---

MAXIMUM INK, MAY 2007

BRITTANY SHANE:  Brittany Shane has released a masterful self-titled EP. Her vocals are an edgy and forceful presence that comes though with fluid delivery, like the San Francisco ocean breeze in mid-April. The Tubes drummer Prairie Prince guests on four of the tracks. His prowess adds an ethereal ambiance to the project, polishing the record for a feel that’s almost Synth-Alt-Country. The addition of a lap steel that sounds like a theramin and ambient keyboard adds a relaxing element to Shane’s already velvety voice. www.brittanyshane.com

--Maximum Ink, May 2007

LOSINGTODAY.COM, MAY 2007

Brittany Shane (losingtoday.com) 4.17.2007

Exquisitely produced intimate pop that sublimely marinates emotions and experiences set to poetry to be liberated and gently caressed by a tender cortege of sweetly swept touching musicianship. San Franciscan based Brittany Shane has been plying her trade for nigh on six years now, from her humble beginnings entertaining the most clued in coffee houses she has it seems blossomed into one of the key players of the Bay area scene. Her debut long player ’Decked Out’ won her acclaim from writers fortunate enough to stumble and catch on to the buzz filtering throughout the scene and since then by way of gathering together a group of crafted guest musicians (whose collective cv reads like an A list industry portfolio) Shane has happily realised the sounds and moods in her minds eye onto CD by way of this delectable 5 track EP. Reminiscent in the main of a young Kirsten Hersh, Shane crafts captivating yarns both memorable and lingering ’Better’ opens the set, perfect for those who’ve ever had their hearts dashed, this sparkling gem seductively shimmers softly basking upon breezy waves of uplifting splendour. ’Pretty Sky’ is slenderly bathed in cotton rich pining steel guitars that radiate fulsomely atop lazy eyed roving chord chimes. The aching and partly haunting ’Move into light’ is as tender as it gets, this slow burning beauty is shrink wrapped in romance, initially spectral in design it soon unfurls tenderly reaching through you to pluck your heartstrings. All said and done though nothing quite matches the parting ’Sunsets in Bloom’ in terms of elegance, artistry and enchantment. This smoking baby delicately swoons, swerves and caresses in equal measures, through bliss laden hazes threaded by countrified soft psyche accents succulent arrangements weave a milky allure that recall a particularly laid back Lush shimmying up to Mazzy Star to smoulder their way past your defences. An absolute treasure of a release. www.brittanyshane.com

Maximum Ink Music Magazine-February 2007

San Francisco’s Brittany Shane...hooked up with Scandal’s co-founder and guitarist Zack Smith to produce an EP worth of strong, engaging songs. Her self-titled disc spotlights Brittany’s luscious voice floating on a rich, undulating tapestry of steel guitars and synthesizers for a splendid effort that shows off her blossoming confidence and ever-growing talent.

-John Noyd, Maximum Ink Music Magazine
February 2007

THE ONION - June 2005

UW Graduate and Baraboo Native Brittany Shane has been making waves in the San Francisco Scene with the kind of smooth, inoffensive rock that one might expect from a coffeehouse folkie turned bandleader. Shane’s group splits the difference between the slow and brooding atmospherics of Cowboy Junkies and more uptempo, Sheryl Crow-like rockers. Her smoky voice, along with her husband's spare guitar, creates and easygoing country-rock vibe."

THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE

Bay Area's embarrassment of musical talent makes for stunning selection of CDs for 2005

Aidin Vaziri, Chronicle Pop Music Critic Tuesday, December 27, 2005 While the rest of the world was stuck listening to the same old noise this year from the usual culprits like the Dave Matthews Band and Mariah Carey, we here in the Bay Area once again got to spoil our ears by indulging in tunes that were truly innovative, genre bending and perfectly thrilling. Here, the 21 best local releases from the past year. And remember, it's never too late to discover your new favorite artist.

