Andy Stochansky Albums (3)
'Five Star Motel'
Release Date 8/20/2002
Tracks 12
Label Private Music
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
Pop troubadour Andy Stochansky aims for the heart, soul, and mind on the captivating Five Star Motel. Atmospheric, reflective, and emotionally charged, Stochansky's vocal style warrants favorable comparisons to Jeff Buckley, Bono, and Francis Healy. Via arrangements that employ seductive drum loops, Mellotrons, strings, horns, shimmering acoustic guitars, and subtle rhythms abetted by tranquil vocal harmonies, Stochansky creates a postmodern pop/rock gem steeped in introspection. The moody orchestral backdrop on "One Day" certainly owes allegiance to George Martin and Brian Wilson, and cuts including "Stutter," "Clay Pigeon," and "Mavis Said" resonate with somber beauty by way of linear melodies that melt over the backbeat. "Wonderful (It's Superman)" is the lone alternative rock anthem tossed in for good measure. Stochansky is an artist to keep an eye on and, in all probability, Five Star Motel is a record that will stand the test of time. ~ Tom Semioli, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
To some, Andy Stochansky will always be Ani DiFranco's drummer, which is a real shame as he's a very competent multi-instrumentalist and writer in his own right. Radio Fusebox is his second solo album, and it draws on the talent of a lot of fellow Toronto musicians. As you'd expect, much of the music is percussion heavy, though it's a lot more electronic and moody than you might think after hearing his work with DiFranco. Stochansky's vocals are a bit breathy and occasionally reminiscent of Bono, though never as bombastic. Bonus points for the excellent package design, which consists of a number of lyric cards together with the CD in a cardboard slipcover. ~ Sean Carruthers, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Andy Stochansky's first solo album -- four years before Radio Fusebox -- is aptly titled. He recorded it in the off hours (meaning "after hours") during a tour with Ani DiFranco (Stochansky was her drummer for many years). He and his co-producer literally lined up musicians and studios wherever they could for a month and recorded the album. Stochansky wrote all the songs on the disc, plays his customary numerous percussion instruments, enlisted the help of string players, guitarists, keyboard players, Turkish saz masters, and vocalists for a wondrous ride through the dark night of his burning desire to record his own songs. While there isn't a bad track in the batch, the African percussion and the Bobo-like vocal on the opener "I Am Standing" is a standout, as is the guitar and accordion ballad "Pass the Wheel." The two mixes of the traditional Ukrainian folk song "Under Your Glory" offer different readings of the word and emotive sensibility that is "passion," while the lone solo track, "Dear Sir," is the closest thing there is to certified "organic" rock & roll. And if Stochansky sounds like Bono as a singer, so what? There are lots of people who sound like Bob Dylan and they suck. Stochansky's got it all going for him here: the songs, the pressure to get the job done, the smokin' musicians who are perfectly in tune with his vision, and a co-producer who kept the juice flowing and got the sequencing right. This was as an auspicious debut album that nobody but DiFranco fans and a few Canadian radio programmers got to hear. And that's a shame. Stochansky was so busy making a living that he didn't have time to work his product. (Only available from: Population 60, P.O. Box 5, Terra Cotta, Ontario L0P 1N0, Canada.) ~ Thom Jurek, All Music Guide
