Martha's Trouble

Martha's Trouble have all the qualities that bands like 10,000 Maniacs with Natalie Merchant possessed - great songwriting, great melodies, and a great sense of timing. The duo of singer Jen Slocumb and guitarist Rob Slocumb perfect a soothing brand of adult contemporary pop on "City Skyline" that make Sixpence None the Richer grow envious. The same can be said for the mandolin-fueled "Don't Hide Away", which contains more of a toe-tapping roots flavor. The strings are used sparingly, only elevating the tune. There are also some finely crafted pop tunes, especially "I Know" and "Waverly," the latter having Slocumb sounding like Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan. The consistency of the album is another plus as judging the laid-back "Sign of Life," which resembles groups like October Project - there is no filler. Here Chris Rosser also does a great job on harmonium and other instruments. The lone depressing Sarah McLachlan-ish moment comes during "Forget October," a song that never really gets off the ground and seems to drag in spots with it's echoed vocals. Fortunately they redeem themselves with a glowing acoustic "Sweet Irene." But once again they forge into the sweet pop fields on the slow-building but infectious "Keri." - All Music Guide - 2005

Feb. 2004-
CBS World Premiere Sunday night movie earning the highest ratings of the evening. The movie "It Must Be Love" starring Ted Danson & Mary Steenburgen, featured the song "Some Peace Tonight" written by Rob & Jen Slocumb and recorded on their Sleeping Dogs Album. - CBS "It Must Be Love"

Martha's Trouble's new album Forget October went to #3 on the XM Cafe show "Nude Music Review" and stayed in the top 10 for 6 weeks.

In addition, Martha's Trouble was invited to record a live session in the XM Studio's. The 60 minute session aired this past fall. - XM Channel 45

What I like most about Martha’s Trouble is the way they mix current singer/songwriter songs with modern day production, as well as referencing elements of the 80’s and 70’s. Imagine if Amiee Mann of Til Tuesday continued to write songs…that would be Martha’s Trouble today. Martha’s Trouble also manages to mix in aspects of newer Aimee Mann and Michael Penn, as well as Jonathan Brooke and The Story. They also have a simplicity and optimism in their writing that reminds me of fellow Broadtexter band The Weepies. It really shows on the song ‘Everyday Love’.


Martha’s Trouble is a singer/songwriter band but they’re also a great Pop band. The rhythm section of Rob, Jake, Paul and David is about as good as you could get. The have the musical chops of bands like Del Amitre and Fleetwood Mac. Be sure to check out the vocals of lead singer Jen. I’m not sure who writes a song like ‘Why’ but what an amazing song it is. I love the rhyme of NOTHING MAKES SENSE / I’M CLIMBING THE FENCE. Also check out the Wurlitzer Keyboard as well as the great electric guitar solo.


It’s no wonder that Martha’s Trouble has been swimming in accolades for years now. Jen was awarded Female Vocalist of the Week my reviewer’s in the Americana Genre, Garage Band Records.com. Their album Sleeping Dogs won Best Americana Album of the year in the 2004 Just Plain Folks Awards. They have also garnered numerous TV placements on networks such as Lifetime and CBS.


Martha’s Trouble works on the road, even with a rigorous national touring schedule, as you can see from the dates on their MySpace page. Go to a Martha’s Trouble show and you’ll hear the same vocal quality and musicianship that you hear on their recordings. They don’t hide behind studio magic….they are the real deal. - Broadtexter.com

Canadian music duo Martha's Trouble (Jen and Rob Slocumb) have just joined forces with mvyradio and mvyradio.com (based o n Martha's Vineyard ) for a new program called Adopt-a-Band. As part of this inaugural incarnation of Adopt-a-Band , mvyradio plans to work together with the band to create excitement about the band both on-air and on their web streams to promote Martha's Trouble and expose them to new listeners and potential fans. It is a program that is quite unlike any others at radio stations as it not only supports a band locally, but is one whose main aim is actually to bring them attention nationwide and worldwide .

