Album Notes

Jack Marks
Biography

Two Of Everything is the debut release from colourful roots, rock & roll songsmith Jack Marks. Produced by David Baxter at Knob & Tube Studio in Toronto and featuring myriad talented guests, the album captures Marks’ ability to craft music which is immediately timeless. Having garnered praise from both musicians and critics alike, Marks has been described as the “real deal” and already been featured in The Globe and Mail Essential Tracks column as well as receiving radio play on CBC programs Bandwidth and Deep Roots.

Over the past year, Marks has spent time performing in the front room at Toronto’s legendary Cameron House with his seven-piece band, The Lost Wages and has already began work on a follow up to his critically acclaimed first release. “There is always a certain expectation to tour when you put out a record,” says Marks “but I had more songs that I wanted to get down and felt my energy would be better spent in the studio than on the road.” For his next record, Marks has once again chosen David Baxter to produce. “For me there was no question,” says Marks “Bax is a legendary guitarist, a skilled engineer, an amazing producer and the most talented all around music person that I know – his influence can be felt all over my first record.”

Having only just performed his CD release for Two Of Everything on October 9th, 2009 to a packed house at Toronto’s legendary Dakota Tavern, Marks is wasting no time in adding to his growing body of work. “Now that I’ve started a recording career I have no desire to wait a long time between albums” says Marks “for years I put a lot of effort into pursuing my education (Marks holds a four year English B.A. and a B. Ed) but now that period of my life is over and I just want to make records.” People often acknowledge evidence of Marks’ English background in the songs he crafts. Like well written poetry, rarely is there a wasted word among his lyrics tightly packed with imagery, humour and sorrow. If Two of Everything is any indication about the quality of music to be expected from Marks in the future then his fans and critics will not be disappointed.


Praise for Two Of Everything:

"Jack Marks is the real deal. He ups the ante for the rest of us just by being in this town... I can say without a shaving of hesitation that 'The Dress Song' was the best song I heard in all of 2009"
Corin Raymond

TWO OF EVERYTHING, Jack Marks, from Two of Everything (Independent; sample streaming at cdbaby.com/cd/JackMarks) Jack Marks, currently holed up every Friday night at Toronto's Cameron Room, wears this original tune like the battered boots pictured on his album's cover. The song's a cross between bad-luck blues (the lyrics) and a hymn (the music), with a sly twist at the end of the tale.
Robert Everett-Green (The Globe and Mail)

"Jack Marks writes not only songs, but statues."
Justin Rutledge

“Jack Marks has hit the bulls eye when it comes to straight up blue-jean wearing, whisky-sipping, two-stepping country blues music. Marks has crafted a wholly endearing album of tunes that could stand up in any barroom, juke box, or country music station that I'd darken the door of, place my money on, or tune-in to.”
Amanda Putz (CBC Bandwidth)

“Toronto country troubadour Jack Marks has come up with a winner in his new album, Two Of Everything. Produced by David Baxter, its all-star line-up includes Burke Carroll, Bazil Donavon, Brian Kobayakawa, Treasa Levasseur, and Scott B. Sympathy. Marks’ gritty vocals and lyrics are kept nicely to the fore.”
Kerry Doole (TandemNews.com)