Album Notes

Shuyler Jansen's 2nd solo offering "TODAYS REMAINS" will be released August 14th 2007, look for CD Baby to have it in stock for Sept/Oct 2007

For the past ten years Shuyler Jansen has been co-leading Edmonton's Old Reliable. Old Reliable has released three records to much critical acclaim and toured the club and festival circuit many times over. On November 2nd (2004) Black Hen/Maximum/Universal will release Shuyler Jansen's first solo endeavour, The Hobotron. The Hobotron is a genre breaking departure from Old Reliable's 70's country-rock sound, with it's epic/electronic backdrop and traditional forefront, it's Shuyler executing the sound in his mind.

Shuyler Jansen began playing and recording professionally at the age of sixteen, his first band The Naked and the Dead released two independent recordings, and shared the stage with Green Day, Sloan and many other entertainment giants, it was during these formative years that Shuyler began writing prolifically and playing solo shows. In late 1994, under the influence of Neil Young and Crazy Horse and Bob Dylan and the Band, Shuyler formed Old Reliable and began building a fan base that has spread far and wide. Old Reliable's last release Pulse of Light Dark Landscape was written entirely by Shuyler Jansen and featured the renowned photography of Elliott Landy (Nashville Skyline/Bob Dylan, The Band/Self-Titled, Moondance/Van Morrison, Woodstock).

In 2003 Shuyler Jansen borrowed an ancient tape machine and began building the soundscapes that would eventually become The Hobotron, after years of collecting primitive synthesizers and effects units Shuyler conceived of a recording that mingled country/folk songs with an ambient/electronic backdrop. With the help of Scott Franchuk (Jen Kraatz, The Swiftys, Corb Lund Band), Shuyler began adding live musicians onto the pre-existing soundtrack and eventually recorded an entire album backwards. The Hobotron features Nettwerk recording artist Oh Susanna on background vocals and an unconventional backdrop of baritone/electric guitars, laptop, synthesizers, percussion and harmonica. The Hobotron has been mastered by Paul Oldham (Bonny Prince Billy, Will Oldham, Anomoanon).

Shuyler Jansen has recently scored the soundtrack for Hank Williams First Nation, a story about a Native Canadian-Indian that travels by Greyhound to Hank Williams gravesite. Shuyler will also be a part of a traveling tribute to Canadian song writing legend Ian Tyson that will tour to Alberta Scene in Ottawa 2005, look for solo tour dates in November and December 2004.

Shuyler has opened or shared the stage with:

Alejandro Escovedo
Gord Downie
Ramblin'Jack Elliot
Oh Susanna
Carolyn Mark
Katy Moffat
Giant Sand/Howe Gelb
Calexico
Richard Buckner
The Sadies
Guy Clark
Corb Lund Band
Deadbolt
Dinner is ruined
Sloan
Green Day
The Smalls
Patty Griffin
Terry Allen
Zubot and Dawson
Kathleen Edwards
Ian Tyson
Tegan and Sara
Colin Linden
Bo Ramsey
Blackie and the Rodeo Kings
The Flatlanders
Ralph Stanley
Wilson Pickett

Shuyler has played these festivals, venues:

Edmonton Folk Festival
Calgary Folk Festival
Dawson City Folk Festival
North Country Fair
Dauphin Country Fest
Big Valley Jamboree
Stage 13
NXNE 2004
NMW 2002
Jack Singer Concert Hall
The Arden Theatre
Festival Place
The Winspear Centre
Calgary Roots and Blues
Ottawa Blues fest
Edmonton's Family Fest
Yellowknife's Folk on the Rocks
JUNO Fest 2004

Shuyler has been a part of these recordings:

Old Reliable/Pulse of Light Dark Landscape
The Gradual Moment/Gone are the Days
The Swiftys/Self Titled
Dustin Cole/Dig to China
Jen Kraatz/Trudge/Ashes
John Henry/Charmin'Billy
Les Tabernacles/Born Ready
The Kasuals/Hate Me
The Naked and the Dead/Chewin'the Stem
Fully Clothed and Alive
Andrea House/Hearts Hotel
The Corb Lund Band/Unforgiving Mistress

"In a show that featured a rotating door of musicians -- including U.S. folk legend Ramblin' Jack Elliott, former Tyson band members like Cindy Church, and a bevy of local roots heroes -- the show hit a high note early with Edmonton's Shuyler Jansen. Jansen seemed to summon up the spirit of Waylon Jennings for a rollicking but tasteful version of Tyson's Alberta Child.

September 6th 2002
Calgary Herald

"The brilliance of Willie Nelson's singing technique, and the future of country music"

"Shuyler's songs and vocal style tell you all you need to know about his passion for real country"

"Willie, Waylon, and Johnny Cash ghost through the entire album. Lead singer, Shuyler Jansen, is a die-hard for their style and emulates it brilliantly"

Michael Hogan For Encore!
2001 Daily Herald-Tribune

"Telling tales of sinners, saints, damnation and redemption, the music's got that western wind blowing through it"

Mike Ross Edmonton Sun
Friday, April 26, 2002

"Equal parts Crazy Horse and Gram Parsons"

James Hayden FFWD Magazine

"Then came one of my favourite parts of the evening. Shuyler Jansen (Old Reliable) played "a couple of songs about the rain". His version of "Rhythm of the Rain" (Pull the Goalie, Folk You) - a tune actually written by Mike's late brother Pat - sent chills down my spine with it's dark overtones and scorching guitar work from Shuyler himself"

Dave Shephard Moat Magazine

"Take the best of Crazy Horse and mix it with the ingredients of the most underestimated Alt Country band ever, Wild Turkey, and you have The Pulse Of Light Dark Landscape. One of the best honest independent Country-Rock albums of 2003."

Real Roots Café Belgium www.realrootscafe.com

"Old Reliable infuses its rock and country with the sounds of fellow Canadians the Band and Neil Young. Shuyler Jansen's vocals and lyrics are somber, sometimes arid, but work away at you"

January 22 2004 www.f5wichita.com