Bedroom Rockstar by Steve Mayone

When not busy writing or recording he enjoys producing, and his work can be heard on Soltero's two album "Defrocked and Kicking the Habit" and "The Tounges You Have Tied"; Mark McKays' contribution for an Uncle Tupelo tribute album; and Kris Delmhorst's take on a traditional song for a roots tribute album entitled "Ain't No Grave". He's toured Germany twice with Todd Thibaud and is planning a solo acoustic European tour in March 2006.

"I was going to start this review by saying that musicians like Steve Mayone probably have Ryan Adams to thank for their emergence. But as I progressed through Bedroom Rockstar that quickly became a crock, Mayone has nobody to thank for being this good. The title is surely an ironic nod to the fact that this is the work of an experienced musician who has worked with, amongst others, Kris Delmhorst, Levon Helm and Jimmy Ryan. He is no fresh-faced youth giving it a go upstairs at mum and dads, Mayone arrived at his debut album fully formed and it shows. But what he also injects into the album is energy and originality. If Other Side for instance turned up on one of the better (i.e. later) Beatles albums it certainly wouldn't suffer by comparison with the company and , while Going Down brings to mind Crosby, Stills and Nash, Mayone is very much his own man. What he has achieved on Bedroom Rockstar is to 'bottle' the sense of freedom enjoyed by a singer/songwriter faced with a blank sheet of paper and his own imagination. Deeper In The Well for instance contains all the foundation blocks of Americana. It's rugged and tough but imbued with a sense of belief, hope and one mean banjo. But Mayone refuses to be constrained by genre and the album has been given a healthy dose of good old rock n roll. Stranded is strung up by its electric guitar strings but it has a depth that makes it instantly memorable whilst Good Day To Die is a classic from the moment it leaves Mayone's lips and hands, powerful and sharp edged it drills its way into longevity. Call him what kind of musician you will but the stark truth is Mayone is a master songsmith. He crafts and moulds his stories eloquently and intelligently and there's not many that you can say that about."

-AmericanaUK.com

"On the strength of a self-produced CD, The 'Bedroom Rockstar' is an amalgam of Dylenesque and probably Cat Stevens proportions with a twist of pop country banjos, bluesy guitar and drum lines together with passionate vocals that grabs your attention simultaneously. Each track is a bullet of well crafted sophisto folk-pop."

-Panartist.com

"Mixing a strong Beatles imprint with healthy doses of American roots and classic rock, gifted multi-instrumentalist Steve Mayone still manages to leave his own distinctive signature on this, his first solo project. The songs fall intot he hooky, groovy, crank-the-dial-and-wail-along-with-it category. Anyone with half a heart will especially appreciate the sorrowful old-time yearning of 'Deeper In The Well', a traditional sounding ballad Mayone only half-jokingly says he 'channelled' featuring a beautiful, weeping, virtuosic violin solo by Clare Burson."

-Crooked Root Records (VT)

"While not really living up to the standard image of 'rockstar', as the title of this record suggests, Steve Mayone does bring a wide variety style and talent to this record. "Some day I'll be famous if I ever leave this room," he sings in subdued tones on the title track, over what sounds like a direct to 4-track recording. The irony of it all is not lost, as this Boston-based singer/songwriter has recorded plenty at home - it's rumored he's made 15 albums in the past few decades, but this is his first official CD release. When not busy with those endeavors, this multi-instrumentalist has been spotted onstage and in the studio with the likes of Kris Delmhorst, Jess Klein, Levon Helm and Jimmy Ryan. That accounts for his rootsy edge, but the tunes on Bedroom Rockstar also venture into Beatle-esque pop, like 'Other Side', or glam-tinged rock, like the Bowie-esque 'Not That Strong'. 'Stranded' is rich with hot-buttered Isaac Hayes soul, laid-back and even, with some searing guitar work. Throw in a couple of folk/grass numbers driven with banjo and mandolin and we're tastefully all over the place on this self-produced/recorded/mixed disc."

-Miles of Music

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