Monolith-Sound: “Rick Shaffer is as gritty as they come.”

Pure unadulterated, no fucks given Rock n’ Roll is what Rick Shaffer is all about with his latest album, “Stacked Deck.”   It’s a non-stop barrage of riffs, power and old school gritty vocals.   Shaffer stays true to the sound and vibe his fans have come to love, so if you loved his previous work, expect to love this one as well.

The sound of this record is what we’ve come to expect from Rick.   Stripped back, raw and nothing but balls against the wall.   It’s an immensely pure album in a sense that it embodies what Rock music is and should be about, the essence of humanity.   You can feel that there’s only people making music on this record.   Nothing is fake, nothing is digital.   The sound retains its human element and thus, hits you where it matters.

Rick Shaffer is as gritty as they come.   His vocal delivery on this record is superb and shows just how it’s done.   He nails that old school, ‘Howlin’ Wolf’ vocal groove with no trouble at all, giving his music a distinct characteristic.  Shaffer’s instrumental abilities are also second to none.   The guitar work is tight, twangy and plucked with feeling whilst the rhythmic section is solid, meaty and ballsy.

If you dig the tunes of Southern music, Jack White, The Black Keys or Early Rolling Stones, give Rick Shaffer a listen.  His pure stance on Rock n’ Roll will have you movin’ and shakin’ in no time.

MONOLITH-SOUND

Stacked Deck CD’s or mp3′s can be purchased HERE.

4th Rick Shaffer Solo Album Is A “Stacked Deck”

Tarock Music has released Rick Shaffer’s fourth solo album, Stacked Deck.

Written and produced by Shaffer, he continues the “sonic minimalist” blueprint of his previous solo albums.

The sound combines hard fuzz guitar driven garage-blues, a blues edged two step, lazy insistent rolling beat, new colors in the harmonica and spoons style percussion, along with an unadorned and unaffected blues narrative.

Click on the song title to get a free download of track 7, “Cool Treatment“ via SoundCloud.

To purchase a Stacked Deck CD or mp3′s click HERE!

3 Songs Licensed For “Freefall” Series

El Cee Productions has licensed three songs from Tarock Music for three episodes for their new season of their very popular series, Freefall.

Award winning writer/director/cinematographer, Lamont Pierré, along with writers Chris Saunders and Geno Brooks, have created a controversial and successful crime drama about three masculine black gay men who are involved in a life of crime, while dealing with the trials of their personal relationships.

Two of the licensed songs are, Ringing The Bell, from The Reds© album, Fugitives From The Laughing House, and We’re On, an instrumental from Tarock’s music library also by Reds members,  Rick Shaffer and Bruce Cohen.  The third song, Death In Venice, is from Cohen’s first solo album, One BC.

FIVE YEAR PLAN ● THE REDS®

“Five Year Plan” is track 1 on The Reds® album, Fatal Slide.   All the photographs in the video are from the band’s 1982 tour of Western Canada.

For all  mp3 purchase options visit . . . 
http://www.theredsmusic.com/fatalslide/buyfatalslide.html

3 Angels License 3 Songs

3 Angels Power Film Production has licensed three Tarock Music songs for their next indie film, Franceska Finger NailZ, a mysterious story full of horror and suspense, with a touch of comedy, and a little bit of romance.

The 3 Angels are Canada’s talented Karam sisters, Gladys (producer, director), Mona Lisa (camera, art director, stylist), and Jeanne D’arc (music supervisor).  The siblings share an intense passion for filmmaking, validated by their work in Wrestling With A Dream, a documentary about Canadian wrestlers; a family film, TeenZ; a 1996 documentary, Victory Of Kuwait; a film short about Canadian workers, In And Out; as well as a four-episode reality show for Kuwait-TV, to literally name a few.

