Music
Press
" Ghosts what a Great song "
Gary Crowe - 102.5 KZOK Seattle - KZOK
' Yes my friends they really are Clever Bastards '
Phil Coyne - BFTM - Birmingham - England - Bit Jobs For the Masses
" The Terrifc riffage or Fisher & Knotts, the powerful bedrock of Dersoier and Sorensen, plus the sturdy post Ian-Hunter vocals of Curley combine for a Rock N Roll tour de force ".
The Triple Door- Seattle. - Triple Door
Clever Bastards - The Great Unconformity, is a return to the great album-oriented rock of yesterday. - Goldstroms - iTunes
They're sages and yet they've never sounded so fresh and vital. - The Harpshaman
The best band to emerge from Seattle in the last 15 years.
- Phillip Rouse - Seattle Muisc industry veteran
This is the first CD I have anjoyed from start to finish in many years. It has a unique flavorful sound that was unlike anything I have heard recently and what I would expect from such talented artists. - Eric Mulvany - Michigan
" Thats some of the best rock I've heard " - Bob Rivers Morning Show. KZOK
Sometimes I hear a song from an artist that strikes a particular chord. The song in particular was "Play Away" which unless you are of a certain age and grew up in the UK, you probably wouldn't have heard before. The song was the theme tune to a popular kids TV show and holds some particularly fond memories for me. The Clever Bastards released the song as a kind of World Cup single, but it's also here on the album. I heard that track and just had to get the album in for review. To say I wasn't disappointed is an understatement.
The album opens with the amazing "All We've Ever Asked For". The lead singer Mike Curley has that texture of voice that reminds me a lot of Slade's front man, Noddy Holder. Maybe that's not too surprising when you know they are both from the same neck of the woods in the Midlands, UK. Mike's formerly of Birmingham, UK, now lives in Seattle, US and has surrounded himself with some great musical talents.
I love the way that mandolins have been featured throughout, it gives the album a very distinctive edge, especially when combined with Mike's great vocals. The guitars also have a great sound, especially the acoustics. The great sound has a lot to do with the way this album has been recorded and produced, I'm sure. There's a very live feel, which works very well. Also dotted throughout the album are some great soundscapes, with sounds of the great outdoors and Mike seemingly writing in a journal or on a blackboard, I can't makeout which.
If you haven't guessed already, I think this is an absolutely amazing album. Being a Brit abroad, as Mike is, I'm sure there's that hint of camaraderie, but make no mistake, this album gets an almost perfect score from me, purely on merit.
I love the track "Big City" which for me would have been the perfect track to close the album. A special mention has to also go to "Crazy" which has a feel far removed from the rest of the album, but adds some really colour to the album, with it's bluesy jazzy just jammin' feel.
Conclusion : You just need to hear just a few words from Mike's mouth before you know it's a Clever Bastards track, which is only reinforced by the great ensemble cast of musicians. This is easily one of my favorite albums so far this year. - Colin meeks - IndieLaunchPad
Discography
Since the Great Unconformity was released in May 2005 the band have shared the stage with Foreigner, Styx, Reo Speedwagon on the mainstage at the gorge amphitheater. Played a sold out show at the triple door in Seattle. They have gained airplay in five states being Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Alaska. Oversees in the United Kingdom and Germany and have appeared on some of the west coasts largest radio stations. They are fast becoming one of the most popular independent internet radio artists gaining regular rotation on Live365 stations in England, Scotland, Wales, Canada, USA and Mexico.
The album cut Play Away appeared on a World Cup 2006 CD licenced through St.Clair Entertainment.
“The terrific guitar riffage of Fisher and Knotts, the powerful bedrock rhythm of Sorensen and Derosier, plus the sturdy post-Ian Hunter vocals of Curley combine for a rock 'n' roll tour de force that's both familiar and new“
The Triple Door - Seattle
“Standing On The Balcony - It did me curious and wanting to hear more...”
Haley Jones - Music Director - KMTT 103.70 The Mountain.
“You just need to hear just a few words from Mike's mouth before you know it's a Clever Bastards track, which is only reinforced by the great ensemble cast of musicians. This is easily one of my favorite albums so far this year”.
Colin Meeks - IndieLaunchPad.com
"Mike Curley you have an amazing voice"
KZOK 102.50FM - Bob Rivers in the Morning
“The music is very unique and draws you back to it for multiple listens”.
