Tony Romanello
Movements
2023
Movements is the latest release from Tulsa solo musician Tony Romanello. The long-time fuzzed out rawker returns, yet again, on the heels of 2021’s Volume For Your Restless Heart via this seven-song suite composed of equal parts static bliss and analog hiss. The rhythm drives, the bass pounds and the guitars crash. Layers of keyboards, quirky samples and commanding brass round out a modern-age wall of sound. Recurring themes, both musical and lyrical, push unsuspicious pop hooks to the verge of semi-prog territory before deconstructing into waves of distortion and feedback that bleed into the next track… and the next track… and the next track… The listener is sure to sail through the Movements.
| 1. Now [Live Poet Die Poet] (4:47) 2. Modern World [Run to Win the Race] (4:08) 3. Sometimes [Anticipation] (5:35) 4. Through These Eyes [Documentary Film] (4:08) 5. Churchill at Harrow [Praise in Sterner Days] (5:50) 6. True [Soundtrack for Transistor Radios] (4:04) 7. Outro [Instrumental] (4:07) |
Tony Romanello
Volume for your Restless Heart
2021
Through the chaos of 2019-2021 Romanello peeled back the layers of a past demo catalog and focused on refining a palette of raw energy and feel to color these 12 anthems. Purposeful lyrics tap into the current tension between the human condition and the modern world. ‘Rock’ is what this guy has been doing in one form or fashion for a long while, and this album embodies it: It punches. It screams. It embraces. It harmonizes. It wilts. It is meant to to be more felt than heard.
1. Antisocial Media [2:34] 2. The Real Answer to the Question [3:57] 3. The Mix [3:01] 4. Confessions of a Middleman [3:40] 5. Godspeed, You Restless Heart [0:57] 6. True Freedom comes from Falling [5:37] 7. Ordinary Ways [3:39] 8. Television [2:15] 9. Dig [1:21] 10. Garage Reverie [2:10] 11. Glitter and Dust, Gold and Rust [3:13] 12. Don’t Be Afraid [2:48] |
Tony Romanello and the Black Jackets
Chasing Airwaves
2016
In addition to the pounding rhythm and bass, and three-guitar barage of past Black Jackets compositions, this album also features a fresh palette of keys, synths, and samples. But make no mistakes, this is rock. Hints of the 80’s, 90’s, and 2000’s are all present here in this lush and eclectic wall of sound.
| 1. Disregard [4:14] 2. Extinction Radio [3:15] 3. Agoraphobia [3:05] 4. The Start [4:22] 5. Elephant Gun [2:54] 6. Dogs on Television [3:20] 7. 100 Ways not to Reckon [3:43] 8. Sing [4:31] |
Tony Romanello and the Black Jackets
Pleased to Meet Us EP
2012
The Black Jackets supply the rawk foundation in a manner that hasn’t surfaced on a Romanello disc in far too long. Romanello maintains gritty lead vocal and guitar slinging duties per usual, and reunites with several past partners-in-crime. 2006’s Rock and Roll Fairytales EP drummer, Mike Friedemann, returns with equal parts punch and finesse. Magnificently melodic and rock-steady bassist Matt Vandeveer teams up with Romanello for the first time since Murmur’s 1999 EP. Former TRB staple, Andy Callis, and long-time friend, Mike Taylor, brilliantly provide the balance to the wall of sound by rounding out the three-guitar front.
| 1. The Way It Goes [3:56] 2. Time Stood Still [3:43] 3. February’s Falling [4:05] 4. Lifting Me Higher [4:00] 5. Streets Of Tulsa [4:33] |
Tony Romanello
The Redux: Selections from Counting Stars and The MumbleOdd
2011
Newly remixed and remastered tracks from Tony Romanello’s early albums: including selections from the progressive chamber-rock suites of Counting Stars (2003), and the harder edged indie/alt-rock of The MumbleOdd (2000).
The sprawling and ambitious Counting Stars album spent significant time in the CMJ Top 200 in Spring of 2003, charting on over 50 radio stations nationwide and receiving press nods from the likes of Uncut, CMJ Monthly, Modern Fix, and more. The album features a cast of 13 talented musicians — even boasting a full string quartet and horn ensemble. Counting Stars offers a careful balance of concrete and abstract musical expressions and pushes the boundaries of pop, rock, and psychedelia into uncharted territory, distinguishing it from Romanello’s rock background.
