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Rob Palacol Press:
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| "When something is revolutionary, it's hard on first listen to accept it. There's a shocking period there where you don't know. A lot of the things that you hear once and you love may fade faster...Sometimes it's the stuff that takes a little while to get around before you realize how good it is that really stays with you, because that's the stuff that's different."
- Rick Rubin |
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(GREAT GROOVE!) "Probaby the first time I've *ever* liked music that came in automatically on a website!" "Rob Palacol's DotCalm is the featured music on the 5 Star Productions website." www.garageband.com review Dec. 12, 2000 From a great site where opinions hold sway... Rob Palacol And here's what they said about my review... Dear friend, Descriptive " A SONIC MASTERPIECE " Descriptive " Nominated for Outstanding Pop Recording and Album Design of the year" PMA 1999 "Descriptive is a Cacophony of awe-inspiring power Palacol has Produced 45 minutes of intense and Captivating emotion" Descriptive The journey to Descriptive, the first album released by singer/songwriter Rob Palacol, has taken nearly three years to complete, but the results have been unquestionably worth the wait. After two years of touring Western Canada, Rob has produced a textured and lyrical work of music art, one that is sure to enrapture an audience as diverse as the songs contained within. Descriptive strives to be precisely that, embodying Rob Palacol's feel of the music. With lyrics that flow together like a river, each line melding into the one before, he certainly seems to have attained his objective. The album reads like a book of poetry that has been set to music. And it's fortunate for all that it was, because as skilled as Rob is with the pen, he is more so with the vocals that weave in and out of Descriptive like an ethereal dream. The intensity found in his lyrics can also be seen in his personality. There is little he cannot do once he is determined to accomplish it. In the past, Rob has tried his hand at many things, including a modeling stint, before bringing his fierce energy to music. Descriptive may be his first album, but it does not mark the beginning of Rob's musical journey. Although born in Winnipeg, this twenty-two year old has spent the last several years working out of Saskatoon, while playing extensively throughout Western Canada. "It may be my debut album, but I've been writing songs for three years." He says, "Just because it's a recording, that doesn't mean it's the start of things." The start of things occurred three years ago, when Rob picked up a guitar, learned three or four chords, and decided to write a song. The result, featured on the album, was Trapped, something that started out as an acoustic ballad and went through a progressive evolution into the song heard on the album. Before the guitar, however, Rob was playing the bass, and from there he acquired his love of rhythm and beat. Even now, he plays rhythm guitar. "It's more of a groove than going off on solos," he says. Although Rob is responsible for an amazing amount of work on Descriptive (vocals, lyrics, guitar, synth work, programming, sequencing, and sound sculpting), the presence of Hal Schrenk on drums and Shaun Dancey on bass is felt throughout the album. "Hal Schrenk is one of the greatest technical drummers I've seen," Rob states, "and Shaun's name should be Pino Levin". The outcome is a unified stream of music resulting in the smooth flow of the album. Although it's very lyrically oriented, it is impossible to ignore the sheer power of the music permeating the words at every turn. In spite of the diversity of the music, no song feels out of place. Rob describes the album as "a storyline, with the songs as sub-plots. Each song is like a horizontal line, with the vertical line of the story intersecting them at a specific point in time". Descriptive focuses on time with songs such as Showtime (Prelude To The Moment), which Rob considers "a song of the moment". Behind its upbeat tempo lies an eternal message of faith in yourself, while embodying the concerns and fears of this generation at this point in time. Songs such as Saint travel in a different direction, exploring philosophical quandaries of free will and individual purpose. As Rob says "What is free will if God is omnipotent? We have to accept who we are, and be responsible for that person." Descriptive is a huge album. It is didactic, dramatic and intense, while maintaining a sense of playful and upbeat fun. The album is powerful enough that when it's finished, "you want more, but don't know if you could take it. It's a very emotionally draining experience to listen to it, because everything is so much larger than life". At the same time, however, Rob did want to ensure that it was an album that could be listened to by everyone, and its startling range of music proves him successful. As Rob says, "You never