Album Notes

It all started at the age of 6 with an acoustic guitar and a tape machine. Countless band incarnations, shows, local awards, international acknowledgements, and 6 releases later songwriter Tony Romanello is back where he started. And right where he wants to be.

After receiving endearing nods in college fronting the indie band Murmur (Norman, OK), Romanello retreated back to his hometown of Tulsa, OK and crept onto the indie scene by working with members of Oklahoma alt icons Chainsaw Kittens and Flaming Lips. He dropped three solo CD's: Lo-Fi Dreams in Stereo: Vol I (2000), The MumbleOdd (2000), and Counting Stars (2002) to consistent rave reviews throughout CMJ Radio (Counting Stars - #65 Spring '03) and international press (CMJ, Uncut, Pop Culture Press). Counting Stars even boasted the drumming of Lips' maestro Steven Drozd as well as a full horn and string ensemble. The comparisons in the media ranged from the abstract (Jeff Buckley, Jeremy Enigk, Catherine Wheel) to the concrete (Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, Queens of the Stoneage).

Bowing to requests to hit the regional alternative rock circuit, Romanello formed TRB as a tangible rock and roll unit and released the Shades of Grey EP (2001), Where Are You Tonight? EP (2003), and TRB s/t (2004). The TRB releases garnered the band a taste of major commercial radio success ("Where Are You Tonight?" and "Better Days" added to KMYZ summer 2003 & Fall 2004) and attracted a significant amount of industry attention. The hometown fans responded by voting him and the band multiple awards over this span, including Artist of the Year in 2002.

So where do 5 years, 6 releases, and hundreds of shows lead him next? Romanello has left TRB and returned to the place where it all started: the room with the acoustic guitar and tape machine. He released the Rock 'n Roll Fairytales EP in summer of 2006 featuring Mike Friedemann's bombastic drums, and Romanello's craftwork on everything else - ranging from the usual vocal and guitar duties to whirling keyboards and fuzzed out bass. The pounding rhythm, catchy hooks, retro keys, and crunchy guitars combine in a barage from the modern garage: "Your rock 'n roll is just a fairytale..." - what a beautiful disaster.

Romanello can be found performing regionally in support for the new EP. Keep posted for more details.