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Press
Industry & Press Quotes
The Smell of Burning Leaves - Scene Magazine Editorial: CD Review - December, 2008 Teo Peralez: Smells Like Burning Leaves - Target Audience Magazine - August, 2008 Teo Peralez balances music and classes - The Rocky Mountain Collegian - October 2, 2008 Local Promo Featured Artist - Local ProMo Voice Magazine - May 14, 2008
By Nathan Harper Life, death, God, love – the big ones. These complicated topics are the essence of the songs of Teo Peralez, a young singer/songwriter with a lot on his mind. Being a singer/songwriter is arguably the toughest gig in music because you’re performing basically naked, with no band or big arrangements to hide behind. It’s just you, a mic, and your guitar at the center of attention – scrutiny, really – and the worst part is you’ve invited it on yourself. And yet young Mr. Peralez, who has the voice of man ten years his elder, brings enough talent to the show to justify putting his soul on display.
A Fort Collins resident by way of the Nebraska plains, Teo exemplifies the struggles of a young American searching for identity. Often as songwriters age, their songs shift from who they would like to be in the world to the joys and difficulties of living as the person they’ve become. Peralez's somber, tuneful music falls completely within the purview of the former, to the point that he even sings “Because I don’t know who I am,” in the song “Nebraska Soul.” He’s too young to be anything but sincere, but has enough maturity to realize this as well, making cracks about cheerleaders and jocks, but also about fathers and sons. Though the motif of the seeking youth is one that informs a lot of music, the conviction in Peralez’s voice convinces the listener that he is earnestly seeking out truth, and that for him the struggle does matter.
If the name Teo Peralez sounds familiar, it's probably because you've seen the signs around campus advertising his local performances. Then again, maybe you've just had a class with him.
Teo is in his third year at CSU, double-majoring in electrical/computer engineering and economics. With all of that on his plate, he has somehow still managed to release his third full album this September; a collection of acoustic alt-folk/indie-rock titled "The Smell of Burning Leaves…"
Don't worry: the songs aren't about engineering and economics. Like many great singer-songwriters, Teo's strength lies in his lyrics, through which he ruminates on depression, politics, spirituality and other serious matters such as donuts.
The lyrical content is broad, but Teo has the vocal range to match. Whether deep and urgent on "Bombs" ("mounted preachers speak / from pedestals of lies") or soft and lilting on "Blinded by a Memory" ("tranquil water and rustling trees are but memories"), Teo's voice has an appealing, resonant timbre.
Thankfully that means it's Teo's music, not his voice, which has garnered him comparisons to Bob Dylan.
Though other influences ranging from David King to Kurt Cobain and from The Ataris to The Ramones are apparent, the variation in style unfortunately doesn't constitute any variation in sound. Song after song finds Teo strumming a handful of overworked chords on his acoustic guitar in what is often a nearly identical rhythm.
This becomes grating, especially considering the fact that a hurried production (Teo was on a tight budget in the studio) means that his strings sometimes buzz or squeak unpleasantly.
So when Teo decides to show off his lightning quick fingers and keen ear for melody by playing lead guitar, such as on the punky "I Don't Care," it's like a much needed downpour during a drought. Likewise, by mixing arpeggiated picking with strumming on "Katie's Song (Summer Rains)," Teo helps to keep the album's sound fresh.
Still, through 15 songs stretching for just over an hour, it's hard not to hope for some piano, harmonica, percussion or even bagpipe - anything to break the monotony of guitar and more guitar.
As the ellipses in the title indicate, "The Smell of Burning Leaves…" sometimes sounds more like an unfinished idea than a complete work.
Certainly, like all 20-year-olds, Teo Peralez has a lot of room to grow, and his music is part of that.
But at his best, for instance on the barn-burning "300 Days" or introspective "Staring at the Ceiling," Teo proves himself to be an intelligent, potent songwriter and performer with a bright future in the Fort Collins music scene.
Staff writer Nick Scheidies can be reached at verve@collegian.com.
 By Ellen E. Aldridge, Editor-In-Chief I think of music as a muse for blogging and writing
whatever comes to mind; a form of expression to
release tension and exorcise personal demons.
