- Release Info -------------------------------------------------------------- -
Artist: Knock 'Em Alive
Album: Coney Island Ride
Label: Stoop Dream
Playtime: 53:46 min
Genre: Rock
URL:
Rip date: 2009-02-23
Street date: 2009-09-25
Size: 77.10 MB
Type: Normal
Quality: 189 kbps / 4410kHz / Joint Stereo
- Release Notes ------------------------------------------------------------- -
Johnny Gruber (aka ôKnock æEm Alive) grew up on ManhattanÆs Upper East Side
when it was still known as Germantown, in 1970s gritty, grimy, teeming and
explosively-charged New York City. Amidst the hubbub of the times, which
included the Son of Sam, the great blackout of 1977 and the birth of punk,
Johnny remembers sitting on the front stoop of his apartment building and
tuning into great radioùWPLJ for rock, WKTU for discoùand devouring the
sounds that poured from it; no matter the genre, his ears were open. Some of
his musical favorites from that time included The Clash, Cheap Trick, Chic
and Afrika Bambaataa
A move during his adolescent years, 60 miles north to Upstate New York, was
no match for the city that was in his blood. Johnny quickly immersed
himself in the culture of New York City: he explored the cityÆs party,
professional and spiritual scenes, but inside of him, a muffled musical voice
was slowly growing louder and more insistent, tapping a steady beat on his
shoulder, speeding up his pulseà
Coney Island Ride, the debut release from Johnny GruberÆs Knock æEm Alive, is
a blend of indie rock, AM radio power pop and electro , with some sugar-free
bubblegum thrown in for good measure. The mood of the album is
unapologetically upbeat and contagiously smile-inducing, convincing even the
most emo of listeners that, in fact, life is good. New York City as a theme
pops up often in the song lyrics, and Johnny feels gratified that, finally,
heÆs able to throw something of himself back into the mix of the NYC music
scene, a scene that taught him how to dance as well as crooned him to sleep
at night.
Coney Island Ride features eight songs, five remixes and one knockout music
video. Serving as producers and remixers for the album were Roger Fife
(Cyndi Lauper, Antony and the Johnsons, The Assassins) and Chris Campion and
Tom Licameli (The Knockout Drops). Steve Henry (Wormburner) contributed
backup vocals, and Johnny would like to point out that, like virtually every
component of this work, all other musicians and contributors were based out
of the greatest city in the world, New York City.
- Track List ---------------------------------------------------------------- -
01. Dance Around The Issue ( 3:18)
02. Golden Bulletproof Parachute ( 3:35)
03. Good To The Core ( 3:45)
04. Some Summer ( 2:40)
05. Split The Difference ( 3:39)
06. Coney Island Ride ( 3:55)
07. Big Bang Blast ( 3:54)
08. 3rd And C ( 3:30)
09. Golden Parachute (Radio Remix) ( 4:14)
10. 3rd And C (Gentrified Fried Remix) ( 4:55)
11. Dance Around The Issue (Empulsive Radio Remix) ( 4:00)
12. Some (Jazzy) Summer ( 4:16)
13. Some Summer (Feel The Breeze Kick In Remix) ( 8:05)
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