Product Description When Steve Meckfessel fires up his Collings slope-shouldered dreadnaught guitar with it's sunburst tobacco finish, people turn and listen. With it's evocative chord progressions, haunting melodies and unadorned lyrics, Steve's music reminds us of what we may have given up for lost. With his music described as "jazz inflected, urban folk", this singer and original song-writer will pick and sing his way into your heart. Review Geeezzzzz Great Music Steve Meckfessel! Under Beautiful Skies, the new album from Steve Meckfessel is simply magnificent songwriting and moving vocal performances all presented in a new folkish roots format that now belongs to its founder Steve Meckfessel. These three words - A splendid listen - come to mind after hearing all the songs on this CD release. The folk world has just been handed some of the best music they will hear in 2009 and beyond. --Robert Bartosh - Roots Music ReportSteve Meckfessel tells stories: a convicted murderer facing (Ten More Years); in prison; the high school sweethearts most likely to succeed (Everyone Says); a farmer pleading with a Civil War recruiter not to take his boy (As Long as He's Gone). Most of the tunes are down-tempo, which suits Meckfessel's rough-edged voice. That instrument has its limits, but the singer uses it well. Check out the plaintive vocals in the call and response of The Shape I'm In (I'm free... all alone... no one near... to ask me, 'How the hell did you get this way?) supported by a nice six string solo. Meckfessel demonstrates throughout the care put into this self-produced disk, exemplified by the handsome-and ecologically sound-packaging and the carefully arranged intro for every cut. Meckfessel's plainspoken wisdom, ironies we can believe in, and unerring tunefulness, make Under Beautiful Skies a lovely and, at times, moving listen. --David Kleiner - Minor 7th