Album Notes

ONE & TWENTY is funk/rock served up to stir your soul. This NYC band broke down walls, mingled styles and shouted from the rooftops from 1996-2003. Insightful songwriting, poignant arrangements and heartfelt live performances were the trademark of this indie band. With soulful vocals, poetic lyrics, blazing guitars and infectious grooves they emancipated rock with a melodic sound not bound by genre. As a result, they were not what you expect...and they preferred it that way.

In 1993, Carol Thomas envisioned ONE & TWENTY. Pouring her emotions into her father's old nylon string, Thomas' songcraft combines thoughtful, revealing words with hard strummed, melodic chord progressions. The 1998 Lilith Fair Talent Search Finalist anchored ONE & TWENTY with her pipes of searing beauty, and rock 'n roll badass bravado. A funky, rockin' mixture of Grace Slick and Bessie Smith. When the band recorded "I Don't Remember Falling", her band were a collection of top-notch artists who brought to the project their own style. Bassist JON CHAZEN (from Wigjam) joined the fold in 1999 bringing solid, funky, in-the-pocket play, coupled with a creative ear for chord harmony-not to mention amazing stage presence. Guitarist Mike Bloom (now playing in Rilo Kiley) is the source of the multi-layered guitar sound on the album. Drummer Clyde Alford's jazz background gave the rhythmic sense of the album some diversity.

In from 2000-2003, ONE & TWENTY gigged steadily highlighted by appearances at the Northampton Music Festival and Ladyfest East. At Ladyfest East, they shared the stage with Toshi Reagon, Antigone Rising, BETTY & Sarah Jones. They built on a loyal fanbase throughout the Northeast. Their critically acclaimed debut CD "I Don't Remember Falling" garnered airplay on some college radio stations. NYRock exclaimed, "Thanks to ONE & TWENTY, the listener gets the feeling the world's a better place." While Rockrgrrl Magazine declared, "ONE & TWENTY plays mad, sad, intelligent rock."

By 2001, the band had changed personnel. Guitarist SPIRO THEOFILATOS, an accomplished producer and writer, added songwriting talent, plus guitar work that created a wash of sound textures. His sound added punch that made ONE & TWENTY's live shows rock. Drummer EUGENIO VENTIMIGLIA infused the band with the hard-edged funk bottom end that it had longed for. Hailing from Italy, Eugene's back-beat layed down the groove but kept the mind intrigued. Background vocalist TARA LYNNE, a band leader in her own right, infused energy and harmonic depth which complimented Thomas' vocal sound and the band's overall presentation. Rounding out this powerhouse band was JARED LAMENZO. His classical background and extensive synth work brought a wealth of options to the bands aresenal. After 2 years playing together, the band went out in a blaze of glory in 2003 with a sold-out show at CBGB. At that point, Carol Thomas decided to pursue a solo career. (Check her out at http://www.carolthomas.net)

ONE & TWENTY's love of music and their commitment to creating and sharing it at the highest level are set this band apart. Multiple styles working together in soulful harmony. Their live shows moved the heart and the feet. "I Don't Remember Falling" is a fantastic snapshot of a moment in the songwriting life of Carol Thomas, but ONE & TWENTY was also a glorious musical experience. Listen for yourself...and continue the journey.