| Monday,
July 11, 2005
CD: Brown
Bag Lunch by Various
Sonic Deli Records The Sonic Deli is not a band. No, they are
rather a unique collective of Toronto musicians, banded together in pursuit
of better living through art. And accordingly, Brown Bag Lunch is thusly
a compilation, in so much as it, um, compiles stuff. Jim Armstrong, Crazy
Babies, Amer Diab and Lazo are some of the artist names you’ll unpack
from Brown Bag Lunch and while there are obvious differences stylistically
between the artists, a common thread holds them all together…or
a river runs through it, as they say. The Crazy Babies’ “Duckin’
Demons” reeks of radio-ready alt-rock, Jennifer Bettencourt’s
“Taxi Cab Heart” is some fey piano thing while Lazo’s
“Love Is On Your Side” bounces by on a reggae tilt—a
lot of variety to be sure but the tempos, attitudes and production is
fairly consistent and accordingly, Brown Bag Lunch never sounds disjointed
or uneven. Even Jim Armstrong’s “Tomorrow’s Gonna Be
Grand” is sequenced late in the disc as not to disturb the pissy
rockers up from. On the whole, Brown Bag Lunch is a balanced meal that
might leave you wanting for some cake or low-fat frozen yoghurt but is
reasonably satisfying otherwise. www.sonicdelirecords.com
- Cameron Gordon
Spill
Magazine
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May 12, 2005
BROWN BAG
LUNCH Sonic Deli _***
If straight-ahead, Q107-style radio rock bore more critical currency
than lo-fi indie pop, Sonic Deli's un-broken social scene, documented
on this label compilation, would be the one we're hearing about. The focal
point of a loose community of struggling musicians, Sonic Deli is a recording
studio/house band/indie label/music publishing company helmed by veteran
local rocker Jim Armstrong. Nothing on Brown Bag Lunch is brilliant but
nothing sucks. Armstrong himself crafts serviceable, catchy, blue-collar
rock; David Janes brings strong vocals and rock-star attitude to the party;
Amer Diab's quirkier approach breaks the rawkin' mold (and mood) somewhat.
So do tracks recorded outside the Deli and parachuted in by reggae man
Lazo and garage-band Crazy Babies. Extra points for Armstrong starting
to record the project three months after undergoing brain surgery to control
his epilepsy. HOWARD DRUCKMAN eye
Magazine
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April 15,
2005 -
Sonic Deli
hopes you enjoy Brown Bag Lunch
CARRIE BRUNET
Facing the unknown, a local music producer decided it was in his best
interest to stockpile some songs as he waited for brain surgery.
James Armstrong needed surgery to help reduce his incidence of seizures
due to his ongoing struggle with epilepsy.
"His seizures were making it impossible to cope," said Armstrong's
musical and business partner Andrea Poulis. "He used be able to control
it with medication, but it got worse."
Afraid that he would lose his musical talent or be permanently brain damaged,
he started writing music.
When he emerged from his brain surgery at London University, Armstrong
and Poulis decided that they should put out a CD to promote all this wonderful
music that he had written.
"We had a lot of material sitting here," said Poulis. "We
knew we had to do something about it."
They started recruiting artists who would suit the songs and put together
an album that includes a variety of different styles.Most of the songs
on the album are written by Armstrong. Among the artists are Jennifer
Claveau (from the band Likewater) and David Janes, an up-and-coming young
musician.
"We've known David since he was 16," said Poulis. "We've
helped him through his hip-hop phase, his boy band phase, his hard rock
phase. He's one to watch."
Meanwhile, Claveau said this is her first introduction to solo work, after
years of fronting a band."Armstrong expanded my musical knowledge,"
said Claveau. "He's very talented and gifted."
With Armstrong as her producer, Claveau felt her music took on a whole
new dimension.The songs on the album called Brown Bag Lunch range from
rock to reggae."It's speaks to Armstrong's talents," said Claveau.
After assembling a CD, Poulis and Armstrong decided to launch their own
label (Sonic Deli records) in order to help promote their work.
The CD/label launch takes place tonight at Healey's at Queen and Bathurst,
at 9 p.m.
-----------------------------------------------------
April 14th, 2005 -
Toronto’s newest independent record label, Sonic Deli Records, announces
the world premiere of their debut compilation cd, BROWN BAG LUNCH. This
cd release also marks the launch of the new company with a party and live
showcases taking place at Healey's Night Club (south-west corner of Queen
and Bathurst) on Friday, April 15th at 9:00 p.m.
BROWN BAG LUNCH was carefully packed together by Sonic Deli Records President,
Andrea Poulis, Executive Director, Jon Long and Producer/Musician, Peter
James Armstrong.
The remarkable story behind BROWN BAG LUNCH comes from the music producer
himself, better known as Jim Armstrong. He has long struggled with severe
epilepsy since the age of six. One year ago, Jim underwent cutting edge
brain surgery to reduce the intensity of his seizures and their frequency.
Three months later, he was at the sound board working on his first cdcompilation
of eleven Toronto songwriters and performers and is now launching the
new indie record label, Sonic Deli Records.
James explains "It was hard to enjoy and work at the music I loved
before the operation. I still have seizures but they've been reduced to
weekly instead of daily, and with more control I am now able to lead a
more full and productive life." Jim also notes that none of this
would have been possible if it weren't for the help and support of friends
like Jon Long, from Long and McQuade Musical Instruments.
When asked why he was interested in this project, Jon Long explained that,
"Jim is an incredibly talented musician. His music needed to heard,
I had to help him and his friends." Jim has hundreds of songs, a
collection of over thirteen years of co-writing with his partner Andrea.
While some of Jim's songs are featured on this recording, Jim challenged
himself to work with and produce other local writers who also needed to
be heard.
Sonic Deli Records President Andrea Poulis says "Everyone connected
to this cd project brings something valuable; talent, drive and artistic
vision. Individually, we have all attained various levels of career achievement;
together, we are a driving force of musical and marketing strengths."
This special collection of eighteen tracks features songwriting and performances
by James Armstrong, Lazo, Shelley Jacobson, Violet Ray, Jennifer Claveau
of Likewater, Josh Hutchinson of The Entropy, dAVID jANES, plus many more.
(http://www.truthexplosion.com/news/news.php?id=405)
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