Jil Station

Jil Station-Still Love
The Platform Group
July 18, 2006

Jil Station play piano driven music with a capitol ROCK. Still Love is a very mature sounding release, especially for a band barely old enough to vote or buy pornography. The piano lines of Kyle Dreaden is usually the most musically interesting aspect to this band, although Dreaden doesn't hesitate to let the guitars take over (check out the depressing 80s sounding "Still Love"). The music sounds upbeat and happy, but Dreaden's vocals put a huge damper on the feel good party, turning these happy go lucky numbers into a wrist slitting joykill, but its all for the better. The contrast between the music and the vocals create a nice tension that few bands have, which could have Jil Station driving fast towards their own lane in the near future.

Written by: RF
- The Playlist

I've seen it coming for a while now. Maybe it's because living in the midwest offers the chance to view trends take over the coasts before the "responsible" midwesterners become the last target of trends before they fall.

It never fails here, fashions, music, food, everything starts on the coasts and by the time it hits the midwest hard, the real trend is something else, somewhere else.

Jil Station could be one of the leaders in the return to the '80s. The music is not devout of new century sound, but it is highly laden with the softer emotional prowess of Morissey and David Gahan.

"Behavior" exemplifies the band's residual respects, with soft, harmonic tones and vocals that could any one of the Breakfast Club would sing along with.

Still Love is the band's debut album on The Platform Group and it is a very solid album, from a band of teenagers (the average age of the band is 19, with siner Kyle Dreaden at only 18).

Jil Station will lead the new trend over the next few years, and if their talent stays true to their feelings could end up with a career that resembles the band's they slightly emulate.

- by Ben Thompson



The Band:
Kyle Dreaden-vocals,rhodes
Adam Holzwarth-bass
Brandon Solan-drums
Chris Barnett-guitar



For fans of:
Depeche Mode
The Smiths
David Bowie



Outstanding tracks include:
Behavior
Vanguard
Parlour
- RiftRock.com

Jil Station is a four-man band from Atlanta, Georgia who are redefining pop-rock. Their eleven-track, full-length debut melds youthful energy with mature musicianship. Their sound is a mix of classic and modern influences with an array of experimental singing, sounds and styles. The CD is potent from start to finish. Crunchy to melodic guitars combine with solid rhythms and Kyle Dreaden's beguiling, baritone voice. 'Parlour' features a snappy beat and soaring guitars with an edgy under current. 'Mania' is imaginative with its range of textures and tones as Kyle's deep, silky voice dictates the mood swings of the song. Jil Station is poised to change the music world with Still Love - a passionate and pulsing CD!

• Recommended Tracks: (4,5) [USA/GA 2006 - web] (Review by Laura Turner Lynch for Kweevak.com) - Kweevak.com - Indie Music Mag

Angular guitars that diagonally cut through glitzy pop hooks while the keyboards provide a bridge between the groovy bass lines and percussion are the first brick in the songwriting wall of “Still Love”. Jil Station are merely two years old but they sound as mature as a band could be. The baritone vocals float and circle around the entire mix very well; this is an album that’s well produced and perfectly relates the singer/songwriter format into a pop alchemy of lovely tunes. You hear a lot of the declared influences here especially Depeche Mode, the Cars, and R.E.M. A fantastic album that is a polished little bit of perfect pop.

- J-Sin
- Smother Magazine

Place yourself in a poorly lit bar, surrounded by smoke, peculiar strangers, and girls with sad eyes. Imagine the soundtrack to a movie that was disturbing yet beautiful in its own way, now call it Jil Station, unafraid to call on the past or to summon the present. With a maturity far beyond their median age of 19, Jil Station has found their own voice by conjuring the magic of classic influences in a collision of self discovery.

When Kyle Dreaden (keys, vocals), Mike Aurelio (guitar), Adam Holzwarth (bass) and Brandon Solan (drums) joined forces in the hopes of giving Atlanta a new face and sound to its music. The band formed in 2004, tired of hearing the same cacophony at every show and sick of trying to mold themselves into a genre. "I wanted to tell people that there is more to rock than just the music, there is a feeling, a magic, a dream." Dreaden said. He wanted more thought, more spell weaving, he wanted to go back to when musicians became the music and when the music completely engulfed the listener. Transformation, the lost art. Jil Station is essentially an attempt at changing the way music was perceived in Atlanta and the world.

