The Minstrel Avenue Record

TMAR Rock Artist: Paul Benshoof

Album Tracks:

1. Nowhere to Run
2. Right Away
3. Generally Speaking
4. Broke Up Easy
5. Stronger than I Thought
6. Lose the Girl
7. Up Your Alley
8. Shakin' It Up
9. Sugar Coated
10. Curtains Down

AFRAID OF MICE
Broke Up Easy
Label: Zing Music, Jacksonville, IL
Release Number: SW 11783
Format: CD and Cassette
Style: Rock
Price: CD - $10.00 Cassette - $7.00

MID-WEST ROCK! This is not your typical rock'n'roll band. In the course of a mere six months, Afraid of Mice has single-handedly captured the #1 spot on Chicago rock radio, won Illinois' "Best New Music" award, and emerged as the Mid-west's #1 club band.

Their debut album, Broke Up Easy, features their Chicago chart-topping single Nowhere to Run as well as 9 other original rock tunes that are equal in energy, songwriting, and musicianship. Their minimalist approach to rock music seems to work well. With only three members in the band, they uniquely synergize their efforts to make a sound larger than its separate components. Definitely cool!

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Album Tracks:

1. Love Was All That She Wanted
2. Won't You Leave Me Alone?
3. One Guitar

4. How I Feel Today
5. What Will It Take?

6. You Know I Do
7. Gotta Get Away
8. Destiny
9. The Syracuse Blues
10. Out of the Void
11. Where the Children Still Play
12. The Last Song

PAUL BENSHOOF
Won't You Leave Me Alone?
Label: TMPB Recordings, Cloudcroft, NM
Release Number: DA0007/CA0007
Format: CD and Cassette
Style: Light Rock
Price: CD - $9.99 Cassette - $6.99

STILL ON A ROLL! After four other successful albums, critically acclaimed songwriter Paul Benshoof is at it again!

Catapulting off the Los Angeles area radio airplay success of the singles One Guitar and What Will it Take?, the album showcases snappy tunes complete with coherent lyrics as well as intimate, poetic ballads with dynamic arrangements.

Each cut features Benshoof's unmistakable style, often referred to as the Beatles' melodic sensibility crossed with the urgency of vintage Costello. The uniqueness of each song on this album characteristically contributes to the album's ability to stand out among Benshoof's previous releases. A winner!

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TMAR Rock Artist: Big Meteor

Artist Info:

TMAR Rock Artist: Child's Eye

Album Tracks:

1. Wild River
2. Poor Boy
3. To Whom I Must Confess
4. Tap On My Shoulder
5. Just the Two of Us
6. You Can't Love Yet
7. Alive in Every Hour
8. Honest Man
9. Wall of Ice
10. Mission
11. The Waitress
12. Until You Take Your Leave
13. Big Meteor

BIG METEOR
Wild River
Label: Big Meteor Publishing, Ottawa, Canada
Release Number: WR
Format: CD
Style: Rock
Price: CD - $8.00

CANADIAN ROCK! Big Meteor is a new musical act from Ottawa, Canada and is the realized vision of musician David Wimble. Although his band is currently undefined (Wimble is presently the only member), the music produced on Wild River is honest and pure. It features a collage of musical styles ranging from distinctively country-tinged rock to blues-rock to soothing ballads.

But don't let this confuse you: Wild River is a rock album in the classic sense of the word. The music can hold its own against other rocks artists who have successfully used these styles and is further embellished with Wimble's use of clever lyrics to share his deepest feelings. A great album for any rock enthusiast who wants to chill out.

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TMAR Rock Artist: Devoid of Form

Album Tracks:

1. Rapid Eye Movement
2. Blah Blah Blah
3. Wired Different
4. Hit Me
5. Since We Last Kissed
6. It Still Seems Strange
7. The Ink's Still Wet
8. Duplicate Love
9. Crumbled Cookie
10. Dangerous Living

CHILD'S EYE
Threatcon IV
Label: Leapin' Lizards Records, Madison, Wisconsin
Release Number: LL 117
Format: CD and Cassette
Style: Rock
Price: CD - $10.00 Cassette - $7.00

STILL ROCKING! Child's Eye has been performing together since the early eighties, and although they've experienced several personnel changes since their inception, they have kept their original 1980's-era rock'n'roll sound immaculately intact. Child's Eye's Threatcon IV album features new recordings of songs written and performed since their previous album, In a Blink.

Threatcon IV is the band's fourth official release, and it approaches perfection in both songmanship and performance of songs spanning nearly three years of inspiration and practice. If you're a 1980's rock enthusiast, you will enjoy this album and need it in your collection!