Jebb Wright - Classic Rock Revisited Magazine
“Yes my friends they really are Clever Bastards”
Phil Coyne - Insomnia Radio U.K
“This is the first CD I have enjoyed from start to finish in many years. It has a unique flavorful sound that was unlike anything I have heard recently and what I would expect from such talented artists”
Eric Mulvany - Michigan
Rog--you hit it out of the park with this one. Absolutely love it!!! ALL of it!!!!!! It's absolutely awesome!!!!!!! Spreading the word every chance I get!!!
Robin Smith - The Frame Lady
“We love it”
Insomnia Radio Network
“The best band to emerge from Seattle in the last 15 years”
Phillip Rauls - Seattle music veteran.
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Hailing from Birmingham England, Mike Curley crafted his career as a dj/mc, in the early days of British house music. With a one of kind vocal style - he mc'd for bbc radio 1 favorite Pete Gooding gaining an underground cult following in Birmingham. 2004 brought attention from the U.S major labels during his solo project as Marchate with the album - Here For You - gaining worldwide distribution with digital media giants such as iTunes and Rhapsody. In the summer of 2006 he signed an exclusive deal with the popular internet radio network - Insomnia Radio - to host and produce a weekly acoustic session show - LiveIntheLounge™ currently syndicated into over 70 countries with over 55,000 weekly podcast subscribers and distributed worldwide through iTunes.
Mike Derosier gained international success as part of triple platinum selling rock band Heart, co-writing some of Heart’s most famous hits, touring the world - even performing in front of 300,000 fans at the oakland coliseum. He also scored double platinum success with Alias and Richard Marx. Along with former Boston members Barry Goudreau on guitars and vocalist Fran Cosmo they formed Orion the Hunter with their album released on Columbia Records, producing the hit single "So You Ran" . As one of the most succesful drummers of all time, he is also renowned within the drumming community as one of the most solid and original in the history of rock. Mike still performs clinics with other world-renowned drummers and friends Carmine Apice (Vanilla Fudge, Rod Stewart. Ozzy Osborne) Alan White (Yes, PlasticOnoBand, George Harrison) and lengendary session drummer Kenny Aronoff.
Roger Fisher is internationally renowned for shaping the legendary electric sound for the triple platinum selling band Heart, Roger’s opening riff on Barracuda is one of the most memorable in the history of Rock 'n' Roll and featured in the 2000 version of Charlies Angel’s. Other riffs such as - Crazy On You - was sampled by rap-superstar Eminem on his 2005 release Encore. Roger also co-wrote some of Heart’s other most famous hits including Love Alive and Mistral Wind and played to well over a million people during his touring career with the band. He has also scored other hit records on the billboard charts such as the song - More Than Words - with the band Alias and has written two critically acclaimed solo albums Standing, Looking Up and Evolution. Roger recently appeared on live t.v in the Czech Republic in front of 2million viewers performing with famed Czech musician and friend Michael Kocab featuring talks with Bolek Polivka, Czech's most popular tv personality and Vaclav Havel - the countries former president.
Rick Knotts is best known for his work and success in the band Rail, who were signed to EMI and received heavy rotation on MTV. Major North American tours followed supporting bands such as Van Halen, Three Dog Night and Heart, with the bands work now celebrated in Seattle's famous Experience Music Project. Rick holds over ten worldwide patents and is the co-inventor of the most used guitar sustainer system in the music industry featured on many Jackson Guitars - and used on CB’s Heaven To Me and also by musicians and friends Ben Carey of Lifehouse and Phil Collen of Def Leppard, among many others. In recent years Rick has worked extensively alongside Floyd Rose on Floyd Rose custom guitars consulting with other artists such as Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi) Brad Whitford (Aerosmith) Joe Walsh (The Eagles) James Valentine (Maroon 5) and guitar legend Joe Satriani.
As bass player and backing vocalist for Paul Rodgers (Bad Company, Free, Queen), Lynn Sorensen has played to sold out crowds at most of the worlds major and legendary venues such as the Barrowlands of Scotland, Apollo-Hammersmith and the Royal Albert Hall in London appearing with Brian May(Queen).
In Australia he perfomed at the Sydney Superdome and has also toured North America and Asia. In the summer of 2006 Lynn performed in front of 160,000 people at the Udo Festival in Japan headlining with Kiss, Alice In Chains and the Pussycat Dolls. Lynn's talents have also seen him perform a half time show in front of millions on live monday night football including working on projects with rapper Sir Mix-a-lot. He is also classically trained in violin & viola.
Links