After a year together, Jil Station began toying around with different sounds, opening their ears to influences old, new, and unorthodox. Everyone in the band had something different to bring to the table. They needed to mesh it all together and create something palpable, something they felt was their own. The catalyst came in late 2004, when the band went into the studio with producer Jeff Tomei (Smashing Pumpkings and Matchbox Twenty) to lay down tracks for Jil Station’s debut EP, "Moderation.” The EP was recorded and mixed in seven days, then independently released and sold 3,000 copies to date.

Jil Station has crafted a distinct sound, reminiscent of Depeche Mode, U2, Radiohead, Roxy Music, and a hint of classic Bowie. The EP's standout track, "Vanguard," whose calming melodies draw a moody and disturbing silhouette. The song quickly became a fan favorite. Dreaden's lyrics have a resonance somewhere lost in time but strangely present. Dreaden sings “But in the glow of the moon and the face of a wolf, I heard her singing, always singing...” It touches something ancient and timeless. As he sings “Move on, move on, my love en avant garde,” you get it, completely.

In November/December 2005 the band went back into the studio with Jeff Tomei to record the 3 song EP, "Still Love," released as a free internet download. The band had adopted an even more dark pop sound, the EP showcased that. Infused with heavy piano and guitars, their sound became more polished, while maintaining the signature grittiness.

Shortly after, the band was contacted by The Platform Group, and signed on the dotted line. Jil Station continues to let their sound mature, and will continue to win over audiences as they go along. On the road, the audience can hear Jil Station’s youthful passion and simultaneously their musical wisdom...

It’s this opposing yet synergistic force that is heard on Jil Station’s debut full length, “Still Love.”

- by Jermy Leeuwis - MusicRemedy.com

"Jil Station wrapped things up with a highly energetic performance. This band has it down when it comes to stage presence and musical styling. The heavy reliance on the keyboards in their songs makes for a smooth and mellow sound, which is beautifully amped up by the guitars. Kyle Dreaden's vocals were right on, and his gallivanting around stage kept my eyes glued. Many of the fans on the floor were singing along and shouting out for their favorite song to be sung, which I found to be so rockstar-like for the band, as they had a good size crowd. Jil Station has been recording many new songs for the past month or so, and I must declare that the little taste I got Thursday has me anxious to hear the final product. You can get some of their current tunes off their MySpace page. They threw in a couple of covers, as well, noting R.E.M. with their Athens fame and a favorite of anyone who grew up in the nineties, Laid by James. If you haven't seen them yet, you need to make sure you're at the EARL on February 11th, where they’ll be headlining with support from League of Evil and From June Forward. Seriously, you will be so mesmerized by Kyle's dancing and passion he so well exudes while performing that you'll end up dreaming about it later on. I guarantee you'll see my face at that show."

- Leah Baker - Confessions of a Music Addict

"...After that, drive down to The Earl and check out Atlanta's young performance prodigy Kyle Dreaden of Jil Station. He's just barely 18 and yet he has the confidence and moves of seasoned front-men. Kyle will work you, work the room, hell... he'll work your girlfriend/boyfriend. (This is not a reference saying Kyle is gay. Not that there's anything wrong with that. I'm just saying the boy has got moves.)"

-Preston Craig - Kissatlanta.com

"Move over, Butch Walker. AMG predicts Jil Station’s Kyle Dreaden will be taking home the AMG Award for best frontperson this year.

If you’ve been bored by the timid awkwardness of young local bands, you haven’t seen the spectacle, the “performance prodigy” that is Kyle Dreaden. At the tender age of 18, Dreadon is able to careen across the stage, woo young female fans, and essentially mesmerize audiences with the air of a seasoned performer.

AMG caught up with Jil Station at their last Masquerade show, and we were drawn from the back of the venue to the front row by the end of the night. Not even a drunken frat boy rushing the stage could throw off the performance. Without missing a beat, Dreaden crossed the stage with expert grace and gently guided the rowdy fan off the stage and back into the excited crowd.

If Dreaden’s charisma is in any way a product of youthful arrogance, it is a confidence that has been earned. Jil Station’s records sound as mature as his performance. Guitarist Chris Barnett’s versatile and melodic style is reminiscent of Johnny Marr, while bassist Adam Holzwrth works closely with drummer Brandon Solan to create a steady backbeat.

On top of it all, Dreaden lays down his silky, Gahan -esque baritone that croons intelligent lyrics and moving melodies.

Salivating A&R reps, control yourselves. Jil Station has already signed their soul away to The Platform Group in NJ.

Lookout for their first full length release, “Still Love” out later this year. The “Still Love” EP is available now, featuring tracks recorded with Jeff Tomei (Smashing Pumpkins, Matchbox 20)." - AtlantaMusicGuide.com