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Album Tracks:

1. Emergence
2. Waking at Daybreak
3. Growing Pains
4. Hunger
5. Ticking Away
6. Midday
7. Rush Hour
8. Nearing Twilight

DEVOID OF FORM
Creation
Label: Salmon Records, Los Angeles, CA
Release Number: SR303
Format: CD
Style: Rock
Price: CD - $10.00

INSTRUMENTAL ROCK! Led by guitarist-extraordinaire Sean Peel, Devoid of Form may not be the best name for this elite group. Devoid of Lyrics, maybe, but it's hard to call them Devoid of Form when each of their instrumental rock masterpieces rings through with some of the most memorable hooks TMAR has ever heard.

Sean Peel has been blessed with a musical sensibility that commingles with nearly all musical styles that rock'n'roll was made from. And while decent artistic rock concept albums may be a thing of the past, one will not grow tired listening to Creation, the band's first full-length release. This music is classic in the truest sense of the word!

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TMAR Rock Artist: The Donors

Artist Info:

Album Tracks:

1. Search Engine

2. You Must Be Good
3. Keeping the Threat Alive
4. One Life is Not Enough
5. Kervorkian Moment
6. Go To Man
7. I'm Not as Bad as My Reputation
8. I Fell and Broke My Heart
9. Working on a Friendship
10. Last Out Out

THE DONORS
Lend a Hand!
Label: TMPB Recordings, Cloudcroft, NM
Release Number: DA1701
Format: CD
Style: Folk Rock
Price: CD - $12.99

CLASSIC FOLK ROCK! The Donors have been performing their original music in the Atlanta area since 1997. Although the musical influences of the band members are strangely diverse (ranging from Tchaikovsky to the latest great single on the radio), their sound gels into a well-focused style popular with rock and folk enthusiasts alike.

Using guitarist/vocalist Mike Mullen’s strong writing skills as the building blocks from which to experiment musically, The Donors have indeed created an original sound which hints of classic familiarity yet separates the band from competing rock artists. This approach has produced radio-friendly cuts such as Search Engine and Last One Out, as well as an entire album oozing with the some of the best folky rock'n'roll you’ve heard in a while. Don’t miss this one!

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TMAR Rock Artist: Jane Hair

Artist Info:

TMAR Rock Artist: Dirk Kennedy

Album Tracks:

1. Colors of Love

2. No, No, Know, Know Moore
3. You're No Good
4. 20 Miles High
5. Raleigha

6. Bring Back the Summer
7. Holiday
8. Sonny
9. Jane
10. What You Do to Me
11. Amore Mio

JANE HAIR
Definitely Moore
Label: TMPB Recordings, Cloudcroft, NM
Release Number: DA0701
Format: CD
Style: Rock
Price: CD - $9.99

CLASSIC-STYLE ROCK! Jane Hair is the pseudonym for the Cordova Brothers, founding members of the premier classic rock style band of southern New Mexico. Performing together for nearly two decades, the band has penned explosive repertoire that is fast becoming standard favorites in their venue.

Definitely Moore, the band's first official release, showcases eleven of their original raucous guitar gems produced in the same unpolished, raw energy form that their fans have adored for some time. The band confidently captures the classic rock spirit in their original material without sacrificing their identity. Uncompromised and recognizable to any fan, Definitely Moore is highly recommended.

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TMAR Rock Artist: Mike Pachelli

Album Tracks:

1. Help is On the Way
2. What Do You Know?
3. Good For You
4. Higher and Higher
5. Undesirable
6. Clipped and Shredded
7. How Many?
8. Breaking Boundaries
9. Amelia
10. The Joke's on You

DIRK KENNEDY
Solo
Label: Zing Music, Jacksonville, IL
Release Number: ZM 1172
Format: Cassette
Style: Rock
Price: Cassette - $7.00

JAZZ ROCK! Rock/jazz singer/songwriter/guitarist Dirk Kennedy is fast becoming a driving force in the Mid-West music scene. Having played and recorded with dozens of bands since high school, Dirk, now 25, has produced and released his first solo album, simply entitled Solo.

With creative influences ranging from the Beatles, Steely Dan, the Police, and Led Zeppelin, Dirk has honed his writing, performing, and recording skills to the point of perfection. Each cut on the album is brilliantly performed and meticulously engineered. Already, the album has become a top-seller in its locale and is rapidly spreading. A highly recommended album!

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Album Tracks:

1. The Intro
2. Stand Alone
3. Texas Twin

4. Good Day's Rain
5. Mind Flight
6. A Winter's Visit

7. Alley Cat Toys
8. New Planet
9. Might Blow Your Mind
10. Holiday Frenzy
11. Mr. Politician
12. Paul

MIKE PACHELLI
Tube Driven
Label: GeoSynchronous Records, Merritt Island, FL
Release Number: GSR-00202
Format: CD
Style: Rock
Price: CD - $10.00

TRIPLE CROWN WINNER! Taking Florida and the rest of the nation by storm, rock/fusion guitarist Mike Pachelli has released his first national CD and video, written a manual on musical modes and scales, and recently won Florida's prestigious "Triple Crown" of musical awards.

