ASBURY PARK - The New Jersey Friends of Clearwater held their annual Clearwater Festival this past weekend in Sunset Park. This year's edition marked the 33rd year for New Jersey's oldest and largest environmental music festival...Next up was a trip over to the west stage to checkout local singer/songwriter Mimi Cross. For Mimi (acoustic guitar) it was her first time back at the festival in past few years and the local standout didn't disappoint. Performing an interesting mix of new material as well as songs from her 2005 release I Slept... Mimi easily won over the crowd with heartfelt renditions of tunes like "The Best Weapons Don't Shoot" (big 60's vibe/put a flower in the muzzle of that gun soldier), "Sunday Morning Lullaby" (Mimi hits her stride on this moving co-written by Kurt Marks), "High Wire Heart" (interesting take on this self proclaimed work in progress), "Breathe" (strong vocal effort on this gem from her first CD, Monkey Trap, "1st Kiss" (from lust to labor/the great tug of war/big crowd favorite) and "Satisfied Life" (penned right after 9/11 in appreciation of life). However, Mimi's best effort came on what I considered to be the most important song of the day, a brilliant piece of songwriting entitled "Golden Hour." The song concerns itself with the story of a young American soldier who is seriously wounded during the war and a medical team's feverish efforts to save him. "Golden Hour" deals with a most precious 22 minute time span in the life of this Midwestern soldier, that crucial time when everything is touch and go and life, death and survival all hang in the balance. "Golden Hour" is the type of song who's subject matter isn't even talked about, let alone written about lately. At this time in America, in this political climate, it takes courage to write a song like this and Mimi Cross should be congratulated and celebrated for it. Uncle Mike -- The Two River Times, NJ

"Alternative/pop/rock/folk. That's the best way to describe the music of Mimi Cross. The nine songs showcase Mimi's abilities as a songwriter and as a musician... These songs, after hearing them, stay with you... Mimi Cross couldn't make a bad album even if she tried." Paul Autry -- 'A Spotlight on Female Musicians 2', The 1/2 Creeper, PA

"MC Demos ...quite misleading title, because this is a full professional production and I have to admit I'm completely addicted to it! A touch of Pop, pure, beautiful, touching, no boring trad Folk, no punk Folk ...this is really simply MIMI CROSS!!!" Lord Litter -- TAPEDEPARTEMENT RADIOSHOW, produced for and broadcasted via the eurowide RADIO MARABU, Germany

"Don't be fooled by the title: Mimi Cross' Demos is no stripped-down trial run, but a fully realized piece of work. Mostly songs on relationship themes, with some subtle but engaging hooks, somewhere between Shawn Colvin and Patty Larkin without being imitative of either. The standout is the leadoff track, "Last Time", where deft vocals unearth buried treasures of emotion from a deceptively simple song. "You Can Never Love Me Enough" cleverly plays wistful lyric against a sprightly melody to good effect." Mike Hagen -- Fast Folk Musical Magazine, NYC

"Mimi splashes mellow jazz on her rock 'n' roll canvas. A cross between the folk-jazz of Joni Mitchell and the plugged-in wordbeat of Suzanne Vega, Mimi has a little bit of everything for anyone more interested in music than noise." Bob Makin -- The Aquarian Weekly, NJ