Still In Rome by Blinker the Star

Blinker the Star, meaning "blinking star" in Gaelic, Icelandic, and Jive,

released their eponymous debut album on Treat and Release Records in 1995.

The album, a mixture of fun and loud, was mostly self-recorded in Jordon's

basement in the cozy confines of his hometown of Pembroke, Ontario. The

album was critically acclaimed from New York to New Delhi and with that,

Blinker the Star embarked on its first North American tour.

While in Los Angeles, Jordon met Ken Andrews, producer, guitarist, and

vocalist for psychedelic grunge merchants Failure. An easy friendship and

an affinity for all things studio was struck. Schedules cleared, Blinker the

Star began recording its second LP with Andrews at the helm.

"A Bourgeois Kitten", a more detailed but no less howling effort than its

predecessor (lots more cool gear to play with), soon caught the attention of

fans and musicians alike. One such fan was Hole's Courtney Love, who caught the band performing a sweltering set at Brownie's in New York in the summer of 1996. Courtney dug the Blinkers thoroughly and asked Jordon to come to L.A. to co-write material for Hole's upcoming album. Jordon giddily obliged and enjoying Los Angeles more and more, made the move to Southern California in the summer of 1997. Soon after, Jordon and Ken were back in the studio working on the follow up to "A Bourgeois Kitten". "August Everywhere", Blinker the Star's third album and first for the DreamWorks label would mark a shift in musical direction for the band. Turning his back on the day's major label grunge-lite culture (and on his guitar, largely), Jordon set about to record an album of lush orchestral beauty. Featuring the talents of Medicine's Brad Laner, Vinnie Colaiuta (Frank Zappa), John Parish (P.J. Harvey) and string arranger David Campbell, "August Everywhere" drew wild critical appraisal, an even more diversified fan base and quite possibly, a new dance move or two.

Full of vim and vigor and rolling with anticipation, Jordon returned to Canada and Pembroke to begin demos for a fourth Blinker LP. Jordon had by this time begun to develop a love for the finer points of studio craft and production, and focused his energies likewise. While in Pembroke, Jordon recorded demos for many of his friends and acquaintances. One friend was Sam Roberts, an affable Montrealer with a duffel bag full of tunes in one hand and a hockey stick in the other. The results produced "The Inhuman Condition", produced by Jordon and released in the summer of 2002. The EP saw Gold status in Canada and provided employment for Jordon's brother Corey as drummer in the Sam Roberts band. But Jordon had his own album to think about. Hunkering down in Pembroke once again, he started recording more demos for DreamWorks.

And recorded, and recorded. After delivering over 80 songs for the

label, an impasse was met, with no green light coming from DreamWorks to

begin work on a new album. Throwing his hands into the air, Jordon asked if

he and DreamWorks could just be friends. They amicably parted ways.

Sensing that the time had come to consolidate his studio resources,

Jordon built French Kiss Recording Studios in November 2001. Tiny Pembroke's doors were now open to a parade of rockers including Paul D'Amour (Tool, Lusk), Melissa Auf der Maur, Hotel, The Social Register & Tara Slone (Joydrop) among others. The locals looked on.

As satisfying as producing had become, something was missing. While smoking some medicinal "healing tobacco" (he won it at a local fair), Jordon threw on a recently remastered CD of Led Zeppelin's fourth album. Hearing new things in Led Zep's masterpiece, Jordon had an epiphany of sorts. A refocused drive to produce uncompromised, relentless, God-like rock music was born and a new vision formed. Work on Blinker the Star's new LP would begin January 2002.

Work on the album continued in Los Angeles through the summer with Jordon recruiting the talents of Fleetwood Mac's Lindsey Buckingham and Jellyfish chanteuse and skin basher Andy Sturmer. Back in Canada, recording continued until the spring of 2003. Album completed but not yet released, Blinker the Star embarked on a mini tour of Eastern Canada, playing their first shows in 3 years. Drummer Tony Rabalao, guitarist Paul Leach, and stalwart bassist Pete Frolander completed the new Blinker lineup. The shows were the band's best.

"Still In Rome", Blinker the Star's fourth album will be released in

the fall of 2003 through Maple Nationwide. A dark, edgy, yet joyfully ecstatic

rock record, the LP represents a rejuvenated Jordon with a renewed ideal: to

give rock fans the music they crave and deserve, music that encapsulates the

untamed stubbornness of the best 1970's rock with a forward thinking attitude

towards process and presentation. With a live band cocked and loaded,

Jordon's plans for Blinker the Star are to see the band release albums in

much quicker succession than in the past, easier now that the band has its

own studio. Live shows are planned and more music is being recorded already.

"Still In Rome", 2003.

Blinker The Star - Still In Rome -Review from Rikks Revues (On-Line - November 2003)

This is NOT your classic punk CD, nor is it a pop record, or a rock record, more of a culmination of all the above. What it is simply, a vision realized by Jordon Zadorozny. The leader of the pack, up and coming producer, songwriter and rock and roll survivor from the mid 1990s. Jordon got some help this time around from Lindsey Buckingham (guitars and vocals on "What Have I Been Waiting For"), drummer Andy Sturmer (also on "What Have I Been Waiting For"), and Paul D'Amour- Nord lead synthesizer and chas on the same tune. Drum help also from Kellii Scott on "Still In Rome", "Get Together", "Got To Go Through It", and "Don't Believe It". The rest of the instruments, and all the vocals were written and performed by Jordon Zadorozny. This album has really got it all kiddies, from the straight ahead ripping rock sound, to the fun and at times dark lyrics, and amazing performances trapped in the studio, and transcribed beautifully to CD. If your wondering, this CD has got great hooks, intense vocals, and musical mastery that

take this up-tempo project to the next level of existence.

Jordon Zadorozny has created a new CD filled with things the fans of music have been salivating for, but only ever got pieces of in the past. The incredible feeling of Canadian new wave, British punk, and American production qualities with modern rock tendencies. All that means is for a new Rock album, all the best elements have been brought in, stirred frantically, and the contents

checked to see what spills out, and what spills out is Blinker The Star !

I truly don't believe I've heard an album that has studied the past history of rock and incorporated it so well since The Clash's masterpiece London Calling. Not only has Blinker The Star brought elements from the past forward, he has also taken modern rock elements and incorporated them, as well as elements we

didn't know we were ready for, until now. From the sound of this CD, I have seen the light at the end of the tunnel, and kiddies, you had better be on the lookout for Blinker The Star, this album rocks!

Average Customer Review: