Fund
01. Believe in Change (4:06)
02. Love is the Key (4:10)
03. Three Little Angels (3:30)
04. Send Me an Angel (4:55)
05. I Love You (3:05)
06. Forever Last (5:50)
07. Let Me Love You (3:43)
08. Walkin' the Line (3:15)
09. Dancin' in the Rain (4:30)
10. Reminds Me of You (Mom) (3:10)
11. Ordinary Woman (4:04)
12. In the Name of Love (3:07)
13. Remember Me, Remember You (3:55)
14. Until There is a Cure (5:32)
Rating-8/10

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