Album Notes

"Some Songs I Wrote", Rob Roper's first solo recording, is a 7-song DIY CD recorded at his Denver home in 2007, containing some of his earliest songs. The record begins with an acoustic funk-rock, alternate-tuned anger management song ("Let it Go"), followed by a piano lounge-jazz slam at artists who write sappy love songs ("A Special Request"). Then comes a funky tongue-in-cheek look at bipolar disorder ("Bipolar"), a folky introspective song ("Invisible Prison"), followed by a beautiful sad song about mixed feelings for a lost loved one ("When They Go"). The CD closes with his most popular song to date, "The Screwup Song", a John Prine-meets-The-Dubliners song dedicated to all of us who make mistakes--that is, to all of us.

Roper played all the instruments on the record. The arrangements are sparse. With the exception of "A Special Request"--which is piano-based, the songs are acoustic guitar-based, usually with electric bass, and with the occasional electric guitar, keyboard, harmonica or mandolin accompaniment.

A political satire, "Wave the Flag and Give 'em God", is included as a hidden track at the end of the record. Completely unlike the other songs, "Wave the Flag" is spoken word over a hip hop beat and electric bass, with distorted electric guitars going crazy in the background, synth coming in at the end.

Here's what other songwriters have said about Rob Roper:

"Rob writes songs that are alternatingly sarcastic, self-aware, and heartfelt. He delivers lines with a kind of guarded openness. In one moment he may be cursing the world for all its faults, in the next admitting that the faults he sees in the world are really his. This may sound like heavy stuff but he won't let the moment stand too long before cutting the whole thing apart with some sly observation that leaves you laughing aloud. He's a rock 'n roller and raconteur with an acoustic guitar." --Tim Riordan

"Rob Roper's music is filled with wry observations of the world around him and us. He shares his unique viewpoint of personal stories and makes each audience member sit and think...'Hey, I've been through that.'" --Robert Mattson

"There's nobody these Boston songwriters would rather bum a beer off of than Rob Roper. He's a producer, a sideman, and singer-songwriter-wiseguy. He can do country, he can do rock, and he'll remind you of Randy Newman, Neil Young and your funniest best friend." --Charlene DiCalogero

"His thoughtful, yet playful tunes invariably have you tapping your foot to the beat. Loves lost, destroyed and found, along with drinking songs like "The Screwup Song" make for a great evening of entertainment." --KG Morris

You are so original it hurts." --Natalie Illeana