JOHN BIZ
American Awesome EP (2007)
IPR - 013
From
an interview with
"Rock Is Life" in 2007:
American Awesome is all over the place, but
sort of rotates around the same thing. It's another
analog recording that really shows a personal
struggle, which at times even makes me a bit uncomfortable.
I mean, I really do my best to keep my cool, but
sometimes I kind of get overwhelmed with everything,
especially in New York City. "Cha Cha Cheeseburger"
was written as soon as I woke up from a crazy
dream. It was written in about a minute and a
half, and just came right out. It is comical but
there are serious undertones that any New Yorker
can relate to. What I think this song shows is
that at the time it was written, all the things
that were going on around me were building up
like a tidal wave, and I was holding it all in,
but mind let the wave break. "Let It Go"
was written as I was desperately trying to find
some Zen - some way to tell myself that it was
ok to let go of that negative energy that was
running through my veins to avoid a personal disaster.
"True Frient" and "Just Come Back"
are two heartfelt pieces that discard the ego
to save a sinking ship, so to speak and hold on
to a meaningful relationship. (In fact, I actually
get a visual of a "ghost ship in a storm"
when I hear "Just Come Back").
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JOHN BIZ
The Elephant in the Room (2004)
IPR - 002
Recorded
at Kill Todd Now Studios in Brooklyn by Christopher
Hill, and mixed by Matt Robnett. Featuring John
Biz and his frients. Very interesting material.
Honest, heartfelt, and often viewed as a narrative
of a dark time. It was written as he was going
through some tough stuff. Despite the dark nature
of this record, it makes for a really great and
powerful listening experience. It features some
exceptional songwriting and guitar work. Many
of the songs are recorded sans bass, but Biz's
low, heavy and fucking catchy guitar more than
makes up for that in this streamlines masterpiece.
He begins to blend folk with punk, and gives it
a pop twist that leaves you singing these songs
after hearing them just once. Biz really begins
to grow into his own skin as an artist on this
record, and just months after this was released,
he recorded The Happiest Days of My Life with
Steve Albini, effectively turning over a new leaf.
It's amazing that this record was made during
such a shit storm, and with virtually no budget.
Well done!

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HIGGINS
Make a Mistake (2007)
IPR - 011
This
is just one of the greatest songs ever recorded.
Ever. The lyrics are just so gorgeous and
inspiring, forgiving the listener where
one might not be inclined to forgive oneself.
The guitar, bass and drumming are nothing
short of a timeless masterpiece. Are you
in love with Higgins yet? We sure are.
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INDUSTRIAL
PARK RECORDS
CMJ Sampler (2007)
IPR - 014

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NATIONAL
SEASHORE
Love is the Only God I Will Ever Believe
In (2007) IPR -
006
"National
Seashore is a diverse artist collaboration
so dynamic that it leaves little room to
say that the project was not fated. The
energy between the musicians, brought forth
by a unified appreciation for Woody Guthrie's
life work, is completely unavoidable. It
is so inviting that people from all walks
of life can sincerely fall in love with
this music. There is a certain truth in
these songs, achievable only by a spiritual
movement that celebrates America's greatest
folk icon." - Allmusic
(blog.allmusic.com)
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NATIONAL
SEASHORE
National Seashore (2007)
IPR - 005
Compelled
by the story behind Mermaid Avenue, a 28
year old artist offers a heartfelt interpretation
of American folk hero Woody Guthrie's material
from his own impressionistic perspective.
The artist is John Biz, the setting is Brooklyn,
NY and the musicians who made it all happen
became collectively known as National Seashore,
an all-star cast of musical frients featuring
members of Apollo Sunshine, Kevin Devine
& the God Damn Band, The Unsacred Hearts
and SuperMonster. The band came together
in a matter of days, freshly embracing each
song in real time while recording to tape
at Serious Business Records in Brooklyn.
The result: each song is a living, breathing
entity captured as it was created in celebration
of Woody Guthrie, the man widely regarded
as "The Voice of The People.":
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NORRIS
As Beggars (2008)
IPR - 017
Borrowing
ideas from rock, folk, psych, punk, bossa
nova, and the blues, Norris remains elusive.
Rock at the core, Radical on the surface.
Borrowing ideas from rock, folk, psych,
punk, bossa nova, and the blues, Norris
remains elusive. Rock at the core, Radical
on the surface.

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SHAKE
FAITHFUL
Empathy (2003)
IPR - 001
Eminently
accessible music culls inspiration from
perennial populist favorites like Beatles,
Bob Dylan, Neil Young and Nirvana (witness
the slip-sliding vocal hook of Dream), it
also finds energy in avant-garde sources
like Syd Barrett era Pink Floyd.
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