Extra Virgin
12 Stories High
© 2000 Old Lady Records (634457134928)
CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.
Zepplelin meets Prince in a China Town back alley.
tracks
- 1 Rubber Chin
- 2 Hollow
- 3 Fat Laces
- 4 Hi-Fi Hearts
- 5 My Universe
- 6 Goin Deep
- 7 Sacrifice
- 8 Over The Hill
- 9 20 Days
- 10 Devil Made Me Do It
- 11 Velvet Pills
- 12 Palm Reader
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notes
Extra Virgin is the product of song writing duo Rene Lopez and Rogers Stevens.
The two met by supposed casual introduction by a mutual friend who owned a bar they frequented in late 1997, and have been writing songs together ever since.
They hold the feverent belief that they came together by way of forces beyond their control.
You see, Rene is an avid fan of the Artist Formally Known As Prince Rogers Nelson, while Rogers' full name is Thomas Rogers Stevens.
That Rogers shares the same name as Rene's hero was an uncanny coincidence that just could not be ignored.
Therefore, they decided to form a band.
Rene got his start at a young age tugging at the shoelaces of his father, Rene Lopez, Sr., a noted trumpet player in New York's lengendary Latin jazz scene in the late 60's and early 70's.
Begging and pleading constantly for instruments to play or sleep with, Rene Jr.
eventually made such a nuisance of himself that his folks gave up and bought him a drum kit.
And then he was off...
to a succession of cheesy high school funk bands that eventually led him in and out of trouble with The Authority to where he is today - out from behind the drum kit and yelling into a microphone.
His parents are disappointed and are demanding payment for the drum kit.
Rogers' musical beginnings were less pleasant.
Driven to tears by piano lessons forced on him by his mother, he was desperate to create a diversion.
He mowed lawns, worked in a slaughterhouse, and did a lot of other things he regrets in order to buy himself a guitar.
It took much longer than he figured to learn to play the damn thing, even longer than he grew his hair, but at least his mother gave up on the piano lessons.
Unfortunately, his hair began to thin and he was forced to cut it off.
His father still has an earplug lodged in his left ear from 1986.
All the money that Rogers made from Blind Melon mysteriously disappeared and he is back at work part-time at a slaughterhouse in New York's meat packing district.
In the fall of 1999, Extra Virgin made a trek to New Orleans to record their debut album, "12 Stories High", at Kingsway Studios.
Producer Mike Napolitano(Squirrel Nut Zippers, Blind Melon, Lawrence Welk) put them through their paces with strict regimen of early morning calisthenics and high fiber diet.
By all accounts, the album was a great success, and the group emerged with only minor cuts and bruises.
On the way back from New Orleans, while relieving themselves on the side of the road, Rene and Rogers found bassist Johnny Lonely sleeping in a ditch.
He had no memory of how he had gotten there, and he didn't seem to have many prospects, so the invitation to play bass in the group was met with great relief.
Back in New York, the group was rounded out with the addition of drummer Bill Dobrow and guitarist/keyboardist Jack Petruzzelli.
Jack enjoys quite evenings at home with a good mystery novel and his favorite color is sea foam green.
Dobrow could not be reached for comment.
The group has hearsed, rehearsed, and re-rehearsed.
The songs have taken on a new life, and they are anxious to get out and bludgeon people with them.
There are many shows and records to come...
please stay tuned for great things to come!
reviews
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Objective speed review of 12 STORIES HIGH
author: Ian SchneiderI listened with pleasure to Extra Virgin’s “TWELVE STORIES HIGH.” What follows is a simple, speed Review of her the CD. Songwriter/performers Rene Lopez and Rogers Stevens were not consulted about the review, so I thank them in advance both for their artistic talent and then for expressing it on CD. It takes work to put a real NYC CD like this together. I live in NYC, so the only “subjective” thing I can say is that I enjoyed the CD most when it was played on repeat-—not song by song, but the entire CD. Tracks 1-12 build on each other; and the last song grooves well right back to track one—I was like: I want to hear that story again. Anyway, my “speed reviews” are objective. I give the speed exactly as it is on the CD—if anyone wants to know a thing about what the speeds may mean, what songs Extra Virgin’s tracks on ‘Twelve Stories High’ might fit it well with in a playlist, please visit my website-my mission—at . All speeds are given as even eighth notes, as they were recorded, except for the two songs recorded live, as so indicated. (“BEATS PER MINUTE”=beats per minute.) Tr#1-“Rubber Chin”—89.9 beats per minute. Joyful simple riff with original rhythm—as: “Nine Over Reggae,” Jack De Johnette, Pat Metheny & Herbie Hancock, 88.8 beats per minute, “Red, Red Wine,” UB40, 88.9 beats per minute, “Red, Red Wine,” Neil Diamond, 88.9 beats per minute Tr#2-“Hollow”—87.1 beats per minute. a song about the fantasy of a fantasy woman’s abode. As: “Nikita,” Elton John, 86.6 beats per minute, “Margarita,” Traveling Wilburys, 86.7 beats per minute, “Letting Go,” Squeeze, 87.0 beats per minute. Tr#3-“Fat Laces”—81.9 beats per minute. This composition looks back at high school days. As; “I Feel You,” Depeche Mode, 81.9 beats per minute, “Peace Train,” Cat Stevens, 81.9 beats per minute, “Help Me,” Joni Mitchell, 82.0 beats per minute. Tr#4-“Hi-Fi Hearts”—80.3 beats per minute. A song about how the world has become [plastic] and people are fabricating their emotions, done with an upbeat melody, much as Marvin Gaye does with many songs. As: “Don’t Do It,” The Band, 80.3 beats per minute, “Fire On Babylon,” Sinead O’Connor, 80.3 beats per minute, “Simple As That,” Huey Lewis & The News, 80.3 beats per minute. Tr#5-“My Universe”—121.9 beats per minute. A performance expressing unconditional joy despite where one may be. As: “Love Makes The World Go Round,” Dean Jackson, 121.9 beats per minute, “Love Makes The World Go Round,” Madonna, 121.9 beats per minute, “Under The Boardwalk,” The Tom Tom Club Tr#6- “Goin Deep”—70.3 beats per minute. Sounds to me like a man expressing some seriously graceful, even when slashing guitars help create Extra Virgin’s unique sound, love. As: “Neither One Of Us,” Gladys Knight & The Pips, 70.2 beats per minute, “DaDanny’s Song,” Loggins & Messina, 70.3 beats per minute, “I Don’t Care Anymore,” Phil Collins, 70.5 beats per minute. Tr#7-“Sacrifice”—44.3 beats per minute. Sublime. As: “Your Good Thing (Is About To End),” Mabel John, 44.3 beats per minute, “Just One More Day,” Otis Redding, 44.7 beats per minute, “Don’t Let Me Be Lonely Tonight,” Oleta Adams, 45.0 beats per minute. Tr#8-“Over The Hill”—181.0 beats per minute, in ¾ or 6/3 time (I hear it as sets of sixes, but it can be heard as threes, or even as two’s on top of threes—but to me the 6’s clearly dominates the lead pulse)—To me, this sounded like a song of sublime adventure. As, also in ¾ or 6/8 or just waltz time: “Piano Man,” Billy Joel, 177.6 beats per minute, “The Colony of Slippermen/A Visit To The Doktor [sic],” Genesis, 177.6 beats per minute, “Summertime,” Janis Joplin, 180.8 beats per minute. Tr#9-“20 Days”—76.4 beats per minute. A subtly in small accelerations and decelerations reflect this song about being bold and confident whatever your surroundings. As: “Angel Of The Morning,” Juice Newton, 76.4 beats per minute, “The Great Pretender,” The Platters, 76.4 beats per minute, “It’s My Turn,” Diana Ross, 76.4 beats per minute Tr#10-“Devil Made Me Do It”—96.0 beats per minute. The song is actually introduced as spoken, This is a song about enthusiastic temptation. As: “I Second That Emotion,” Smokey Robinson & The Miracles, 96.0 beats per minute, “I’ll Try Something New,” Diana Ross & The Supremes, 96.0 beats per minute, “You Send Me,” Diana Ross & The Supremes, 96.0 beats per minute Tr#11-“Velvet Pills”—114.3 beats per minute. Way emotionally complex. As: “Bad,” Michael Jackson, 114.1, “Get Rhythm,” Johnny Cash, 114.2 “Everyday People,” Sly & The Family Stone, 114.3 beats per minute, “I Never Knew Love Like This Before,” Stephanie Mills, 114.3, “Suspicious Minds,” Elvis Presley, 114.4 beats per minute. Tr#12-“Palm Reader”—83.9 beats per minute. A song about our own personal hidden demons and cruelty associated therewith. As: “Bye Bye Baby,” Marilyn Monroe, 83.9 beats per minute, “Zombie,” The Cranberries, 83.9 beats per minute, “Sweet Jane,” Cowboy Junkies, 84.0, “River Of No Return,” Marilyn Monroe, 84.1 beats per minute, “Hey Joe,” Jimi Hendrix, 84.2 beats per minute. Thanks you again Extra Virgin for allowing these experimental reviews. I could only spend so much time analyzing same music over and over if it were most pleasing. FIVE STARS. Ian Schneider ian@meanspeed.com
One of the best I've ever heard.
author: Ken BrownI love this album. "Fat Laces" has become and will go down as one of my favorite songs of all time. I love the blending of styles throughout the album; combining hard rock and folk influences is brilliant. These talented musicians have made a name for themselves and soon enough you will find Extra Virgin on your box of Wheaties in the morning.
palm reader will go down as great as times they are a changin' and other Dylan c
author: The Oxford MuseIn England we have packaged rock, this is unbundled soul with a positive feel, my universe is a masterpiece, while palm reader, if on a MTV video, with scenes of Princess Di's fatal invasion of privacy chase scene, would top the charts. People need to see these stories. Cheers mates.
something new with a manager named "foo"...
author: Poetsolid songwritting. although Rogers' signature guitar is reminicent of his days with BlindMelon, this is a whole new band, new experience. the hippy vibes are gone, but the jam remains a constant. I'm expecting big things on the next record. a solid first record.
Wow
author: E-dawgThis is some really cool stuff. Yeah, it isn't Melon, but still its a totally transendental musical experience. I'd buy it just for the kick-ass cover art if I were you!
This is NUTZ, guitar is CRAZY!!
author: John PulciniThis is amazing, fat laces is great, its got some cool beats and great guitaring done by stevens. This CD will bring you 12 stories high!!!
rogers guitar is fucking bad i had to let the singer grow on me
author: Jason Harristhis cd is very good i had a hard time getting into it i kept thinking i should be hearing shannon that was hard to get over but the guitar is superb rogers is as good or better than ever
A Perfect Twelve!
author: The Gotham RockerTwelve Stories High, the debut LP from New York City rockers Extra Virgin, must be heard to be believed! Plug this sucker in, close your eyes, and be prepared to take a 40 minute plus rock n' roll journey thru NYC. With a rock solid backing band, including guitar innovator Rogers Stevens, front man Rene Lopez provides vivid and powerful rock, soaked with soul. In a world where rock music has been packaged beyond recoginition, Extra Virgin and Twelve Stories High is a sight for sore ears. Listen for such moving songs as Fat Laces, Over The Hill, 20 Days, and the epic Palm Reader.