Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Review
The South END
The Official Newspaper of Wayne State University
By Pete Hayes, South End Contributing Writer
Detroit, MI—As the liner notes in the CD explain, one of the meanings of the word “primary” is“original.” This is definitely the case in the great new effort by Senator O’Brien. His debut album called PRIMARY is at times startling and always honest.
The notes further explain that O’Brien is the originator of something called R&B Punk which combines jazz drums, R&B/Motown
bass, Motor City rock guitars and Detroit-Blues vocal
style.
The music that comes out of combining these four distinct
sounds is often surprising, consistently good and wholly
new. It is not surprise to learn that there is yet another new and exciting Detroit musician out there….
…The lyrics are honest and soulful and O’Brien’s gravelly, richly textured voice can, at times, cut right through all the crap and hit you where it matters.
This is especially true on the album’s best track,
“Leaving California,” where he sings, "well I’m leaving California/swimming on to Michigan/
and I’m trading in my television for some water/ I’m shaken-up the Oak tree/shaken off these fast beliefs/ and I’m looking in that water /for my lover.”
But do not get the impression that these are love songs; at least
they are not love songs in the boring pop radio way. He expresses love for life that is encouraging, contagious, energizing, and damn good!
…The lyrics can be enigmatic and provoking, giving room for various interpretation.
The album was recorded live in the studio and has been analogue enriched, which gives it a subtle raw edge. This is especially apparent on “Swim Away” which, without that roughness could be doomed to being just another
quiet song. This is a true rock n roll album with plenty of energy, occasional righteous screaming and guitar solos.
One of the most rockin’ songs is “Somebody’s Revolution.”
This tune wraps up the album with a large and loud Call-To-Arms
that leaves you feeling keyed up and ready to start your own revolution, or play the album over again, only this time much, much louder.
It is so rare that there is original music that is actually good too. This
could be a start of a very good thing so pick up this album as soon as you can, wherever you can and you too will become an SOB convert.
- The South END
Discography
Vinyl Singles: Whole World is Jones'n/ Worthless/ SomeBody's Revolution -Kingdumb Rec./R&B Punk Records
EP cassette: RagDoll - Art Solution Records
LP: PRIMARY - Unsafe At Any Speed Records
EP: INAUGURATION- Kingdumb Records /Bad Ballot Distribution
Digital Singles: Good So Good/ Punk In My Soul -Hydisc.com Techno Clothes/In Faith -Hydisc.com
LP: PUNK IN MY SOUL-R&B Punk Records/Hydisc.com
Recent Rotation: Punk In My Soul, Go So Good, Steady Rotation: Whole World is Jones'n ,Los Angeles, Leaving California @ College Stations, Independent Stations, Internet Stations in US/Canada- Best Spins Northeast/ Great Lakes/ Mid-West, Mid-Atlantic. Big Spins Southwest / Southeast / Northwest / HI. Western / Southeast Canada
*Streaming: sonicbids.com, myspace.com, cdbaby.com,independentartistscompany.com, senatorobrien.com, hydisc.com, itunes.com,on-the-i.com, google: R&B Punk singer Senator OBrien
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Senator OBrien is his real name. His father was a state senator and named him Senator. Instead of politics, he took the hard road to the music world. Senator OBrien sings and plays Rock N Roll. It's an alternative post-punk rock; he aptly calls R&B Punk. It's both sweet and wild. Calm and shattering. It soothes and incites. Its a sound that was reared in Detroit and smoothed out in Los Angeles where he has spent a lot of his time honing his craft.
He tours all over the U.S. and loves to go to where ever the crowds are willing and wanting of great music.
Senator OBrien has performed ,recorded, and produced with such great artist as Mick Fleetwood, David Santos, Waddy Wachtel, Bob Glaub, Steve Ferrone, Patrick Warren, the Serra Bros., Ron Diego Jonston, Nat Ciuro, Krish Sharma,
Jim Wirt, Pat OBrien, and many others. He has fronted several other bands such as Sons of Angelene, 7 Hole Affair
and briefly sang backup for the legendary new wave act The Cripples.
Senator OBrien has been a mainstay on college and independent radio and is a tireless promoter. Always trying new ways and ideas to promote his music of Maximum R&B Punk. Senator always seems to attract and keep the best of the best of musicians in his outfit and they all know how to play to a room, no matter the size. Senator OBrien is famous for his huge voice that is all blues and honey, and he maintains a duo of guitarist, and a commanding rhythm section, that are always explosive and well versed.
Senator OBrien is known through out the industry as a gentleman, and his band-mates are well mannered and professional. They are not only courteous but prompt getting to the gig, and on and off the stage. Senator OBrien carries extra gear for any circumstance.
Senator OBriens influences ranges from deep blues, old school R&B, Motown to rock, post-punk and dance music. Unlike some bands that tour, Senator OBrien always keeps it tight, and performs with intensity, desire and compassion for the audience. In consideration of the fans, and to keep it true and real, Senator OBrien records "Live" in the studio, which allows for the music to sound just as prefect in record as it does live in concert.
Senator is so confident that you'll like his show, he has been known to give away his album(s) to fans on a promise that the will pay him later. A real satisfaction guarantee, and so far so good. Senator is preparing for a heavy touring schedule for 2006 and will be in all the hottest cities and towns around the US and Canada.
Senator OBrien has a new album coming out, Punk In My Soul, and will also release two more singles this spring. Feel free to download a song, and be sure to ask your local station to play Senator OBrien, the original R&B PUNK.
For Booking Contact:
Bob Farmer@The Rose-Robert Agency
Entertainment Specialists
508 Pine Elk Rapids, MI 49629
email:rosewls@core.com
/231/-264-8186 fax/231/264-6950
Management/Saravamangement.com
FAN-senatorobrien.com/hydisc.com/$/cdbaby.com/
add@myspace.com/senatorobrien/amazon.com/ebay.com
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