Mudtown by Jim Armstrong

Armstrong explains, "Life can be dirty, rough and mean, but there's a breed of people who struggle against the grind and somehow keep their humanity. They don't get hard, like the city, and that's what makes Mudtown livable."

"Jim is a genuine hero, an inspiration to all who are faithful to their art." — Andy Frank, CIUT

He defends the underdog through his music by dispelling the modern myth of perfection. This is an album that the working class will understand. He writes songs about real characters from everyday life, singing their stories with passion.

Early reviews of Armstrong's new material have already drawn comparisons to the master singer-songwriters of Americana roots-rock — Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earle, Tom Petty and Canada's own Fred Eaglesmith — in that their music shares a working-class sensibility and honesty.

Straightforward but rock-solid guitar, bass and drums dominate the tracks. Musical chops are provided by Armstrong himself (guitar, drums, keys, harmonica and more), unshakable bassist Wes Miller, backup vocalist Rob Maurin, and a roster of guests on backing vocals (Debbie Shessel, Amer Diab, Jennifer Claveau) and on lead guitar including Bruce Dies, Ron Bechard, Kenji Miura (aka Kenmi Chank) and Phil Kane. Up-tempo tracks like "She Spins Around," sentimental tunes like "I'm Coming Home," and the sing-along "Gypsy" are gestures to mainstream rock-pop. The image-rich "When it Rains" broods darkly in an alt-rock corner, while "Heaven Only Knows" is a rock-and-roll adrenaline kick.

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The smell of earth comes up thick, heavy like the dark ground. This is an unvarnished place, dirty and small but pure and simple, and with an uneasy peace -- not like a dam that's about to break, but like the site of a battle on the day after the truce. Things are better, but it's hard to trust providence when you're used to looking over your shoulder.

We've done our time, each of us in our own way. On the road, on the run, on a wing and a prayer, and now, here, there's something new. Life is hard, but in the raw and rugged existence there's the promise of…something. Triumphs are small, but don't it feel big? This is no paradise, but there's possibility. A man could plant himself here.

Welcome to Mudtown.

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Jim Armstrong -- Select media and testimonials:

EYE Magazine [re: Brown Bag Lunch]: “If straight ahead, Q107-style radio rock bore more critical currency than lo-fi indie pop, Sonic Deli's unbroken social scene, documented on this label compilation, would be the one we're hearing about.” — Howard Druckman

Andy Frank, CIUT 89.5 FM: “"Freed of some of the shackles of epilepsy, this gifted song-writer and multi-instrumentalist, with shades of Waits and Bachman, played his first live gig (post-op) at Healey's… Jim is a genuine hero, an inspiration to all who are faithful to their art.”

Myrocia Watamaniuk, television host for Rogers Daytime Toronto: “When Jim sings, you know he’s singing from his heart.”

Keith Ross Leckie, Emmy- and Gemini award-winning writer/producer (Lost In The Barrens, Journey Into Darkness, The Arrow): “Over the years Jim Armstrong's music continues to surprise and entertain me. His first album "Brown Bag Lunch" revealed a strong and confident talent as a musician, singer, songwriter and arranger in different genres. And now his new album, "Mudtown", fulfills that promise again. I find myself looking for films to make that can take advantage of Jim's accomplished music.”

E. Thomas Canton, Director/Producer: "As the director and producer of The Adulterers’ Guide to Toronto I found that working with Jim Armstrong and Andrea Poulis was not a matter of simply putting music in the film: it was creating a whole new level of understanding in the film for both comedic and dramatic effect. Watching the film became a new — and far better — experience and this is why the first thing I did for my next movie was to have Jim and Andrea agree to do the music. I say, without hesitation, that the songs and the music created for The Adulterers’ Guide to Toronto were without a doubt Oscar caliber. The proof is in the movie. Watch it and I dare anyone not to agree with me."

Mark Papousek, Y101 Today's Best Country: "After having had the chance to listen to the “Brown Bag Lunch” CD a few times, I am impressed with the songs and the artists. I am sure that we will be hearing some of them on the airwaves very soon."