know what's coming up next." This sense of future freedom is a driving force behind the album, the first step in a new direction of his musical journey. Caryn Swark Article Rarely does one find an artist capable of blending pure musical basics with cutting edge technology as successfully as Rob Palacol has done on his debut album, Descriptive, which has been nominated at the Prairie Music Awards (October 17, 1999) for outstanding pop recording and album design of the year. The first song on the CD is Are U There, which probes issues of purpose, direction, and the desperate need for someone to hear our concerns. Close on its heels follows Pulse, which contains the theme of the longing for companionship and someone who shares the rhythm of life - the same pulse. A synth-driven song featuring great harmonies, Pulse sets the first theme of the album. Trapped was the first song ever written by Palacol, and progressed from an acoustic ballad to a somewhat dark self-examination, in which the destructive effects of jealousy on a relationship are exposed. Palacol describes the song as being about "the inability to change, and the guilt that comes from that." The presence of Shaun Dancey on bass and Hal Schrenk on percussion lend additional power to a song about "retribution, forgiveness and creation" in Saint. The song focuses on the need to live, rather than merely survive, and the longing of the human spirit to create something from nothing. As Palacol observes, this creation if "the antithesis of the natural order, where things fall into disorder...and it's so wonderful that people can overcome that to create." The next song, Showtime (Prelude To The Moment), uses the creative energy from Saint to paint a picture of frantic, vivacious, determination to live. It is a song about having fun, about being alive, about using every moment. Renegade Dove, on the other hand, takes the relationship in Pulse and disbands it. The song is about rebirth, emerging from a smothering relationship to "hear the sounds of the city, of a whole new world." My Fair Lady is "a love song, pure and simple." Returning once more to the themes of life and relationship, Palacol suggests that love gives us power beyond anything else, changing us in ways that can't be imagined, only experienced, even giving us the chance to become saviours. Killing Fields is one of Palacol's favourite tracks. Amazing drum, guitar and stick work back intense vocals as the killing fields are revealed - the crushing reality of the dream of fame. Killing Fields reminds us that even the most detailed fantasy cannot begin to compare to the reality...and that sometimes, the fantasy is preferable to the attainment. Progress is something of a work in progress, as "it's still in its birth stages." Descriptive is an album largely about creation, so it seems appropriate to find a song here that is not yet fully born, still in the stages of creation. It is about progress, and it progresses - as Palacol says, "use it as a verb or a noun." Beneath These Amber Skies of Dawn is a song inspired by the play within a play in Hamlet. It is a litany of self-doubt, as Hamlet questions whether his attempt to find the truth has made him less of a human, and attempts to justify it to himself. Escape closes the journey of Descriptive by standing for everything Are U There doesn't. Palacol describes it as "just music, just a song, but one that answers the question. There is someone there." THE SHOW Rob Palacol's skill is displayed abundantly on his album, Descriptive, but is exceeded by his proficiency at live performance which has caught the eye of MuchMusic and Canada AM. For three years prior to the release of the CD, Palacol toured Western Canada, building up a solid base of admirers while impressing fans and critics alike. Although the album showcases Palacol's talents, the bulk of his musical career to date has been comprised of live shows, and it is during the show that the true magic becomes apparent. Palacol's abilities are complimented during the live show by the presence of Shaun Dancey and Hal Schrenk, or Loup Garou.Ê The name inspires thoughts of metamorphosis, referring, as it does, to the legends of the werewolf, and perfectly describes the frenzied zone achieved by these two men during the show. The escalation of both ability and power continues throughout the performance, reaching a crescendo of brilliance before releasing the captive audience. Shaun Dancey plays Fury bass, fretless bass, and Chapman Stick, which features five bass strings, seven guitar strings, and is operated entirely by finger pressure. The sound is organic energy to the stage, becoming, as Palacol says, "just a monster on that fretless," in addition to his awe-inspiring stick work. Equally integral to the show is drummer extraordinaire Hal Schrenk, who "makes whole use of his drum kit, and then some." Monopolizing the stage with unconventional beats and rhythms, Schrenk knows the precise location of the life between too much and just enough, and he plays up and down it like a