Album Notes

Growing up in 1970’s Detroit, Paul Kopasz was a Roman Catholic child of the industrial steel belt. It was a time when, in cities like Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Cleveland, the American Dream was 'left for dead.' The Mid West survived on its varied beliefs, its culture and its Catholicism. Rock and Roll was the cultural focus for the adolescent during these years, the MidWest became well known for its passionate embrace of rock, and Paul K. was no exception. 'In Detroit we had the greatest radio stations. I was probably eleven or twelve years old when I started listening to radio, stations like WABX and WWWW played the greatest fucking music. Amazing.' Paul was instantaneously hooked.

Kopasz was an excellent student and earned a debate scholarship to the University of Kentucky in the early '80s. But he had already begun home recording his songs onto cassette in 1983, self-releasing at least half a dozen albums during the '80s, meanwhile starting to slide further into drug abuse after drifting to New York City. He found a label to release his 1988 album Patriots, but then landed in jail for several years on a heroin-possession charge.

No Depression (USA): "And if it were a film, I'd surely stand in that long line to see it. Of course, I think I just did..."

His career has evoked comparisons to Townes Van Zandt, Lou Reed and Merle Haggard, three artists known for drawing from their own shady experiences for song material.

Melody Maker (UK): "The pain in his voice could make a man cry....and when he sings.....with a quiver, you can feel the whole world crumbling around him."

In 1992 Paul got signed by Dutch indie label SilenZ Records. Simultaneously he released CDs through Homestead in the USA and Glitterhouse in Germany. He went on tour throughout Europe with the Afghan Whigs, who covered two of his songs: 'Amphetamines And Coffee' and 'Chalk Outline.' Warner-Chappell tied him to a long-term publishing deal and in 1997 Kopasz entered into a sweetheart arrangement with Alias Records. Yet, with at least 15 albums on home-copied tapes and indie labels in the USA and in Europe under his belt, scattered tours through Germany, the Czech Republic, Holland and Canada, Paul K. has remained virtually anonymous. It is a mystery to all that have discovered his music.

His voice is robust in a manner that recalls Jim Carroll or Ian Hunter, while his guitar evokes the jagged majesty of Neil Young and Tom Verlaine...one of the great songwriters of our time." (The Chicago Tribune)

But how could so many have missed him? How could this American treasure go unnoticed? Why? 'Ours is an impatient culture,' said Paul, explaining his relative anonymity.

"K. applies a keen wit and a terse poetic soul of a hard-bitten bluesman to his punching observations on urban jungle living.....he also rocks: hard!" (Rolling Stone USA)

Paul K. is thoughtful, provocative, challenging, humorous, and always entertaining. His astute view of the world in which we live feeds his soul. For those who do have the patience, those who want to understand and take the time, listening to Paul K. is an enriching and rewarding experience.

"...so wie diese Music scheint das Leben selbst zu sein, und die Bruecke ist geschlagen zwischen Kunst und Realitaet.. (Kultur News, Hamburg)