Music acts as a background sound like filtered noise
in a restaurant, but the truly great music will catch
attention and cause thought. True, inspired thought.
Maybe even dancing for those with the physical ability
to contort and control a body to a current of sound.
Teo Peralez does this for me. He takes the monotony
out of typing a mere “review” for an up and coming
band. I chose to feature his music and SonicBids
submission this quarter because of the way the songs
made me feel. That is the truest measure of art, in
my opinion. Something like a painting on a wall in
a crowded restaurant which draws attention due to
shape and color. Something not intended for the
limelight, but which can not be ignored.
I may have a cult fantasy about networking a
community of artists, poets, musicians and dreamers
in the form of a media outlet; a magazine. But, this
idea is not a solid one and will grow like moss on top
of rocks sticking their independent heads out of the
river stream fighting to the rhythm of a guitar meant
for melody. “Rocks” fighting to become organic and
alive, unable to drown or be pushed down by the
bottoms of corporate river boats leaking advertising.
Melody riding on a river is how burning leaves smell
to me. Somewhere from way out west….v
I chose Teo Peralez for feature because I connected
with the solos and the dark harmonies cascading
over chords. I also like the lyrics and I am a very verbal
person. I strongly recommend anyone who wants
something inspirational to perk up ears to listen to
“The Smell of Burning Leaves”. “Summer will be over soon and fall will soon begin” (from “Evangelist”), but
connecting to soulful music means never having to
lose yourself in the dark smoke rising over so many
meaningless songs.
And, honestly, “The Smell of Burning Leaves” is a
collection of songs where I am hard-pressed to find
a favorite. “Redemption” and “300 Days” caught my
ear instantly upon reviewing the SonicBids submission.
These songs sent me spiraling through the lyrics
printed at www.TeoPeralez.com. “Nebraska Soul”,
“Evangelist” and “And I Don’t Care” also tap into a
type of feeling which is difficult to describe in words.
One needs to just feel the music while riding down
a dusty road or even just drinking in a bar somewhere
after work before drunken epiphanies spring
to mind.
Personally, Teo Peralez strikes me as a down-to-
Earth guy who wants the freedom of self expression
and connection of calling on demons to release artistic
frustration. At times his music makes fun like in
the bonus track, “The Donut Song”.
Interested listeners can check out his music and order
a copy of “The Smell of Burning Leaves” at www.
TeoPeralez.com or www.Myspace.com/TeoPeralez.
"Out of the distant plains of eastern Nebraska and into the cool desert nights of Colorado's music scene, Teo Peralez is blazing a mixed trail of folk-rock music that toys with punk and country that is sure to calm the nerves and dance with the mind. Set to release his new album in early 2008, it is sure to please the easy-going rockers that still like to revert back to rock and roll, but who also love the sounds of new styles now and then. You can catch his music being played throughout America in the college radio circuit, soon to be picked up by many more."
-Featured Artist 5/14/2008, Local Promo Music Voice Magazine, beta.lpmvoice.com |
News Updates
Download the FREE cd, "Live @ Lunch presents Teo Peralez", by clicking the picture on the right menu or visiting the official store. It's 100% FREE, so burn it for your favorite friends, coworkers, family members, zoo animals, ect. and get ready for some awesome shows in 2009!
I can hardly believe it, but the new album comes up on Target.com! Check it here: http://www.target.com/Smell-Burning-Leaves-Peralez-Teo/dp/B001HEIDTS
"The Smell of Burning Leaves..." is available now through several online retailers including Apple iTunes and Amazon.com!
A couple new updates for all to check out!
First of all, big thanks to Nick Scheidies and the Rocky Mountain Collegian for reviewing the album! You can check out that review in the press section. Second, "The Smell of Burning Leaves..." is available now through CDBaby.com. Links to the CDBaby order page are available in the online store! Last, and perhaps coolest of all, I have officially been added to the local rotation on 90.5 KCSU FM. You can catch the locals show Wednesday nights at 7:00, and phone it in for requests. The disk I gave to KCSU was titled "The Singles". Here's the tracklist:
The "Return to Top" bug if fixed for Internet Explorer. Please contact me if anyone has any problems!
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