Tube Driven is a power-packed collection of Pachelli's original songs which can be compared to the works of Joe Satriani or Stevie Ray Vaughn. His diverse musical background and technological know-how shine throughout the album on every track as Pachelli shows off his chops in a masterful, tasteful way seldom accomplished by today's indie artist. This one is HOT!

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TMAR Rock Artist: Paradigm

Artist Info:

Album Tracks:

1. Start Your Engines
2. Lying Awake
3. Foolish Heart
4. Nowhere Tonight
5. Trickle In
6. Love Triangle
7. Dog Ears
8. Connection
9. Not in Your Life
10. Last Call

PARADIGM
Abduction
Label: Reel Records, Olympia, WA
Release Number: RR 941
Format: CD
Style: Rock
Price: CD - $10.00

VETERAN ROCK! Paradigm is a concept band, but not in the traditional sense. Each member of the band is a rock'n'roll veteran who has either recorded with, produced, or was some other way involved with a major label rock'n'roll band sometime in the last twenty-five years. The result is a satisfying taste of classic rock'n'roll untarnished by modern effects and gadgets.

It is obvious that the artists wished to create the sound of their musical roots, back when music was simple and fun. The melodies are memorable, the lyrics whimsical, and the backbeats solid. Not exactly rock'n'roll nostalgia, but pretty darn close. Recommended to rock enthusiasts!

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TMAR Rock Artist: Relativity

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TMAR Rock Artist: Simple Passion

Album Tracks:

1. Struck Me Funny
2. Driving Me Crazy
3. Love You Still
4. Surf's Up
5. Daddy's Garage
6. Sunset on the Beach
7. All For Your Love
8. Watchin' the Waves
9. Speeding
10. Stop at the Red Light

RELATIVITY
Struck Me Funny
Label: Big Wave Records, Los Angeles, CA
Release Number: BWR 2024
Format: CD and Cassette
Style: Rock
Price: CD - $10.00 Cassette - $7.00

SIXTIES-STYLE ROCK! Relativity is a garage band that never left the garage to discover that the sixties have been over for nearly thirty years. While the rest of the world progressed to what it is today, Relativity was busy recording their album Struck Me Funny, a collection of garage music that sounds conspicuously similar to songs which were hits--you guessed it--thirty years ago.

Adolescent love songs...car songs...surfing songs... Any fan of the early sixties will get a kick out of this band. They're a lot of fun to listen to, and could have easily bumped some major sixties bands off the charts if they'd done this album a bit earlier! A very cool album!

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TMAR Rock Artist: Simple Passion

Album Tracks:

1. Simple Passion
2. Rockin'
3. Third Night in a Row
4. Good For Nothing
5. To the Core
6. Visitation Rights
7. Mind If I come Over?
8. What Happened?
9. Good Times Never End

SIMPLE PASSION
Simple Passion
Label: CRT Productions, Alexandria, MN
Release Number: CRT-1135
Format: CD
Style: Rock
Price: CD - $10.00

SOLID ROCK'N'ROLL! Don't be fooled by the psychedelic cover art; Simple Passion is not a descendent of the late '60's. Instead, it is their name which encompasses what the band's music is all about: simple songs delivered with all the passion and conviction one could ever hope for.

And although Simple Passion refers to its music as "simple," the band apparently means that they don't stray far from basic rock'n'roll elements. The songs, although devoid of clever chord structure, are solidly written and well-performed. In fact, their songwriting talent is their best asset and marks this band as one to watch for in the future. Great songs, and a great album!

Next album by this artist

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TMAR Rock Artist: Nikki Wright

Album Tracks:

1. Ladies and Gentlemen...
2. Come Off It
3. Power Struggle
4. Hotline
5. And You Thought We Were Kidding
6. What's Your Problem?
7. One More Time
8. Never Doubt Me Again
9. Last Warning

SIMPLE PASSION
Simple Passion II
Label: CRT Productions, Alexandria, MN
Release Number: CRT-1136
Format: CD
Style: Rock
Price: CD - $10.00

MORE GREAT SONGS! From the same band that brought us simple songs delivered with passion comes their follow-up release, Simple Passion II. True to this band's style, this album is another collection of well-written, well-performed, and well-produced songs that make the listener eager for yet a third album.

Album highlights include the rock primer Come Off It and the sweet-tasting melodic pop-rock tune What's Your Problem? Their music always seems classically familiar, yet fresh and untiring. If these guys keep cranking out good songs, they're bound to stumble on to something just as colorful as their album cover art. Another winner!

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