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Neal & Leandra's new holiday release, Angels and Fools, is classic Neal & Leandra, with a quiet elegance that is as compelling as their first, critically acclaimed holiday CD, Listen to the Angels. In Angels and Fools, Neal & Leandra put fresh spins on familiar standards that invite listeners to turn to them again and again. Woven throughout the CD are holiday originals by Neal that are at times tender ("The Present"), wry ("Boswell's Lights"), and provocative ("Joseph's Lullaby" and "Fool"). Also included in the CD is a bonus track of audience favorite "Cowboy Santa". Their trademark harmonies, the lead vocals by Leandra Peak (who was named Female Vocalist of the Year by the City Pages), the classic feel of Neal Hagberg's writing, and the timeless interpretations of the songs, all work to make this a recording that will bring comfort and joy the entire holiday season.

I wish I could capture every dubious glance, every incredulous laugh, or even every blank stare that we have gotten when we've announced our intention to make a Perry Como tribute CD, and then keep them in some sort of "scrapbook of the misled." We have spent 15 years writing and singing our own songs and have tried to ply our craft with integrity and a sense of the enormous power music can wield in a person's life. So perhaps jumping into a project of cover songs by an artist who seems to be mostly remembered for his cardigans appears slightly less than a serious musical endeavor. As far as Perry Como is concerned that is exactly where a person could be misled, so here are a few things about him that should be remembered...

Mr. Como had 14 #1 songs, was the first artist to break the million selling mark, had 27 gold records, sold over 100 million records, and hosted one of the most successful TV shows of all time (the third longest running show in TV history). Rosemary Clooney said, "He sang perfectly in tune, had great timing and chose good material. Mr. Sinatra could be kind of crazy. Bing was kind of stand-offish. Perry was always there and always good. " It doesn't matter what he wore, Perry Como represents the kind of artist we aspire to be - a hard worker singing great songs and entertaining people without gimmicks or artifice. He had an astoundingly beautiful voice, a wealth of good material and a respect for his audience. Dubbed "Mr. Casual" and at times parodied for his laid-back style, he found that it always worked best to be himself. "They were always telling me to use my hands, my body... But that was never me. I just breathe, and sometimes it doesn't look as if I'm doing that!" he laughingly recalled during an interview in 1990. People who know me will recognize some of that spirit of "relaxation." Plus he sounded just like my dad. How could I help but love him? So this is really a "roots" album. And if that causes some raised eyebrows, so be it. It'll just give me a good laugh when I page through "my scrapbook."

- Leandra

I will be honest. This Perry Como tribute was never on any wish list of projects I felt compelled to finish in my lifetime. I went along with Leandra as a spectator at first. A willing, but bemused, spectator.

As it turns out, I didn't know what I was talking about. At every turn, as we were researching this project and picking songs, I fell in love with the music and the man who made it. The only excuse I had not to like him was that I had never really listened to his songs before. Then, I started listening, and this is what I discovered. Perry Como's voice doesn't beat you over the head or force you to submit to its will, but stands as an invitation. A confident, God-given instrument that doesn't have to resort to tricks. It is remarkable in its simplicity and its beauty. Both of these, I think, are qualities of great art that are under appreciated in our current age of overproduction and vocal histrionics. Mr. Como let a song sing itself and got his ego out of the way so his voice could work its magic. I am a huge fan now, late on the bandwagon, but banging my drum as loudly as I can so people will not only, perhaps, enjoy this album, but like the music enough to go out and buy everything of Mr. Como's they can get their hands on. It would be a worthwhile expenditure.

A few more explanatory notes - one, when I first met Leandra and was at her parents' house for dinner, I encountered a family who loved singing for the sake of just singing. Doing the dishes became a three part harmony Perryfest or barbershop extravaganza. I could see why Leandra was already singing harmony by age four. They loved making music. That is why when we found that Mr. Como had covered "Let a Smile be Your Umbrella", I wanted to put it on the CD, even though it was a minor tune for him and never charted. It was one of the first songs I heard Leandra sing in that kitchen. It is also one of the reasons we are together.

