Show Description
Influenced by vocal standards of the 1940's, teenage jukebox anthems of the 50's, and the mod and girl-group sounds of the 60's, Jon DeRosa combines them all to create a cocktail of song-driven atmospheric chamber pop. While these elements are unmistakably the "backbones," DeRosa's songs are most certainly fleshed out by his post-punk past, as nods to artists like Echo & The Bunnymen, Lou Reed, The Chameleons and Robert Wyatt peak through the orchestral sections at every turn. But atop the soaring strings and brass, DeRosa is first and foremost a storyteller, and it is these stories sung in a darkly resonant baritone that set his songs apart from ordinary "pop music.""Classic crooning, a good helping of soul, and the spirit of new wave." -Evening of Light, Netherlands
"Even if his promo's Scott Walker reference is more helpful to unlock dapper DeRosa's locker (like 1969's Scott 3 and 4), with a spin of a Divine Comedy, Amanda Brown-era Go-Betweens, or 1984 Julian Cope combination, this holds true for A Wolf In Preacher's Clothes (i.e., it's unlike the singer/songwriter's significant catalog with darkwave stalwarts Dead Leaves Rising and atmospheric guitar dronesters Aarktica). Light, fluffy strings are constant highlights, as are chamber pop, piano-lit quiet spaces, '40s moody lounge ambiance, and DeRosa's romantic crooning." -Jack Rabid, Big Takeover
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It's been a busy year for Vermont based, Kris Gruen. Since the release of his sophmore record "Part Of It All" in 2010 he's toured up and down the West Coast several times, spent a week performing in Brazil, made his premier music video for the song "Red Doors" and played CMJ, SXSW and numerous shows in the northeast, He is currently working on his new release due out this fall with drummer Butch Norton (Lucinda Williams, The Eels, Rufus Wainwright),bassist Shiben Bhattacharya (Matt Nathanson) and producer/multi instrumentalist Charles Newman (Magnetic Fields, Gospel Music, Soko). Kris is no stranger to the world of music. His father, the famed rock photographer Bob Gruen, has long been synonymous with immortalizing countless musical icons on film, but Kris has chosen to pursue a path more similar to the lives of those of his father's subjects.
"He has an unnerving talent to take sophisticated material and make serious, grown-up pop songs, that neither sacrifice intelligence or hooks." -Rob F., Leicester Bangs, UK
"Kris Gruen's Mother West label notch up another creative winner with this eleven-track curiousity. Gruen is of a similar proposition to The Pernice Brothers or Iron and Wine, armed with plenty of strong choruses and deft use of hook-line, but it's the depth on this album that demands a wider audience-- a very organic and authentic album of warm-veined and druggy Americana that M Ward might even cop a nod to. Hopefully, Mr Sony or at least Mr Rough Trade or Ms 4AD will see sense and license this fine collection in the UK as soon as possible. Heartily recommended - take note UK record-labels." | Paul Pledger, Allgigs, UK
Kris Gruen named ASCAP Feature Artist for June/July!