man inspired. A treat for the eyes as well as the ears, he is a stylish and seasoned performer, as well as a musical genius. Palacol's intensity is balanced, complimented, accentuated; Loup Garou drives the music to new heights of dizzying attainment. The show itself is theatric, a story told in the context of a concert. It is energetic, brilliant, and flashy - everything you would expect from three such talented and dedicated musicians. Like the album, the show has the power to emotionally drain, but never abuses this strength by shameless manipulation. Palacol describes the show as "what I hope everyone wants to see," and he is careful not to disappoint. Far from being overly eager-to-please, however, the performance is unconcerned with pretension, seeking only to remain as true to the music as it can. It is this spirit which reaches out like a tendril, enveloping the listeners by its pure honesty. The slick arrangement and flow of the concert is reminiscent of the flow of the CD. On both, the musicians work well off of one another, sharing a playful sense of experimentation while maintaining the integrity oft he song. There is a charisma at o this group, an ability to improvise as a collective entity, rather than as individuals. In Palacol's words, "They always know when to breathe, and when to fill in." Each note that Shaun Dancey plays is beautiful, while Hal Schrenk sounds like he has four arms. It's just so easy to work off of each other.' The show is full of brilliance - lighting, music, and vocal s combining to create a tapestry of sound. "The quote I feel best describes both the album and the show," says Palacol,"Is organically derived, technologically driven, and artistically descriptive." The music certainly does lend itself to such an interpretation, and Palacol, Dancey and Schrenk blend their distinct abilities to create a show that exceeds expectations, whatever they may be. Rob Palacol " DESCRIPTIVE " album review The title of the first album from Saskatoon artist Rob Palacol may be Descriptive, but his music defies easy classification. I can't put a label on - well, on whatever this is, and I wouldn't presume to try. Descriptive is clearly an experimental album. Palacol seems to be playing with the music,determining how far he can take it in one direction before slamming into a U-turn at 100 miles an hour on a city street. This album is a study in contrasts, ranging from the dance floor beat of " SHOWTIME (Prelude To The Moment )" to the lulling, hypnotic notes of "Renegade Dove". Palacol is a versatile artist, making good use of programming, guitar, and voice. Some of the best moments on the album, however, occur when he simply allows his voice to take the lead. "Killing Fields", quite possibly the best song on the album, reaches dizzying heights by relying heavily on vocals. And they're good lyrics: " Struggle with your faith/ Because it interferes The experimental sound of the album is nice; lt gives it depth and variety, but his strengths are his simplest. Of course, nothing on the album is particularly simple ( Brittany Spears fans beware). Descriptive is a cacophony of awe-inspiring power. Palacol has produced 45 minutes of Intense and captivating emotion, flowing together in what should be an impossible succession, but isn't. I don't know why it works; it just does. Prairie Dog The New Age Christian guru meets Robert Frost in a discotheque routine really repulses me, but you chuckle-heads out there will probably buy a MILLION damn copies of this preachy, over-sentimental, hi-tech dancehall folk album. Rob, less is more. Unless you're Prince, and you're not. Bob Wiseman is. Palacol Expands Musical Reach Music, from every angle, is Rob's passion. He composes it, arranges it, plays it in the studio, records it, performs it live and markets it. That's why Palacol and Miles Yohnke invested in a myriad of high-tech studio equipment to record Palacol's music and do work for fellow musicians. The enterprise is called 5-Star Productions, the home-based studio is Inner Ear Studios. "Music is my life. I figure why not go for it?" Palacol said recently. The studio's sound quality is comparable to anything available locally, Palacol said. As for how much the equipment cost, the only thing he would say is "enough". "We've got everything so it's sonically perfect. We're using pretty much what U2 and Celine Dion use." One of the first projects out of Inner Ear is Palacol's five-song EP Everafter, in which Palacol was able to program from the keyboard all his instruments, from guitar and bass to drums. Also contributing were Darcy Beck on guitar and Leiah Beck with harmony vocals. As a recording engineer and arranger, Palacol has already worked with several clients, such as hip-hop R&B musician Garland Headley from Trinidad. Even when the music of other artists doesn't fit his style, there's something he can learn, Palacol says. Inner Ear might hve all the equipment you want but what you won't find is pressure. It's a deliberately low-key atmosphere. Palacol has experienced the