Thinner (1999) Spare production: less percussion, more acoustic guitar & upright bass, and more of Susan's piano playing than the other albums. Her voice is front & center, and the result is stark and moving as she sings about love and redemption, her crazy mom, post-affair fallout and more. Here's what Anke Van Loon, a graphic artist in The Netherlands says: "She has a beautiful voice (and a cool suit). I wished I could sing like that. So Billie Holiday can stay where she is on a shelf. When I'm feeling sad and in urgent need of Southern comfort, Susan S. can help me to come over it. The lyrics are very recognizable and not only for women, I'm afraid...They look like nice people to me."
THICKER (1999) finds the Room journeying into some new musical territory on a collection of mostly beat-driven songs. Along with traditional themes of love lost or found, some strange voices crop up: an obsession with Perry Mason, a vengeance-minded trespasser, and a woman driven crazy by her inner critic appear in "Perry Mason", "Trouble Now" and "Hammerhead", respectively. The songs range stylistically from weird post-modern to gospel to jazzy folk. This is the album to play while you clean your house.
Lion in the Living Room (1996). Some of Susan's favorite female authors influenced the songs on the second album: Ellen Gilchrist ("Say It's Love"), Anita Brookner ("I Left You Waiting"), Pam Houston ("Fueled By Loneliness") and Emily Prager ("Kill You Off"). The musically satisfying result is a woman's distinctly offbeat take on life. Bassist Ritt Henn and drummer Albe Bonacci join the Room this time out to create some fresh acoustic-pop arrangements. Highlights include the title track, about a family torn by alcoholism, that won Susan the 1996 Songwriting Contest at the Napa Fest.
Susan's Room (1993). Navigating life and love as a sharp-tongued woman inspires a strong set of songs for the debut album. Check out the co-dependent's anthem "Something Out of Nothing", the klepto's tale "Some Shiny Thing", the raw-nerved "When I Have Time to Fall Apart", and their one & only cover - a haunting "When Doves Cry". Susan and Tom are on guitars, with Bruce Linde on bass, Danny Frankel on drums, and John Thomas, keys. Guestroomers include Kristina Olsen and David Williams of the Williams Bros.
"I played it non-stop after my last break-up" - playright Lisa Shapiro
Room #5 (2000)
Thinner (1999) Spare production: less percussion, more acoustic guitar & upright bass, and more of Susan's piano playing than the other albums. Her voice is front & center, and the result is stark and moving as she sings about love and redemption, her crazy mom, post-affair fallout and more. Here's what Anke Van Loon, a graphic artist in The Netherlands says: "She has a beautiful voice (and a cool suit). I wished I could sing like that. So Billie Holiday can stay where she is on a shelf. When I'm feeling sad and in urgent need of Southern comfort, Susan S. can help me to come over it. The lyrics are very recognizable and not only for women, I'm afraid...They look like nice people to me."
THICKER (1999) finds the Room journeying into some new musical territory on a collection of mostly beat-driven songs. Along with traditional themes of love lost or found, some strange voices crop up: an obsession with Perry Mason, a vengeance-minded trespasser, and a woman driven crazy by her inner critic appear in "Perry Mason", "Trouble Now" and "Hammerhead", respectively. The songs range stylistically from weird post-modern to gospel to jazzy folk. This is the album to play while you clean your house.
Lion in the Living Room (1996). Some of Susan's favorite female authors influenced the songs on the second album: Ellen Gilchrist ("Say It's Love"), Anita Brookner ("I Left You Waiting"), Pam Houston ("Fueled By Loneliness") and Emily Prager ("Kill You Off"). The musically satisfying result is a woman's distinctly offbeat take on life. Bassist Ritt Henn and drummer Albe Bonacci join the Room this time out to create some fresh acoustic-pop arrangements. Highlights include the title track, about a family torn by alcoholism, that won Susan the 1996 Songwriting Contest at the Napa Fest.
Susan's Room (1993). Navigating life and love as a sharp-tongued woman inspires a strong set of songs for the debut album. Check out the co-dependent's anthem "Something Out of Nothing", the klepto's tale "Some Shiny Thing", the raw-nerved "When I Have Time to Fall Apart", and their one & only cover - a haunting "When Doves Cry". Susan and Tom are on guitars, with Bruce Linde on bass, Danny Frankel on drums, and John Thomas, keys. Guestroomers include Kristina Olsen and David Williams of the Williams Bros.