Press

QUOTES

“…Self titled debut illustrates a knack for smooth, solid The Band-esque tones.”
The Tennessean

STORIES
Band of Brothers – Blast Magazine

REVIEWS

Babysue.com
(Rating: 5++)
The debut full-length release from The Medders who are now based in Nashville, Tennessee. These guys write and record what might best be described as…just plain ol’ good music. You won’t hear any grating scratching going on here…no clever studio tricks crashing through the speakers…and no thick walls of digital overdubs used to make up for a lack of good songs. Nope, none of the usual tricks here…because when you have good songs, you don’t need tricks and gimmicks to try to deceive the public. True, these tunes are a bit more laidback than what the casual listener probably wants…but in a world where everyone is trying way too hard and turning things up way too loud, in this case the subtle approach works. Nice simple arrangements allow you to concentrate on the vocal melodies and lyrics…both of which are superb throughout. Ten neat cuts here including “Gunslinger,” “Win Win,” “Funeral Rose,” and “Terminus.” Recommended.

Insulin Funk
By Wesley Johnson
Oct 16, 2009
We at the ‘Funk often receive pretty horrible albums for review in various genres. This has jaded us to the point of ignoring unsolicited packages, for the most part. Thankfully, though, we occasionally run across gems like Nashville-based Americana outfit The Medders self-titled LP. Call it a diamond in the rough, if you will.
The Medders wear their influences on their sleeves, but, when said influences are the likes of The Beatlels, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and The Band, that’s hardly a bad thing. The ten tracks on their record sound like an amalgamation of all those aforementioned legends with a dash of something new. The musicianship is great, the vocals are amazing (frontman Cheyenne Medders and guest Priscilla Jeschke’s harmonies on “Gunslinger” sound perfect), and the songwriting is first rate.
The Medders’ s/t is one of those rare albums that you’ll never grow tired of. In a modern era where bands are too fixated on their look and auto tune, it’s nice to hear a group embrace the past and produce something real.

The Fire Note
(Rating: 3.5++)
The Medders are a band of three brothers (Cheyenne, Carson, Will) and piano player Joshua Stauter, that have just released their self-titled debut record. The album is a solid slice of roots rock and Americana, which is a product of being raised by musical parents that exposed them consistently to Neil Young, Bob Dylan, Elton John and Johnny Horton. The Medders passion for music emotes track after track and their straightforward sound still holds surprises, like in the building orchestrated closing of “Bee Free Honey”. The band sounds well beyond their debut, which could be from the helpful oversight they received from Robin Eaton (Spinto Band) and Lij Shaw (Autumn Defense), while all the mixing was done by lead singer and songwriter Cheyenne Medders, who just so happens to have a day job as a sound engineer. The Medders debut is an album that gets better with every spin and definitely puts them on the list of new bands to keep an eye on!

Fingertips
by Jeremy Schlosberg
07/14/09
A sweeping, melancholy ballad with solid (but not annoying) country-western roots, “Gunslinger” tells a woeful tale with care, finesse, and canny harmonies. Constructed without a chorus, the song steadfastly repeats an eight-measure melody, with some instrumental breaks, all the while building in intensity both musically and lyrically. I like the great combination of deliberation and power on display, which gives this slower-paced song a vehemence normally achieved, in rock, through speed and volume. And the male-female harmonies are not just a boon but may well be the ultimate key to how well “Gunslinger” works, adding to the song’s pathos and musicality simultaneously. The all-male Medders employed singer Priscilla Jeschke for the job; note she is also lead singer Cheyenne Medders’ girlfriend.

The Medders are a quartet from Nashville featuring three brothers–Cheyenne, Carson, and Will–who themselves are the sons of singer/songwriter Jule Medders. Their self-titled, self-released, and self-assured debut album is scheduled for a September release.