Album Notes

PAUL DESLAURIERS SEES RED!!!

Ripping Into Red, the long awaited new album from guitarist and singer-songwriter Paul Deslauriers (pronounced “day-loree-ay”) is finally here! Built on muscular performances by his usual crew of Sam Harrisson on drums and Greg Morency on bass plus a few special guests, Paul treats us to 11 new songs, most of which were written by his own hand. He takes you on a trip through the different sounds that have colored his mind over the years, through old school rock into searing blues and beyond into the classical music of northern India.
‘Yes Man”, the album’s opening track, hits you like a proverbial kick in the pants and the abuse continues through rockers like “Commander” and “Honest”, but be aware, this is not a monochrome, one-sided album. At times the electric guitar takes a back seat and you’re soothed by the sounds of Paul’s acoustic guitar and mellower vocals on songs like “I’m Born Again” and “Death Bed”. You’ll be seduced by his masterpiece “This State Of Grace” for it’s classical Indian song, the sitar and tabla; charmed by its mandolin and violin and conquered by Paul’s guitar prowess. Ripping Into Red also boasts a few covers that have been skillfully reworked. Heavy blues fans rejoice during his Led Zeppelin-esque take on Robert Johnson’s “Me And The Devil” and his version of the Beatles classic “Strawberry Fields Forever” is considered by many as being one of the best ever heard! He’s blown away many an audience with live performances of these songs, leaving people speechless with the intensity of his guitar solos and the emotional urgency of his singing.

Recently, Editor in Chief of Guitar Player Magazine Michael Molenda had this to say about Paul: "Deslauriers really knows how to grab your ears from note one. On "Commander," his slippery, wild-ass riffs are underpinned with "yeahs" that drive the intro into your head like a velvet spike. Yum. He's also a gifted songwriter and vocalist, and his solos, especially the slide lines, are short, but thrilling!"

With nearly two decades of experience in the music industry (Paul’s music career began in his early teens!) 5 albums under his belt and a list of fans that extends into Europe and the U.S.A., Paul Deslauriers is a man who has mastered his art and has embarked on his newest adventure yet, showing his rock colors and his true blues roots. He is part of Canada’s guitar elite and considered one of the Quebec’s overall best. Nominated for Quebec’s Lys Blues Awards for Male Blues Artist of the Year in 2007, twice nominated in 2006 in the “Concert of the Year” and “Best Artistic Performance” categories, he brought home the award for “Best Musical Performance” in 2005.

Never one to rest on his “laurels” Paul also shares his talents with the fabulous Dawn Tyler Watson (2005 & 2007 Maple Blues Female Vocalist of the Year, 4 time Lys Blues Female Vocalist of the Year) in an acoustic duo setting. Their intimate formula of one guitar and two voices has wowed audiences on both sides of the Atlantic over the last 3 years. In May of 2007 they released their anxiously awaited 1st CD “En Duo” available on Justin Time/Fusion 3 to rave reviews.

Paul first gained acclaim in the 1990s as a founding member of Black Cat Bone, deemed by many critics at the time to be “one of Canada’s hottest blues-rock bands”. Over the years, he has also been called upon to share his guitar and vocal talents on tour with likes of Amanda Marshall, France D’amour, Garou and Nicola Ciccone, to name only a few!

His voice is intense and his guitar playing is moving. His songs leave you wanting more. Get Ripping Into Red and come see Paul Deslauriers perform today!!!

http://www.paul-d.ca/
http://www.myspace.com/pauldeslauriers