The Spill Magazine [re: Brown Bag Lunch]: “The Sonic Deli is not a band. No, they are rather a unique collective of Toronto musicians, banded together in pursuit of better living through art … and while there are obvious differences stylistically between the artists, a common thread holds them all together…” — Cameron Gordon

Jon Long (of the national Long & McQuade musical instruments stores): "Jim is an incredibly talented musician. His music needs to be heard."

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Mudtown Credits:

Recorded at The Sonic Deli Inc., Toronto, Canada

Producer: Jim Armstrong

All tracks arranged, engineered, mixed and mastered by Jim Armstrong and Wes Miller

Executive Producers: Paul T. Armstrong and Andrea Poulis

Production Coordinator/Management: Andrea Poulis

CD Artwork/Concept/Photography: Peter Ledwon and Marilyn Mets of Blue Sky Studios, Toronto, Canada

Additional Photography: Ingram Barrs of Ingram Barrs Photography, Toronto, Canada

Editorial: Rob Maurin

Publicity: Jennifer Claveau of SPEAKmusic, Toronto, Canada

Manufacturing: Digital Media Alliance, Vancouver, Canada

Musicians:

All drums, lead and rhythm guitars, bass guitar, keys, instrumentation, programming and digital editing by Jim Armstrong except where noted.

Bass guitar: Wes Miller on all tracks except 9

Lead/rhythm guitar: Bruce Dies on track 13; Ron Bechard on track 5; Kenji Miura (aka Kenmi Chank) on tracks 1,12; Phil Kane on tracks 2, 4

Background vocals: Rob Maurin on tracks 2, 5, 7,11; Amer Diab on track # 13; Debbie Shessel on tracks 7,11; Jennifer Claveau on tracks 8, 9, 10

Live:

Artist: Jim Armstrong (& The Sonic Deli Band)

Jim Armstrong: lead vocals, guitar, keys, harmonica

Wes Miller: bass guitar (too many to list)

Phil Kane: lead guitar (Jeff Healey, Michael Buble)

Alvin Lapp: drums (Buddy Guy, Goo Goo Dolls,

Colin James)

Rob Maurin: back up vocals, rhythm guitar (Creegan

Brothers of Bare Naked Ladies)

Debbie Shessel: back up vocals (Le Funk)

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More on Jim Armstrong & Sonic Deli Records:

Jim Armstrong is the core and catalyst of The Sonic Deli Inc / Sonic Deli Records, a Toronto-based music production house and independent record label. A multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer and producer, Armstrong began his musical career as a touring drummer at age 10.

Over the past three decades, his work has included; live performances, radio play, extensive songwriting with and for a number of artists, recording, engineering, arranging and producing independent commercial releases.

Together with his songwriting and business partner, Andrea Poulis, who has a background in film production, Jim Armstrong composes independent film scores and they have an extensive publishing catalogue available for film and television licensing.

film/tv

The Adulterer's Guide to Toronto; independent feature film by Canton Film Studios

Release: 2007 Dstr: White Night Studios (all original score, all music placement)

The Taste of Fear; independent feature film by Canton Film Studios

Release: in post production (all original score, all music placement)

The Happy Couple; independent feature film – Distributor/Producer John Hamilton

Release: unreleased (all original replacement score, all new music placement)

The Gatehouse; corporate promotional/educational 20 minute short for Blue Sky Studios

Release: in post production (all original score, all music placement)

All Along; (2007) A Robert Angelo Masciantonio Film - Apprentice Productions (dist: tba) track: Hole In His Heart by Jim Armstrong & Jennifer Claveau

album/radio

Brown Bag Lunch (2005) Sonic Deli Records; 18 tracks, 11 award winning artists and guest musicians (JUNO, SOCAN, CMT, NSAI) co-written, arranged, engineered and produced by Jim Armstrong.

All tracks in rotation.

Mudtown (2007) Sonic Deli Records; Jim Armstrong's solo CD release – written, performed, arranged, engineered and produced by Jim Armstrong

Various independent CD projects, demo work, consultations, corporate jingles/theme songs, collaborations with both emerging and established artists and bands

references and additional audio supplied upon request

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The Sonic Deli Inc./ Sonic Deli Records is a full music production house and independent record label based in the High Park neighbourhood of Toronto, Canada. The Sonic Deli has an extensive publishing catalogue available.

Please visit our website at www.sonicdelirecords.com or contact us at info@sonicdelirecords.com, or 416-535-5896.

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