The Rooks Latest News

Updated October 14, 2008

Mike Hemmil reviews Folk Songs For The Curious Few.

The Gary Pig Gold Report reviews Folk Songs For The Curious Few, plus Michael Mazzarella's song by song comments about the new CD.

Updated August 12, 2008

FOLK SONGS FOR THE CURIOUS FEW
The new album from Michael Mazzarella

NOW AVAILABLE AT CD BABY

There's a song about a bygone relationship fallen through the cracks of life. There's a tale for a vagabond lover on the run. A gospel-esque offering about someones father - a blue-collar every-man's hero. One decries a presidential administration and a blues is an open letter asking forgiveness. A couple have churchly overtones replete with an eminent chorus here, a "hallelujah" exclamation there. These are new folk songs written for anyone willing to listen. Folk Songs For The Curious Few.

Recollections Of A Young Girl Gone

October On Bleecker

The Ballad Of Who Are We

Open Letter Of Sorry

My Father's Clothes

Ramble, Ramble On

Shine A Little

For LaDonna The Blue

In An Ocean (Song For W.)

Hallelujah For The Hallelujah Of Us

ON SALE NOW AT CD BABY!

Updated December 5, 2007

Dear Friends,

As we announced last week, The Rooks have a new song, "Folk Hero" on the CD compilation which accompanies John Borack's SHAKE SOME ACTION book. You can now hear the song on the band's MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/httpwwwmyspacecomtherooks.

As the season is upon us, you will also find "Christmas" by The Rooks up there too. Enjoy.

Happy Holidays!

Dear Friends,

John Borack, one of the preeminent writers/reviewers covering the power pop/pure pop musical style for more than 20 years (for publications such as Goldmine, Amplifier, and The Trouser Press Record Guide) has put together the definitive overview of the melodic, rocking musical genre known as power pop.

In addition to John`s reviews of the 200 most essential power pop recordings of the last 35+ years, his new book titled SHAKE SOME ACTION: THE ULTIMATE POWER POP GUIDE, has just been released this week! Michael Mazzarella has contributed an essay and a new song (Folk Hero) by The Rooks is on the CD that accompanies the book.

The 200-page book is built around the author's choices of the top 200 power pop releases of all-time (including quotes from many of the artists covered), and also includes a comprehensive essay on the history of power pop by esteemed pop journalist Carl Cafarelli.

In addition, there are tons of previously unpublished/rare photographs by Anastasia Pantsios and Peter Kuehl, as well as a companion CD packed with 24 power poppin' rarities from the likes of The Rubinoos, Tommy Keene, 20/20, The Rooks, Chris von Sneidern and many others. Most all of these tunes are exclusive to Shake Some Action!

Alongside coverage of power pop's history and its 200 greatest albums, SHAKE SOME ACTION also looks at:

* Great power pop singles, individual songs, compilations and tributes

* Labels specializing in power pop

* Magazines, fanzines and websites covering the genre

* Top 10 lists, commentary, quotes and other goodies from artists and journalists such as:

Joey Molland (Badfinger)

Dave Smalley (Raspberries)

Doug Fieger (The Knack)

Dennis Diken (Smithereens)

John Wicks and Will Birch (The Records)

Tommy Dunbar and Al Chan (The Rubinoos)

John Murphy, Jeff Murphy and Gary Klebe (Shoes)

Jeffrey Foskett (Brian Wilson)

Michael Mazzarella (The Rooks)

Robbie Rist

Bobby Sutliff (Windbreakers)

Robin Wills (The Barracudas)

Scott McCarl (Raspberries)

Jordan Oakes (Yellow Pills)

David Bash (International Pop Overthrow)

Alan Haber (Buhdge.com)

Ken Sharp (Goldmine)

Beverly Paterson (Twist & Shake)

Bill Holdship (Creem)

Anna Borg (TallBoy Records)

Terry Hermon (Bucketfull of Brains)

Ira Robbins (Trouser Press)

and more!

"Shake Some Action: The Ultimate Power Pop Guide" is available thanks to the good folks at the Not Lame Recording Company. For more info, or to place your order (what an awesome holiday gift idea!), please visit:

http://www.notlame.com/Page_1/PBPOWERPOPBOOK.html

Happy Holidays!

Updated March 12, 2007

Michael Mazzarella now has his own page at MySpace:
http://www.myspace.com/michaelmazzarella

Don't forget to also visit The Rooks' MySpace page:
http://www.myspace.com/httpwwwmyspacecomtherooks

Updated December 24, 2006

Dear Fans,

ON SALE NOW!

Michael Mazzarella's first solo album "GREY OVER AN AUTUMN WINTER" is now available at CD BABY.

The songs:

Fairground Is Gone
She Said
You Like Me
The Colder It Gets The Deeper We Fall
Before
Girl Gone Bye
Grey Over An Autumn Winter
Here Alone
Winter Over Me
A Life In The Day Of A Man
Dear Mariann

Eleven new songs just in time for that great holiday gift!

News Flash: A fictionalized mention of Michael Mazzarella goes to press! Michael's old bandmate, Jamie Beckett (who played in the Broken Hearts with Michael and Rook Patrick Yourell) has published a novel entitled Burritos and Gasoline. Jamie snuck a flattering tip-of- the- hat to his old friend and former musical partner into the text of the book. An early draft of Chapter 1 is available on Jamie's web site. Hard core Rooks fans who want to collect the book for the Rooks mention might just find they enjoy reading it right through to the last page. Michael did! Go to http://jamiebeckett.com for more details.

Michael Mazzarella's name and reputation have risen to cult status through his singing and song writing for over a decade now. The Rooks established themselves in 1994 following their debut CD. With a press-kit of rave reviews behind the them, Mazzarella subsequently continued to supply his fan base with solid material without retracing his steps, always with an eye and ear to developing The Rooks sound and scope in excellence and maturity.

Michael's first solo effort, Grey Over An Autumn Winter is neither a departure from, nor a recreation of his old Rooks catalog. His new songs retain the melodious characteristics he's become known for, while reflecting the work of a writer whom continues to grow and expand his craft without sacrificing quality in his compositions. From the lovely opening track "Fairground Is Gone," to the album's chilling ode to his mother finale "Dear Mariann," we anticipate that you will find beauty in Mazzarella's recent efforts.

Thank you in advance and please enjoy Grey Over An Autumn Winter.

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