All three licensed tracks were written, produced and performed by Bruce Cohen . . . “Stream” from his first solo album, One BC . . . “Martian River” from his second solo album, Two BC . . . and “The Dark” making its debut in Franceska Finger NailZ.  Cohen recently finished a second Big Fun 3 album entitled, Big Fun 3.2, with new members Peter “Babe” Lucas (guitar) and Tony Foster (drums), scheduled for a spring release on the Ropeadope label.  Cohen is currently in the studio writing and recording his third solo album, scheduled for release fall 2013.

Look for Franceska Finger NailZ in mid-October 2013, just in time for Halloween horror fans. You know who you are.

The Once A Week Online Film Festival ● EVER HEAR A POSTMAN WHISTLE?

Directed by award winning, Bexie Bush,  “Ever Hear A Postman Whistle?“ was created for the BBC’s Open University Creative Climate Short Film Competition.

Two old armchairs discuss changing lifestyles and expectations.  Their conversation covers shopping, waste, windmills, postmen and what really matters in life and we find they introduce an ideal way to explore issues around consumerism with their depth of humor, wisdom and experience.  The film gently introduces the idea that we were less wasteful in the past.

All audio for this film is a recorded natural conversation, the microphone wasn’t hidden, but it was unobtrusive.

Enjoy!

The Once A Week Online Film Festival ● RCA

RCA is a western themed animated short about a robot searching the desert in order to complete a connection.

Written and directed by Spencer Grundler, with music by Jason Zimpfer.

The animators include: Joe McHugh, Duffy Austin, and Matt Weidner, with Supervision Sound Editor, Richard Morris, and Assistant Sound Editor, Sean Froelich.

Enjoy!

The Once A Week Online Film Festival ● THE GIFT

Don’t miss THE GIFT a new film short, produced, directed, and edited by Andrew Griffin, which he co-wrote with Philip Ardagh for Stork Nest.  The story is about a troubled couple who are visited by a stork bearing hope, along with violence and tragedy.

The Gift was screened at Courts-métrages − Festival de Cannes 2012,  and was filmed in Camber, Lydd, and Dungeness, South Kent, UK,  by director of photography, Sam Brown, whose contribution is especially noteworthy.

Additional credits include beautiful music by Max Richter, Hildur Gudnadottir, and Keith Kuniff.  While the cast includes Ian played by Davie McKay, Georgie played by Kate Dickie, June played Lorraine Stanley, Inspector Stevens played by Gary Lewis, and the Baby played by Sullivan.

New Web Site For SUPER RAD MOTION PICTURE GROUP

Super Rad Motion Picture Group was formed by writer, director, post production wiz David N. Donihue to create attention getting commercials, bold feature films, and inventive music videos.

Donihue’s unique eye for visuals and award winning knack for story allows him and his teammates at Super Rad to continue to churn out amazing work on reasonable budgets. Whether in need of a full production or simply post-services, Super Rad is here to turn visions into realities.

Tarock Music experienced Donihue’s expertise when he directed Rick Shaffer’s video, ONE MORE HEARTACHE, from his album, Idiot Flats.

Check out the Super Rad Motion Picture Group’s new site ► 
http://www.superradfilms.com/

UNIVERSAL MUSIC Re-Releases “Green With Envy” By THE REDS®

Universal Music has digitally re-released The Reds®  EP, “Green With Envy,” originally released in 1979 on the A&M label.

The EP features The Doors song, “Break On Through,” which suggests some of the The Reds® roots.

Click on . . . GREEN WITH ENVY . . . to purchase mp3′s from your favorite download site.

Universal Music Re-Releases “Manhunter” & “Band Of The Hand” Soundtracks

Universal Music has re-released the film soundtracks, Manhunter and Band Of The Hand, for digital download on the most popular download sites.  Click on the film title above for all the info about the film and listen to a track, and on the film title below for all the buy links . . . Manhunter . . . Band Of The Hand.