Brittany Shane "Decked Out"
Rising out of the San Francisco coffeehouse scene, singer-songwriter Brittany Shane delivers a rich slice of exquisitely produced Americana on this re-release (originally out in 2003), with nods to Neil Young and Ryan Adams in his better moments." http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article

THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY GUARDIAN - August 2005

Brittany Shane Decked Out (self-released)

The title of singer-songwriter Brittany Shane's third album, Decked Out, might refer to her fashionable appearance on the record sleeve or the Neil Young-style title track. But those who have heard her two previous self-released discs will take it as a reference to a new, fuller rock sound that recalls the moody jangle of heyday REM and the stomp of Tom Petty's band the Heartbreakers. It's a welcome change that lends more support to her alto voice and thoughtful songs, particularly on "Fruits on Your Vintage," where guitarist Bob Spector conjures the Jayhawks' Gary Louris atop Bruce Springsteen-ish lyrics ("He's down by Steve's Tow looking for a fight / He's grown fond of his old friends' whiskey and Kool lights"). Other highlights include the aforementioned "Decked Out" and the melodic "Come Around." There are two missteps, however: "I Was Wrong" wanders aimlessly, and the tongue-in-cheek genre exercise "Club and Disco," while not a bad song, deviates from the tenor of the rest of the album. Shane makes up for it with the pretty folk song "Pocketful of Riches," where her voice comes alive with projection, control, and high notes on lyrics that show an eye for detail ("I've got a feather from November / And a penny from 1963"). (Alex K. Fong)

SN&R NEWSREVIEW.COM

Brittany Shane Decked Out BB Disc
By David A. Kulczyk

Decked Out, Brittany Shane’s third CD, is a big leap from her acoustic days. Rarely has a folkie made such a smooth and unpretentious transition to rock as Shane has. A veteran of the Bay Area coffeehouse/bar circuit, Shane has a new electric style and backing band that fit her like the size 2 dresses she wears. Her lyrics are so personal that you feel like you are listening to a phone conversation or reading her diary. And crystal clean and tasteful guitarist Bob Spector leads Shane’s crack backup band like a cavalry charge. Such songs as “Come Around,” “This Movie” and “Fruits On Your Vintage” may sound familiar, but that’s just Shane’s talent shining. Like a rose that took a long time to flower, Brittany Shane has blossomed. Decked Out is easy to listen to and hard to hate.

MADISCON.COM RHYTHM - July 03, 2003

UW grad back from San Francisco for show
By Tom Alesia

A rootsy singer-songwriter and 1999 UW-Madison graduate, Brittany Shane will return to the city from her current residence in San Francisco for a concert at the Anchor Inn Saturday night.

Shane – whose last name while in Madison was Safranek – is a regular performer in San Francisco area clubs. Her most recent effort, the CD "Decked Out," showcases a folk-rocker who leans toward the latter half of that description.

She will be joined by three bandmates at the Madison show, which is the only Midwest date for her. Instead, Shane, a Baraboo native, has several Bay area gigs, including an opening act spot for The Wallflowers.

Shane's Madison concert will begin at 9:30 p.m. at the Anchor Inn, 1970 Atwood Ave. The cover charge is $8.

MAXIMUM INK - April 6, 2003

By John Noyd
Brittany Shane - "Decked Out" (self-release)

The former Wisconsinite has made her way to San Francisco and in turn found a gold mine of inspirations. The tight playing and blossoming skills at turning out solid tunes makes the guitar-driven disc a delight. Cascading twang and tender truths collide as her seductively husky voice makes for a delicious stew of folk-rock tunes that grows catchier with every listen without losing its initial honesty and sincerity.

THE EXAMINER - January 16,2003

Grooves you can use
By Bill Picture of the Examiner staff

Don't call her Britney

While dreamy-eyed Wallflowers front hunk Jacob Dylan practices looking aloof in a backstage mirror, Madison, Wis.-to-S.F. transplant Brittany Shane will be belting out her acoustic neo-folk up in The Fillmore's Poster Room/Lounge.

A regular on the Bay Area coffeehouse/bar circuit, Shane has a noticeably country-influenced style and very personal -- and sometimes brutally honest -- lyrics that have drawn comparisons to other outspoken, heart-on-their-sleeve female artists like Patti Smith and the Cowboy Junkies' Margo Timmons.

Shane celebrates the release of her third album, "Decked Out," due out later this month. She's online at www.brittanyshane.com.