“ Our idea to adopt a band has been brewing for awhile,” says mvyradio 's Director, Worldwide Programming Barbara Dacey. “mvyradio has always championed emerging artists and we know that this effort to get bands recognition pays off for the artist and the station. We heard about Martha's Trouble and were curious.... ‘mmm Martha's Trouble on Martha's Vineyard !' Then we heard the music and we were delighted! Jen and Rob Slocumb have written and recorded some beautiful, heartfelt songs and they are serious about getting their music out to a large audience. We're going to work together to get the word out about the band and the station, and have some fun along the way!”

As part of the Adopt-a-Band program, mvyradio will:

-play Martha's Trouble on their internet stream and on their terrestrial station;

-make songs recorded by Martha's Trouble available for download on mvyradio.com a nd make them available for purchase;

-feature the band in live studio performances;

-send listeners to see Martha's Trouble live in concert where they are playing throughout the U.S. ;

-promote the band online via regular chats, an online journal/blog, interviews, audio tour diaries, etc.

Already, mvyradio is playing Martha's Trouble song “City Skyline” in regular rotation. The band is also featured on their Local Music Café show on mvyradio.com , and plans are in place for regular appearances on their What's New For Lunch show and their Sunday Night show , “The Hot Seat.” Several concert appearances are planned on the Vineyard and in nearby areas in June, with venues to be announced.

Martha's Trouble won the “Best Americana Album of the Year” at the Just Plain Folks Awards for their 2003 release “Sleeping Dogs” in late 2004. They released their fifth full-length album, “Forget October,” on October 5, 2004 on their own Aisling Records Label. As the Record-Eagle in Traverse City , MI said of them, “It's commonplace to refer to folk artists as modern-day troubadours, traveling from town to town with their songs like the wandering musicians of old. But Rob and Jen Slocumb actually live that rootless wandering existence.”

mvyradio broadcasts from the island of Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts to the Cape and Islands and the world. mvyradio has listeners on every continent except Antartica. With 23 years on the air, mvy radio is the 15 th-most-listened-to station on the web and is legendary as a tastemaker in the music industry, and as a musical companion for hundreds of thousands of listeners across the world.

Martha's Trouble can be found online a www.marthastrouble.com .
mvyradio can be found online at www.mvyradio.com .

For more information about Martha's Trouble, please contact:
Krista Mettler, Skye Media
908-889-5029, skyemedia@mindspring.com

For more information about mvyradio, please contact:
Barbara Dacey, mvyradio
508-693-5000 x110, barbara@mvyradio.com
- For Immediate Release

Canadian music duo Martha's Trouble (Jen and Rob Slocumb) have won the "Best Americana Album of the Year" at the Just Plain Folks Awards for their 2003 release "Sleeping Dogs." The category recognizes outstanding music which mixes rock, country, blues, bluegrass and folk. Martha's Trouble, who were nominated for an additional six awards, performed their song "Brighter From Here" at the awards ceremony. The event was held November 7th in Santa Ana, CA at the Galaxy Concert Theatre. Their awards show community of over 25,000 music industry individuals and artists and serves as a networking, support, and educational gathering place for it's members. - Just Plain Folks

Having never been too involved in the folk music scene, I certainly wondered what Canadian folk duo Martha's Trouble had to offer to the music world. While being a skeptic, I kept an open mind when listening to the recently released "Forget October."

Beginning with a very mellow organ and some shakers, "City Skyline" is slighlty reminiscent of mid-90's female pop, but peppered with some
exotic percussion instruments played by lead vocalist Jen Slocumb. Among other things, she played the djembe, gourd shakers, tambourine and clave. Flipping through the CD booklet, I also found that many other percussion instruments were played on this disc, like the bodhran, ashiko and dumbek.

The album as a whole is much more acessible to non-folk fans than I anticipated. While at times it sounds like just some decently produced pop
album, it never felt too far from the folk roots. I must accredit this great vibe to the relationship between Jen and the second half of Martha's Trouble, husband and guitarist Rob Slocumb. I'm sure this connection would be more apparent in a live performance, but on the record it still seems to be the glue that holds it together. There is such a strong emotional undercurrent that flows through this album. Not to mention there are some really good tunes.