Drawing comparisons ranging from indie to prog, Romanello’s indie/alt-rock debut “The MumbleOdd” hit the scene in 2000 with hushed vocals, tidal waves of guitar, and thoughtful arrangements that collapse in fuzzed-out sonic splendor
| 1. An Insomniac’s Diary [3:38] 2. Dances [3:44] 3. Novocain [3:47] 4. Finally Found [3:21] 5. The Artist [4:27] 6. Why Reminisce? [4:04] 7. Tell Me, Please [3:012] 8. Cry For Me [4:54] 9. Fingertips [3:55] 10. Everything [4:57] 11. How to Drop Things [4:36] 12. Under the Blue [4:57] |
Tony Romanello
Lo-Fi Dreams in Stereo: Vol. II
2007
An extension from his first solo release in 2000, Lo-Fi Dreams in Stereo: Vol. 1, volume 2 offers another glimpse into original recordings (or alternate versions of released recordings) that did not end up on any one of Tony Romanello’s previous 7 releases. Recorded off and on, in one way or another between 2001 and 2006, Lo-Fi Dreams in Stereo: Vol. 2 presents 11 songs – offering an eclectic mix of musical selections with genre descriptions ranging from acoustic singer/songwriter, to alternative rock, to alt-country, and back again. As the title of the album would indicate, some of these songs fall into the guise of “lo-fi,” such as Idyllic Sunrise, and Picturebook (the pointillist goes mad) – some of these fall into the category of “live,” such as Everything (live acoustic @ krsc 91.3fm) and Headlight Shine pt. 2 (reprise). But some of these songs also blatantly fall into the realm of “hi-fi,” such as evident within Breathe like the First Time, The Shelf, and online favorite, Streets of Tulsa. Some of these songs are demos. Some are b-sides (or would-be-B-sides). And some are finished studio versions. The album, as such, is framed by the immediacy and diligence in which the songs were written and recorded yet still maintains a unique flow and continuity.
| 1. Idyllic Sunrise 2. Streets of Tulsa 3. Cocoons 4. The Day the Stars Fell Down 5. No Regrets (acoustic) 6. Breathe Like the First Time 7. Headlight Shine pt. 2 (reprise) 8. The Shelf 9. Arkansas River Waters 10. Everything (live acoustic @ KRSC 91.3fm) 11. Picturebook (the pointilist goes mad) |
Tony Romanello
Rock n’ Roll Fairyales EP
2006
The Rock ‘n Roll Fairytales EP was released in the summer of 2006 featuring Mike Friedemann’s bombastic drums and Romanello’s craftwork on everything else – ranging from the usual vocal and guitar duties to whirling keyboards and fuzzed out bass. The driving rhythm, catchy hooks, retro keys, and crunchy guitars combine in a barage from the modern-day garage: “Your rock ‘n roll is just a fairytale…” – what a beautiful disaster.
| 1. Rock’n Roll is a Fairytale [3:15] 2. Headlight Shine [2:52] 3. So High [4:00] 4. An Old Anthem [2:43] 5. 5th Floor Evacuation Plan [2:46] 6. The Last Bar Chord Ever Played [6:12] |
TRB
trb
2004
Full length album by Tulsa, OK’s alt-rock TRB: Tony Romanello, Andy Callis, Josiah Borgos and Paul Cristiano. Produced by Brad Mitcho. Mixed by Wayne Morgan.
| 1. Ring and Remind [3:19] 2. Atlas [3:30] 3. She Knows [3:43] 4. Better Days [3:33] 5. Ordinary Man [3:30] 6. No Regrets [3:32] 7. Modern Myth [4:01] 8. Ballad of the Escape Plan [3:52] 9. Claustrophobic [2:12] 10. The Lull [4:30] 11. Evensong [5:34] |
TRB
Where are you Tonight? EP
2003
EP by Tulsa, OK’s alt-rock TRB: Tony Romanello, Andy Callis, Josiah Borgos and Brad Hall. Produced by Brad Mitcho. Mixed by Wayne Morgan.
1. Where Are You Tonight? [3:34] 2. Ordinary Man [3:31] 3. History[4:35] 4. Everything (Live Acoustic @ KRSC 91.3fm) [4:31] |
Tony Romanello
Counting Stars
2003
The sprawling and ambitious Counting Stars album spent seven weeks in the CMJ Top 200 (peaking at no. 60 – spring ’03) charting on over 50 radio stations nationwide and receiving press nods from the likes of Uncut, CMJ Monthly, Modern Fix, and more. The album features a cast of 13 talented musicians — most notably taking advantage of the bombastic drumming skills of The Flaming Lips’ extraordinary Steven Drozd, as well as boasting a full string quartet and horn ensemble. Counting Stars offers a careful balance of concrete and abstract musical expressions and pushes the boundaries of pop, rock, and psychedelia into uncharted territory, distinguishing it from Romanello’s rock background.
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Tony Romanello Band
Shades of Grey EP
2001
Debut lo-fi EP by Tulsa, OK’s alt-rock TRB: Tony Romanello, Andy Callis, Josiah Borgos, Brad Hall and Blaine Nelson.
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Tony Romanello
The MumbleOdd
2000
Debut studio album.
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Tony Romanello
Lo-Fi Dreams in Stereo: Vol. I
2000
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