Indie-Music.com, USA 
April 2007

American artist Marybeth D’Amico apparently decided to bring Patty Griffin-inspired country/folk to different surroundings. She lives in Germany, playing her mournful folk/country ballads about tortured souls in a voice that sounds a bit like Alanis Morissette and a songwriting style that is more experimental musically than lyrically.
Let’s start with what works. D’Amico knows how to get into the head of a character. In the snappy folk song “Summa Cum Laude,” which describes the unraveling of a young girl who’s being medicated to keep her still and pushed to high achievement in school by her parents, you can practically hear the screaming in her head. “If only life were as simple as fill in the dots,” she laments, going on to describe her plans to pour the pills down the drain and break out of the suffocating environment.
D’Amico can also spring a musical surprise when needed, and “Woe” is the surprise on this EP. After four full-band sad ballad numbers, we get a musically minimal foray into jazz. The upright bass is the main instrument, the accordion gives it European romance, and the whole effect is sophisticated and seductive. Nicely done.
As D’Amico moves toward a full-length project, I have a few suggestions. First, try to get away from the predictable A-B-C-B stanzas. The first two tracks in particular suffer from Cramming Syndrome, an unfortunate tendency to sing a long lyric, realize you’re running out of space to finish it in time to make it rhyme, and speed up the singing pace so you can cram those final words in before the stanza ends.
Also, and D’Amico may want to smack me upside the back of the head with her guitar for saying this, but please try to cheer up for just one song. Five slow, sad songs in a row about sad/repressed people is a bit much. Even D’Amico’s professed influence Carole King, known for her sad lyrical looks at relationships, kicked out joyful numbers like “Jazzman” every once in a while.
There is promise here. D’Amico shows a streak of playfulness here and there when writing and playing her music. If we can get that same spark in the lyrics, the full-length CD might be a force to be reckoned with. (Jennifer Layton)


Roots Music Report, Texas
March 2007
When an artist puts out her debut CD, it is critical that she put her best foot forward. That is precisely what Marybeth D’Amico has done with her CD “Waiting to Fly.” While only five songs, it is a veritable showcase of this artist’s plentiful talent.
D’Amico has a vivid, one-of-a kind voice that can gracefully slide from a lilting whine to a tempered growl when the lyrics dictate. And speaking of lyrics – Wow! Using her considerable songwriting creativity, D’Amico weaves stories that tap a spate of emotions with the dark, heart-wrenching tune “Leaving” at one end of the spectrum and the grab-the-brass-ring “Waiting to Fly” at the other. Somewhere in the middle is the rocking anthem for rebellious, yet striving youth, “Summa Cum Laude.”
A great work that will leave you anxiously awaiting her next production. (Herb Barbee)
http://www.rootsmusicreport.com

Mescalina, Italy
March 2007
Sun and wind come and go in the songs of Marybeth D'Amico, a former co-founder of the German alt-country band Far From Home. These songs leave their warmth on your skin and conjure up a sunny atmosphere of comfort, based on the courage to believe in the conquest of serenity. There is, however, a soft sadness throughout, one that touches your soul a bit like autumn leaves, or like dust from the earth, carried by a wind that cuts and stings. Between the lines, Marybeth sings of dreams that a mediocre reality has frustrated. The taste that remains in your mouth, however, is a desire to reconstruct those dreams. Take, for example, the gray melancholy of adolescence depicted in the song “Jimmy”, which casts a shadow over the clear, clean sounds of the piano and the fingerpicking of the acoustic guitar. Melancholy is tempered by the conviction that each of us can find the strength inside ourselves to make our way out of the inevitable but transitory sadness of that time period. The brief closing song on the album (Woe) is one of the most original tracks on the disc, a mix of blues and rhythmic jazz with a stand-up bass line that contrasts nicely with the lighter sound of the accordion.
If in the title track, (Waiting to Fly), the artist reveals a delivery that is sorrowful and wistful, the pearl of the album is "Leaving," a story of a dramatic goodbye full of shadows and the desire for light, sung with a cadence and an interpretation that leaves goosebumps.
D'Amico's album, produced by the talented Markus Rill and backed by German musicians, moves between the delicate elegance of James Taylor; the style (both in vocals and composition) of Lori McKenna—in its introspectiveness which conjures up darkness and blurred lines; and in its more "pop" moments, it even calls to mind an "unplugged" Alanis Morissette.
The sweet softness of Marybeth's voice is so relaxing that you forget yourself for a moment and find yourself projected as a character into one of her lifelike and disarmingly "ordinary" stories. (Ambrosia J.S. Imbornone)
http://www.mescalina.it

RootsHighway, Italy
December 2006
* * *
From New Jersey to Germany, seeking fortune: these are the paths that a young songwriter has to follow to find her own space. It's not a mystery that singer-songwriters whose music is sprinkled with elements of country and folk rock are discovering an audience in Old Europe. In the US, the competition is ruthless and the market dispersed, while in Germany there are labels like Blue Rose and there is a definable Euro-Americana circuit, in which even we play a small part.
Marybeth D'Amico put down roots in Bavaria, put up a backing band and together with her musicians she travels to and from Austin, where from time to time she has performed on the local circuit. Waiting to Fly is a promising debut EP, produced by Markus Rill, the highly-regarded German songwriter from the Blue Rose team, divided like Marybeth D'Amico between his homeland and the US (but in an opposite direction).
These are five mature songs that reflect profound thought, but are accompanied by a more standard sound still on its way to definition. In any case, the lyrics are the winning card along with the acoustic ambiance of Jimmy and Summa cum laude; the gentle folk of the title track and the rootsy melancholy of Leaving are also noteworthy, enriched by lap steel mandolin (Robert Hasleder), piano and accordion (Andreas Obieglo).
D'Amico stands, with her somewhat ragged and languid voice, on a delicate structure, not perfect, yet quite characteristic. Among her inspirations she cites Patty Griffin and Shawn Colvin. The road is long and uphill but certainly, this is not a false start (Fabio Cerbone).

www.rootshighway.it

Rootstime, Belgium
November 2006
"Highly Recommended"

Inspired by Lori McKenna, Iris Dement, Shawn Colvin, Antje Duvekot, Eliza Gilkyson, Neko Case, Anais Mitchell, Kathleen Edwards, Kasey Chambers, Lucinda Williams, Aimee Mann, Julie Miller, but above all, Patty Griffin, Marybeth D'Amico has succeeded in 2006 in developing into a singer songwriter who cannot remain unnoticed on the Americana scene. More and more Americana artists emerge, but this little EP Waiting to Fly is something else! 
The American, who lives near Munich, Germany, presents her considerable musical talents in five songs. They are introspective songs with tones and textures that evoke a sense of nature and the landscape, as shown on the cover of the CD.  Immerse yourself in this beauty, leave the hassle of Modern Living behind you and let yourself undergo this little "therapy." It won't hurt you! Marybeth creates a directness which makes you feel as if she is next to you, that she is addressing you personally. If an artist manages to make a connection like that, you know you are dealing with an exceptional talent.
The musical accompaniments are fittingly sober, (acoustic guitar, piano, lap steel, minimal percussion and of course Marybeth's vocals) but also tasteful and effective. Producer Markus Rill, well known at Rootstime, assists Marybeth with these songs, which are best described as intensely pure folk music.
To sum up, this debut by the young Marybeth offers exquisite songs that will overwhelm you without forcing themselves onto you. We have the utmost respect for someone who is able to craft something so beautiful and make music and lyrics flow together in such harmony. Highly Recommended. Waiting to Fly: waiting for more.
www.rootstime.be

Home of Rock, Germany
November 2006

When a singer-songwriter at the beginning of her solo career gets the opportunity to work with a skilled expert like Markus Rill—who knows how to appropriately channel good songs and raw talent—not too much can go wrong. Marybeth D'Amico, an American who lives near Munich, can consider herself lucky to have at her side this experienced musician as producer of her five-track debut EP, Waiting to Fly.
Previously with the alternative country band Far From Home, Marybeth is now focused on taking her acoustic-guitar inspired gems and presenting them in different guises—sometimes folky, sometimes more country-infused or roots-pop inspired. D'Amico's intention is to present her real-life stories in an intimate, acoustic-oriented setting, which sets the songs off to great advantage.
The not insignificant contribution here of producer Markus Rill, who has surrounded the artist with a small circle of carefully-chosen musicians, is evident. The result is an honest, direct and very heartfelt presentation of these songs. Whether its Rill's finger-picking, Andreas Obieglos' shimmering piano runs or Robert Hasleder's luminous mandolin riffs, there is a firm foundation of mature craftsmanship at work here, in which protagonist Marybeth D'Amico presents her compositions with convincing talent and a feel for the essentials.
Waiting to Fly impresses in the end via successful team work and a harmonious atmosphere, along the motto “the team is the star.” All the gears fit smoothly together, so that the car effortlessly rolls towards its goal.
If Marybeth can work a bit on her vocal expression—following the tradition of her role models Patty Griffin, Lori McKenna and Shawn Colvin—and come across with slightly more confidence, there's no reason why she cannot bring out an appealing full-length album. Waiting to Fly certainly holds out that promise. You can listen to and purchase Marybeth's EP via her website.
(Frank Ipach)
www.home-of-rock.de

AltCountry.Nl, Netherlands
November 2006
* * * 1/2

Any regular visitor to this site has heard of Markus Rill, who is practically solely responsible for altcountry in Germany. He also produced and is one of the musicians on Marybeth D'Amico's self-released EP Waiting to Fly. She used to sing with alt-country band Far From Home, but has now gone solo. She describes herself as a singer-songwriter in the tradition of Patty Griffin, Lori McKenna or Shawn Colvin. If D'Amico's intention was to show the broad range of her talent, she has surely succeeded here. There's country in Jimmy, roots rock in Summa cum laude, folk in the title number, melodious pop in Leaving and the last number Woe sounds jazzy. The lyrics of the self-penned songs are mostly sad, although usually with a silver lining. If D'Amico is capable of making an entire CD of this caliber, that will be something to look forward to. (Peter Pleyte)
www.altcountry.nl

CrtlAltCountry, Belgium
October 2006
* * *
Any friend of the German singer-songwriter Markus Rill is a friend of ours. On many occasions in the past, Rill has been shown to have excellent taste, and that is also the case with Marybeth D'Amico's Waiting to Fly which he produced.

This young American woman who lives near Munich, formerly known as a singer with the German band Far from Home, is now focusing on a solo career. The first result of these efforts is a five-track album on which she presents herself as a singer-songwriter in the tradition of Patty Griffin, Lori McKenna, Iris Dement and Shawn Colvin. Gripping stories are wrapped in melodious songs. Her work can be categorized as Americana, taking inspiration from country, folk, pop, rock and even gospel. The opening song Jimmy is a beautiful, melancholy country tune; Summa cum laude is a rootsy Americana number that reminds us a little of Nanci Griffith. The title track Waiting to Fly is a darling of a folk song; Leaving is a farewell set to music that clearly shows the distinctive mark of Rill and Woe is an almost jazzy, a capella ballad.

It's not a lot of material that D'Amico offers us on her first CD, but her distinctive voice and beautiful songs make us anticipate her next release with high expectations.

www.ctrlaltcountry.be