Album Notes

The roots of Artificial Intelligence in Texas can be traced to 1986 and a friendship between guitarist Steve Rabeler and keyboardist Tom Scott in Fort Worth, TX. An ad placed in a local record shop led to bassist / keyboardist Jeff Jackson joining the duo. An extensive search for a vocalist followed, with several singers auditioning. These tryouts immediately ended when singer / poet Michael Giaquinto auditioned and sang just a few lines. Giaquinto’s vocal qualities ranged from the laid back apathy of English new wave to the strength of sixties vintage Doors. With the core lineup of the band settled, Artificial Intelligence in Texas began frequent songwriting and rehearsal sessions.

The diverse influences of punk, new wave, electronic club/dance music, and progressive rock’s muscular guitar work all played surprisingly well with Giaquinto’s vocals and created a style that now eerily sounds like a predecessor to contemporary bands such as The Strokes, The Killers, Franz Ferdinand and Interpol. The text and tone of the songs was as varied as the band member’s influences: songs about spirituality, the cold war, love, divorce, dreams and even a couple of sly takes on then current eighties culture. Demos for more than 20 songs were recorded utilizing a 4-track portastudio. Local radio stations began playing the band’s music from homemade cassettes being distributed around the Dallas / Fort Worth metroplex. At that time the local music in the Dallas area was energized, featuring a wealth of bands that were later to be signed by major labels in the late eighties / early nineties and AIT seemed poised for certain success. Rehearsal sessions with drummer extraordinaire Anthony Jackson ensued as the band prepared to gig at area clubs. The talented and energetic band members also found their services in constant demand with other music projects. Ultimately the harsh reality of late 80’s economics forced Rabeler, the band’s founder and driving force, to relocate in 1988. The band disbanded.

After more than 15 years apart, a Google search reunited Rabeler (relocated to New Jersey) and Giaquinto (relocated to Colorado) in 2004. New songwriting and recording sessions quickly followed and resulted in the first new Artificial Intelligence in Texas song since the late eighties - “Bittersweet”. In 2005 several more recording sessions ensued at Skylab Studios in Roosevelt, New Jersey, engineered by Dan Skye (former bassist with Bon Jovi). The band released their long overdue debut album, Time Remembers, in early 2006.