Rick Shaffer and Bruce Cohen, a/k/a The Reds® composed and performed the score for Manhunter, and Band Of The Hand, which also contains four songs by The Reds® written for the film, as well as, Waiting For You, a track from their Shake Appeal album, released by Sire/Warner Bros, and unavailable anywhere else.

(An extra bonus on the Band Of The Hand album is the title track written and performed by Bob Dylan, with Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers.)

The Reds® 1979 Debut A&M Album “THE REDS” Now Available On ALL Popular MP3 Sites

Fans of The Reds® will be happy as pigs in you-know-what now that their 1979 A&M debut album “The Reds“ is available on iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, MOG, Rhapsody, TradeBit,  7 Digital, Zune, with most other popular download sites to follow.  The re-release was via Universal Music, who now controls the A&M masters.

Produced by David Kershenbaum, the critically acclaimed album still lives up to the warning, “This is not an album for the soft of heart, or head.”  But, don’t take our word for it, following are a few album review quotes . . .

Kurt Loder, Rolling Stone (1979): “On their debut album, The Reds® prove themselves capable of kicking up as much urban art-rock ruckus as any band this side of Pere Ube.”

Robert Palmer, Sounds/Penthouse (1979): “Unconditionally recommended.”

Chuck Eddy, in his book, Stairway To Hell – The Best 500 Albums In The Universe (1991): ” . . . upon initially hearing “Self Reduction” on the radio I thought that somebody’d finally knocked some sense into Deep Purple’s heads.”

Vinyl History (2008): “The album explodes with fireworks in a black sky, as the 1970′s come to an end.  Put simply, it’s a “Landmark Record” which is why it has never lost its allure.”

Visit the Tarock Music web site and click on “The Reds” tab, and sub-tabs, to read the album’s liner notes and all the reviews.  To license songs for film, TV, and games, click on License Songs to tell us about your project, and the appropriate person will contact you ASAP.

Enter The ORANGE COUNTRY REVERB CONTEST To Win An Autographed IDIOT FLATS CD

Visit Canada’s ORANGE COUNTRY REVERB to enter their contest to win an AUTOGRAPHED copy of RICK SHAFFER’S new album, IDIOT FLATS.

DZ tha DoK says, “Rick Shaffer is a legend in the making.”

Skope’s DZ tha Dok interview with Rick Shaffer about his new album, IDIOT FLATS, can be read by clicking on INTERVIEW.

YOKO & SEAN LENNON ● ARTISTS AGAINST FRACKING

Visit YOKO and SEAN LENNON’S new web site, ARTISTS AGAINST FRACKING, to help save our water BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!

The BL Rag says, “Rick Shaffer is for fans of Iggy Pop and 16 Horsepower”

For fans of seriously hooky rock n’ roll of the more badass variety (Iggy & The Stooges, 16 Horsepower, Tom Waits, etc), take a close listen to the surprisingly masterful work of Rick Shaffer on his new release IDIOT FLATS, which I can honestly say there isn’t a miss on. Must-listen tracks include “One More Heartache”, “Dangerous Dance” and “Getting Low”. Note: this is not your average, clean-with-a-perfect-sheen modern rock. But it’s probably what you’ve been waiting for.

THE BL RAG − Music Watch − RHYTHM & TRUTH IN MUSIC

Click on the song title to get a FREE mp3 of “ONE MORE HEARTACHE“

All Tarock Music Artist mp3′s → 89¢ @ CD BABY!

CLICK HERE TO BUY NOW!

Luxembourg Gladly Enters IDIOT FLATS Time Machine

I first took notice of Rick Shaffer back in 2007 when his band The Reds® released their exceptional comeback album Fugitives From The Laughing House.  This was followed two years later by the equally appealing Early Nothing, and since then Mr Shaffer has been busily releasing solo albums.  I always thought that Necessary Illusion from 2010 was his first solo venture, but now I find myself surprised that he did already one as early as 1971, one year before I was born.

