Album Notes

Based in NYC, Rat Wakes Red began as James Raftery creating songs in late night living room light. Odes to longing and loss, they found their way to producer Jeral Benjamin. Together they went into the studio with an engineer, 32 tracks, and using only James� guitar, voice, found-sound percussion, and Jeral�s viola, created �Dizzy on Daddy�, a lush, elegantly spinning song cycle of heartache and yearning. Romantic and edgy, cryptic and poetic. A sad and sweet wall of sound. Brim-full with sad melody, multiple harmonies and strings.

Radio quickly took notice. �Dizzy on Daddy� was in rotation on over fifty stations nationwide, hitting CMJ Top 30 on three. Also, Rat Wakes Red was hand picked by Pat DiNizio of the Smithereens to be one of a select few bands bands to launch XM Satellite Radio�s Unsigned Station. Critics joined in:

�Rat Wakes Red blends neo-gothic folk with modern 21st century recording to produce a sublime sonic sedation of melodies.� - (Boston�s Weekly Dig)

�Rat Wakes Red pays homage to the likes of Kristin Hersh, Kate Bush and Leonard Cohen, who also make pain and loss the cornerstone of their musical melodramas.� - (Splendid E-Zine)

�Acoustic folk guitar and viola, with a whispery, troubled voice? Yes please!� - (The Big Takeover)

�Fans of the darker side of mellowness (or classic 4AD records) should seek it out.� - (Reno Gazette Journal)

Rat Wakes Red has played live shows from Canada to New York City opening for Bob Mould, Hayden, and Sloan. In Toronto, RWR headlined at the Rivoli and in NYC and the Boston area has performed at venues including the Knitting Factory, Maxwell�s, The Mercury Lounge, Arlene Grocery, The Middle East, Kendall Cafe, Colby College, WBRS/Brandeis University.

In 2005, Rat Wakes Red emerges from the studio with a new sound and a new album called �Horizon Drops�. Electric guitar, keys, drums, and bass provide the flipside to the previous acoustic rush. The songs are louder, faster and rock, with James� voice returning in harmonic hooks and cryptic choruses. Christy Davis (Mold) played the kit while James strummed, picked, played and sang everything else with Jeral returning to produce. A third album has begun. Featuring piano, strings and acoustic and electric instruments, this one will bridge the gap between the first two and will be ready next year.