It's interesting to note that Producer Chris Rosser also played additional guitars and keyboards, as well as engineering and mixing the album. Executive producer Jerry York was also the bassist on the album. This struck me as unique, given the album is incredibly professional sounding and cohesive. Having producers play on records, as well as engineer and mix tends to be the traits of many Do-It-Yourself sounding records. I never got that feeling with "Forget October."

For me it's just the pure emotion captured on this album that sells it. Nevermind the exotic percussion; just listen to the last track "She Hears A Train." As a duet between Jen on vocals and Chris Rosser on piano, this quiet and reflective piece brings us to an emotional climax, but a peaceful ending at the same time. Well done MT.

~Dan McNaney
- Feeling Anxious.com

"Forget October," Martha's Trouble (Aisling Records, 4 ¼ stars out of five)

Canadian duo Martha's Trouble (Jen and Rob Slocumb) recently won the "Best Americana Album of the Year" at the Just Plain Folks Awards for their 2003 release, "Sleeping Dogs."

"Forget October" was released Oct. 5. Jen has a beautiful, otherworldly voice, reminiscent of Aimee Mann at her best. Rob plays electric and acoustic guitars, plus other stringed instruments.

They composed the songs, which are imaginative constructions featuring heartfelt, sometimes heart-rending, lyrics.

Guest musicians added drums, loops, keyboards, bass and guitars, and Jen adds exotic percussion instruments on some songs.

The married couple as road musicians is unusual today, so there is already a different slant. Martha's Trouble are wandering minstrels writing good songs played with restraint and taste, qualities that sometimes elude artists over the course of a long-player.

Highlights include the ethereal vocals on every song, plus a few favorites including the sorrowful longing of "Sweet Irene," the beautiful keyboards/orchestration on the super-hooky "Don't Hide Away" and the lyrics, which reveal new layers with each listen.

This album is a real treasure for fans of Natalie Merchant, Jewel, Mann and lovers of female-fronted Americana.

Fantastic songs and sound quality, contemplative and catchy, Martha's Trouble has it all.

Snag the CD locally or visit www.marthastrouble.com.

Martha's Trouble is also distributing a Christmas EP recorded in 2002, featuring their individualistic arrangements of four classic Christmas favorites plus one of their own.
- Biloxi Sun Herald

Music triggers holiday memories, and everyone has favorite holiday tunes. For some, the holidays aren't complete until they've heard ``Silent Night,'' ``Blue Christmas,'' ``The Dreidel Song,'' ``Feliz Navidad'' or ``The Christmas Song.'' For others, it's the sound of Bing Crosby, Darlene Love, Luther Vandross, Johnny Mathis, Brenda Lee or even Vince Guaraldi channeling Charlie Brown. Some poor souls are haunted by those dogs barking ``Jingle Bells.'' God bless them, every one. But save a prayer for the musicians who hope to strike holiday gold each year. These holiday wannabes are fighting an uphill battle against years of aural memories as rich as the smell of pine and as bright as the flicker of candles. The best most can hope for is a novelty cut that makes it onto holiday mix tapes. Most will be in the bargain bin next December. With that warning, here's a sampling of this year's holiday offerings:

Martha's Trouble, ``Christmas Lights'' (Aisling Records) -- We've never heard of this Canadian duo either. But Jen and Rob Slocumb sound as crisp and fresh as new-fallen snow on six traditional songs. The simple arrangements are built around her vocals and hand drums and his acoustic guitar. Celtic meets the Middle East in this version of ``The Little Drummer Boy.''
- San Jose Mercury News

Lend an ear to the best and worst of holiday CDs
Sunday, December 05, 2004

By John Sinkevics

The Grand Rapids Press

PARTRIDGE AWARD (best releases)

MARTHA'S TROUBLE, "CHRISTMAS LIGHTS" --This husband-and-wife duo lights up the night with six odes to Christmas, including "Silent Night" and "The Little Drummer Boy." Spiced with the pennywhistle, bodhran and glockenspiel, this offering is truly a gift.
- Grand Rapids Press