stress in other studios where the meter is always running and knows he doesn't like it. "We want them to leave feeling happy about what they've accomplished." Beyond his music, Palacol is also conscious of his image, something he hones by doing occasional modelling. His picture is published in the January-Febuary issue of the hair dressing industry magazine Salon in which Saskatonian Shaun Salen is noted fer winning the Contessa 2000 hairstylist of the year award for Saskatchewan. "The music industry is so image conscious. That's why I do that sort of stuff. You've got to present yourself as a commercially viable and ceative force." Palacol has similar thoughts about his stage show. You can't just stand there and look at your shoes. "A good performance is really key. Performance is what matters in this business. If people don;t dig your live show who's going to go? And if they don't go who's going to buy your CD?" Palacol and his band will be practising what he preaches in a CD release party for Everafter tonight at the Wash n Slosh. Bandmates Derek Bachman, Darcy Beck, Scott Pilling and Leiah Beck are also on board. Palacol aids charities from CD sales Saskatoon singer-songwriter Rob Palacol is doing his part for charity. Palacol is donating a portion of the proceeds from his disc Descriptive to two different causes. He plays tonight at Lydia's where he'll present a cheque to the Ness Creek gang. Later this summer, he'll make a donation to the CNIB. If Rob Palacol were the general manager of a football team, he'd be boasting about signing a valuable free agent. Palacol has landed one of the province's best bass players in Shaun Dancey, three-time winner of the Saskatchewan Country Music Association player of the year award. Dancey has played with Nicol Lyschka and, for a five-year stint, The Tammy Hunter band. He hails from Star City and, over a 20-year career, has lent his bass-playing talents to whatever brand of music came his way. "I welcome all musical challenges, definitely." In switching from country to alt-pop with Palacol, Dancey will be playing more Chapman Stick, a fretted, stringed instrument on which the notes are tapped. They're known as tough to play, and Dancey doesn't disagree. "You sure have to be concentrating. I'm really fortunate to have one and to be able to work with it." Dancey, who divides his time between music and grain farming, is certainly not one to boast about his accolades, saying he's "embarassed and humbled" by the SCMA awards. Another recent signing for Palacol is highly regarded drummer Hal Schrenk, who will be using computer wizardry to create Palacol's soundscape. Upcoming gigs for Rob Palacol include Wednesday, June 30 at the Wash n Slosh (the "post-punk-funk-folk" band Leonard opens), Canada Day at Diefenbaker Park, the Flatlands Music Festival in Regina on July 11 and A Taste of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon later that month. Palacol 'living and breathing' music "When I was a kid I never wanted to be a rock star" says Rob Palacol. Indeed, Palacol always thought he'd have an ordinary, stable job. Engineer perhaps...wife and kids, even - the normal thing. Then music came knocking. Three years ago, Palacol wrote his first song. Today, he's about to release his first album, "Descriptive", billed as a "textured and lyrical work of musical art". "Music was something that was decided for me. I picked up the guitar and it just felt natural." Palacol said this week. Unlike most musicians just starting out, Palacol doesn't have to worry about quitting his day job - he doesn't have one. Or, more accurately, he does - it's his music. "This is my life, this is what I work at. I find myself living and breathing music." The twenty-two year old Holy Cross grad talks about his first recording experience as if it were meant to be. Palacol handled the vocals, lyrics, synthesizer work, programming, guitar, sequencing and sould sculpturing on "Descriptive". Drummer Hal Schrenk and bassist Shaun Dancey (who just won his third Saskatchewan Country Music Association award) are featured on the album. Miles Yohnke recorded, mixed and produced. "Everything just came together. It felt like it was already done and I just had to put it together." Palacol doesn't want people to merely listen to the album. He wants them to experience it, to live it, even to find it emotionally draining. "I want the music to get into your bloodstream and not leave." "Descriptive" hits the record stores on Tuesday. Palacol plays Lydia's on April 15. More performances are planned for late spring and summer. VIRTUALMUSICCANADA.COM names Rob Palacol as May's Featured artist! Rob Palacol is May 2001's featured artist at VirtualmusicCanada.com. You can visit him and other great Canadian artists at VirtualmusicCanada.com.
Number 1 Hit Song "You've got to love her" Recorded, Mixed and Produced by Contact: 5-Star Productions you are visiting part of the 5-star productions website © 2006 all rights reserved 5 Star productions |
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