A second note - we did not choose the songs on this recording because of their popularity, but because we loved them. We sifted through hits and non-hits and our only criteria for selecting a song was that it had to be chosen separately by each of us (except for "Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo" which was chosen by our four year old). We gradually whittled the list down to what you have before you. All of the songs we agreed upon happened to be recorded by Como between 1948-1961. A plus for us was how often Perry Como charted with singles where he collaborated with Betty Hutton or the Fontane Sisters. The songs were already set up for what we do as a duo. Some songs we kept as faithfully to Como's original as we could without hiring an entire orchestra. Others, we took our own liberties with, while, hopefully, maintaining the integrity of the song. In the end, we have rarely, if ever, had more fun in the studio. We even had the serendipitous pleasure of working with two musicians (Dave Karr and Jim TenBensel) who played with Perry Como when he toured through Minneapolis years ago. We hope you enjoy this recording as much as we enjoyed making it.
- Neal

"As songwriters, Neal & Leandra clearly have mastered the art of saying more with less" Washington Post

"Listening to Leandra Peak's distinctively husky and lustrous voice might be as heavenly as listening to angels...Neal Hagberg writes inspired originals"
Minneapolis Start Tribune

Neal & Leandra's bridge rail is an unflinching look at committed relationships. It lays bare the good and the bad of being with someone for a long time.

Every new release by Neal & Leandra is met with high expectations for their trademark vocal harmonies, and their direct and eloquent songwriting. With the release of bridge rail all expectations for this Minnesota-based duo are met and surpassed. Together with percussionist Marc Anderson (Swallow the Earth), bassist John Munson (Semisonic), guitarist Dirk Freymouth (Hindu Rodeo), and keyboardist Jeff Victor (Honeydogs) each new song has been turned upside-down and around until the performance surprises, satifies and shines. bridge rail explores commitment - to another person and to oneself - and how difficult, satisfying, and sometimes devastating it can be. 10 original songs by Neal Hagberg & Leandra Peak (including one collaboration with Suzzy Roche) and a stunning cover of "Over the Rainbow" make up a CD that will by turns delight, comfort, and overwhelm with its insights into relationships - of all kinds. If you're already a Neal & Leandra fan, you know. They get better and better. Previous releases Old Love, Hearts & Hammers, Accidental Dreams, Stranger to my Kin, and Listen to the Angels have proven them to be one of the finest singer/songwriter duos in the country. If this is your first listen - welcom. You won't be disappointed.

"Listening to Leandra Peak’s distinctively husky and lustrous voice might be as heavenly as listening to angels...Neal Hagberg writes inspired originals" Minneapolis Star Tribune

"Listen to the Angels is gorgeous and peaceful, joyful and true. Leandra was born to sing these songs...if you’re feeling a little frosty, Neal’s brave, open-hearted originals will allow you to melt...the perfect collection of songs to listen to whenever you want to be reminded of what Christmas is all about. " Suzzy Roche

"Full of striking originals about freedom, love, friendship, loss, leaving home - a classic to be." Denver Post

"The poetic imagery is brilliant." Country Music International

"Neal & Leandra have clearly captured the art of saying more with less." Washington Post

"One of today’s top folk entities - duos, trio, solos, groups, whatever..."Dirty Linen

"One of the most sensuous mix of voices I’ve heard. You’ll want to listen over and over." Victory Music Review

"Downright haunting." Boston Globe

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"Compelling! 4 stars out of 4 - One of the top 5 folk albums of the year! St. Paul Pioneer Press

"I’ve heard a half-dozen already that I believe will be classics. Do yourself a favor and listen to them now - and you will be able to say you ‘heard them when’." Tom Paxton

"This is no diamond in the rough, but a found jewel of many and shining facets." St. Paul Pioneer Press