This means of course that Rick Shaffer is by no means a youngster, but as on his previous records, he never sounds old and weary.  I missed his last album Hidden Charms, but the new one – Idiot Flats – is frankly not that different from what I have come to expect of him.  Playing the guitars, bass and some percussion, and of course in charge of the vocals, he only hired the services of a drummer and an additional bassist for the ten tracks featured on this new CD.  The recipe is still quite the same: garage rock rooted in the early Sixties, inspired by early Stones and the Pretty Things, funneled into concise three minute tracks that overwhelm their audience with reverb driven guitar, bluesy melodies and Shaffer’s cool, distanced voice that reminds occasionally of Lou Reed and Alan Vega.  The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion are another band he can be likened to, for all those who started listening to music in the Nineties, a long time after Rick Shaffer began his active musical career.

It’s hard to highlight any specific song, as the whole album is one extraordinarily listenable experience from the beginning to the end.  Last time I complained a little about the CD’s short length, but this time I guess I have come to accept that this kind of music works best in smaller doses.  Idiot Flats never sounds modern, and always catches the atmosphere of Sixties garage rock, and while this would feel fake with a lot of younger artists, Rick Shaffer has the necessary experience and years in the music business to make it all work.  Fans of dirty, unpolished fuzzy garage blues rock will feel as if they have just stepped out of a time machine.

Pascal Thiel ● DisAgreement ● Luxembourg

James Moore says, “Rick Shaffer delivers near perfect rock album with Idiot Flats.”

As a lifelong rock n’ roll fan, I can honestly say that I’ve explored and re-explored a wide range of what the genre has to offer.  Coming across the work of Rick Shaffer recently, though, made me wonder if I’ve really been paying close enough attention.  His new CD “Idiot Flats“ is a joyous mix of the Rolling Stones, Iggy Pop and the Black Keys with an occasional rockabilly tinge to the proceedings, and it’s a solid effort.  “Unforgiven Man” showcases Shaffer’s one-of-a-kind pepped up badass vocal chops, and it would be hard for any rock fan to not love it.  “One More Heartache” brings Springsteen to mind with gut wrenching honesty.  Already, by track two, I’m blown away and requesting a physical copy for my nest road trip.  “Remember” doesn’t slow things down – it heavy’s things up a la 16 Horsepower to keep the momentum strong and forceful.  The title track is a low down blues number, dirtier than the Black Keys material we’re used to hearing these days.  Highlights from the rest of the release include the mean romper “Around The Bend” that’ll make you want to dance by yourself (it’s that kind of number), and “Dangerous Dance,” which brings the great Steve Earl to mind.

I would not hesitate to HIGHLY recommend this release to any serious fan of rock, rock n’ roll, blues, Americana, and even country.  This album is near perfect and delivers a swagger most artists don’t even dream up.  GET IT.

James Moore – IMP – Vancouver, BC, Canada

(James Moore is the author of the best selling music marketing book “Your Band Is A Virus,” and is also a contributor to The Muse’s Muse, Skope Magazine, Target Audience Magazine, Evor, and Music Think Tank.)

WATCH RICK SHAFFER’s NEW VIDEO

Tarock Music called on director and editor, David N. Donihue (Super Rad Motion Picture Group) to give “One More Heartache” the vintage look it required to match Rick Shaffer’s vintage sound.  Shaffer’s poignant lyrics of turning your back on what’s continually forced fed to everyone daily demanded Donihue’s expertise of creating commercials and music videos.  Donihue’s concept was to tell the story of children choosing not to blindly follow the hype from big company advertising, by visually creating two worlds − the real world in black and white,  and the glossy world of advertisers in color.  After searching through thousands of 1960’s commercials Donihue creatively shows the progression of the children’s alarmed state to the final conclusion of their ultimate choice.  The finished video provides the powerful query − is it what you believe, or what you know.  © 2012 Tarock Music

“One More Heartache” is track 2 on the album, Idiot Flats.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE