"...mellow folk goodness.." - NBC Bay Area
"...lush instrumentals, haunting lyrical storytelling." - Sacramento Press
" Kites & Crows, the sunny, indie-folk band from Ashland, charmed listeners with their emotionally charged, illuminating lyrics and unique combinations of accordion, banjo, cello and even a chiming vintage vibraphone. Kites & Crows, soars above traditional indie-folk fare, pairing magical imagery and artfully arranged songs to transcend stereotypical labeling and employing a multitude of textures and sounds with the cello and vibraphone, instruments not routinely seen in a folk-centric band. " - Sisters Folk Festival 2011
" Mark my words, the Ashland-based indie-folk band Kites & Crows has the potential to do big things. The trio met at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, where they all worked before realizing their musical inclinations wove together quite nicely. The result is textured, melodic folk music driven by the aching sounds of the cello, banjo and accordion and colored with charming harmonies... "
— the Bend Bulletin
" sweet, philosophical folk songs... an appealing, honest voice," - SF Weekly
"..folksy intellect...very pretty music.." - BANG! ( Eugene, OR)
" kites & crows create gentle soundscapes beneath thoughtful lyrics and rich harmonies." - KHUM
"Combining the accordion, banjo, cello and a vintage vibraphone, Kites & Crows achieves a depth and texture in their music that is rare for a three piece band. The Ashland based band combines orchestral instrumentation with a haunting twang and emotionally riveting lyric to create a sound that's all their own." - The Source Weekly ( Bend, OR)
" Kites & Crows are a breath of fresh air and that they play a folky style with a little bit of of a throwback feel to it without making it sound gothic or drunken or apocalyptic. What they do has nothing to do with the Dark Tower series or dark preacher imagery. It’s kind of nice to hear a talented band play a kind of music they clearly love to play without it being a gimmick. I’m a fan. Kites & Crows’ sound is simultaneously sweet, smart, and serious and the fact that they could one day tour with a band like the Great Lake Swimmers or wind up on a label like Hush Records adds an air of sincerity to what it is they’re putting out. Tonight’s will be an intimate showcase of what it means to perform a specific kind of music joyfully and without pretense. - SSGMUSIC.com
" Warm, rich vocals and compelling melodies, solid, swooning cello parts and banjo, which clicks along like the guts of a well-tuned clock". — The Bend Bulletin
"...Kites and Crows have finished their spell-binding set, tugging on the crowd’s heartstrings with their top-notch storytelling prowess. Mysha Caruso’s lyrics are able to draw in and capture the attention of even the stuffiest and gruffest of listeners. " "... Mysha Caruso’s tender voice rises above the din of the crowd’s chatter. The music beautiful and almost mystical..." - Rogue Music Vibe ( blog )
"... oodles of pretty melodies..."
- The Bend Bulletin ( Bend, OR)
" ...Kites & Crows channel the sounds of the northwest with a soft gentle sound, Mysha Caruso smoothly caresses each lyric...."
- Ashland Daily Tidings
"...The Music of Kites & Crows sails though alternating bright and dark landscapes while carrying listeners along as if they were indeed the flailing tail of this musical kite. At times elating and at other times moody, the music of Kites & Crows combines the delicate instrumentation of bands like Horse Feathers and The Dimes with the storytelling prowess of The Decemberists. Songs such as " Paper Chains" and " The Scales Sway" are excellent examples of the band's talented songwriting. With intricate banjo lines and haunting cello parts, the music sets the stage for storylines perfectly fit to the music. A live performance from the band is likely to lift one's spirits and renew hope that intelligent songwriting and intricate, poetic storytelling are not things of the past. "
--- The Siskiyou (newspaper @ Southern Oregon University)
" Mysha Caruso and Jesse Baldwin of Kites & Crows met and still work together at a famous Shakespeare festival, so it’s probably no coincidence their music has the ability to carry a listener along on a wave of sound the way a Shakespeare sonnet can carry a reader on a wave of words.
Caruso’s lyrics, thoughtful and free of cliches, tell stories of loss and redemption, love, friendship, going away and coming home again. Caruso sings his words confidently over the strains of his acoustic guitar and Baldwin’s banjo and accordion.
Caruso and Baldwin play together like jazz musicians, expertly weaving their instruments and voices into a pleasant folk/indie sound that leaves a listener tapping his fingers and nodding along.
Kites and Crows’ music is hard to define, but hints of the band’s influences such as the Decemberists and Josh Ritter are sprinkled throughout their songs.
If Kites and Crows sounds this tight after being together for such a short time, I can hardly wait to see what the future holds for them.
Definitely quality work." - Moscow-Pullman Daily News ( Idaho)
“...something special happened ,call it 21st century folk; call it whatever you want. Kites & Crows is creating incredibly wild and original folk sounds.... set with brilliant nuance and subtle conviction. an experience you will remember. a pleasure to listen to,..” Rating: 4 Stars (Out of 5) - Wildy’s World Blog
" "Call it whatever you want: americana, folk, roots…it doesn’t matter. The tunes are as inviting and comfortable as a fleece vest and Birkenstock sandals or a cuppa coffee and croissant with jam. This is music for your soul. K&C describe their music as boat ride, at night, with some wine, a dripping candle. I think of it as a late night conversation with a good friend who has some stories to tell. You can wrap these songs around yourself in order to keep warm. There’s no pretentiousness here. No effort by the musicians to establish whatever street cred that most others feel they need. These songs are about life as seen by a discerning, deep-seeing writer. The production of this music is a masterpiece of clever acoustic arranging although the result exhibits a light touch. Even though the packaging is bare bones, the music is professionally recorded with care given to bringing out all the instruments. Summary: A gem. Buy this and amaze your friends. This one goes on my shelf.""
- Jeremiah Sutherland www.bullfrogmusic.com
"....Kites And Crows is a simple yet sincere indie-folk band comprised of much talent. From the gentle vocals of lead singer Mysha Caruso to the sounds of multi-instrumentalist Jesse Baldwin and other band members such as Nancy Martin on the cello, this band delivers legit mellow folk. They are a young band but have already managed to create some beautiful songs..."
- Too Roads Indie Music Blog
