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Mark your calendars 'cause this is the day you first heard Chris Hyland - and you'll remember it - just like you'll remember his tunes for some time to come. Chris Hyland's music is very easy on the ears and the psyche since his smooth delivery and excellent melodies/lyrics will stick with you. This one's a keeper for sure. Play Give Us Your Money Play Burn It Down Play Samples of the entire EP Songs on this EP are: 1. Burn It Down 2. What I Want 3. Mothers Til Midnight 4. Give Us Your Money 5. Ameline 6. This is the Place 
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| More Dazzling Reviews of Chris Hyland's CD:
“And Where Have You Been? is the title from Chris Hyland’s out-of nowhere, amazingly impressive six-song EP with sparkling Beatlesque influenced pop-rock. It doesn’t even matter where he’s been cause where he’s at now sounds darn good.” – Nicole Pensiero, Philadelphia City Paper ”Philadelphia-based musician Chris Hyland has more snappy energy and melodic pop-based songs than many of his slow-strumming contemporaries. Influenced by both the Byrds and the Beatles, Hyland's got an ear for a strong hook and an appealing Elvis-Costello-y voice…His upbeat pop melodies are refreshing as this collection is a fine introduction to a new talent.” — www.popmatters.com “Heavily influenced by the Beatles and Stones, the six songs (on And Where Have You Been?) shows a new talent just starting to hit his stride.” - The Courier-Post “Chris Hyland delivers upbeat pop melodies surrounding refreshingly insightful and pointed lyrics…it’s music that makes you want to hear more.” - Jack Barton, Senior Director/Triple A, FMQB “This promising six-song EP (from And Where Have You Been) shows off Hyland’s vivid lyrics against a Beatles inspired pop backdrop.” - Matt Smith, The Metro “Chris has an uncanny way of crafting songs which capture the essence of the moment.” - Lance Leet, Owner-Steel City Coffeehouse “Each tune is a perfect package, great story-telling wrapped in rock solid melody and harmony.” - Dena Marchiony, Co-Founder / Executive Director - Philadelphia Songwriters Project More About Chris Hyland: In the movie The Natural, Robert Redford plays Roy Hobbs, a mysterious and immensely talented newcomer whose talents are suddenly discovered after years of obscurity outside of the majors. Hobbs gets his belated shot in the big leagues and hits a number of mammoth home runs. After one homer literally knocks the cover off the ball for the game winner, he is asked by a cynical reporter, "How does someone that good just appear out of nowhere?" Hobbs responds, "I guess I just got sidetracked along the way." Chris Hyland, in a way, has been "sidetracked" in his journey to find an outlet for his own musical vision. A graduate of the Berklee College of Music (Boston, MA), Chris has spent much of his career playing guitar, keyboards and bass for nationally touring acts in the U.S. and Japan. He has also composed and produced music for multimedia educational programs and performed as a session musician in the studio. "It took me a while to get everything I’d been doing into one package. The turning point was when I realized the best person to sing my songs was me," states Hyland. After years of living in Los Angeles and Osaka, Japan, Chris returned to his hometown of Ocean City, NJ in 2002 to begin writing songs for his debut EP "And Where Have You Been?". Due out in March 2004, the tracks were recorded at Palais Royale Studios in Bryn Mawr, PA with musician/producer Scott Bricklin (4 Way Street, Martin’s Dam), Matt Muir (4 Way Street), Pete Donnelly (The Figgs, Candy Butchers) and mixed at Studio 4 in Conshohocken, PA by Phil "The Butcher" Nicolo (Bob Dylan, Billy Joel, John Lennon). Each of the EP's six songs is a polished gem. The lyrics are rich in imagery, the melodies unforgettable. With a voice as unique and emotive as each lyric, Hyland’s performances confirm a deep connection between singer and song. His ability to perform multi-instruments gives depth to a diverse collection of tasteful accompaniments. The opening track, "Burn it Down", tells a story of youthful self-destruction. ‘One day you can fill a cell with cushions for these pins’, Hyland admonishes. The slide guitar solo evokes classic George Harrison while the undeniably Brian Wilson-esque outro harmonies leave you wanting more. The second track on the album, "What I Want" is a spirited up-tempo rocker. Imagine Nick Lowe driving your 57 Chevy with the top down on a hot summer night, dropping you off near Francis Dunnery’s “Tall Blonde Helicopter” and you are halfway there. On "Mother’s ‘Til Midnight" - a wonderfully produced signature track - Hyland reflects of his wistful take on the party life using bells and lush chords for color. "Give Us Your Money" takes a closer look at money-hungry TV Evangelists while transcending the topic with a walloping rhythm section, tastefully balanced horns, a shining acoustic guitar solo and a healthy mix of empathy and cynicism: ‘Twenty-five buys a contact / Forty-five buys the buzz that you’re feeling / Seventy-five buys a tape made to show you / Just what a thousand will buy you….You lied and you stole / We’re holy to roll / Give us your money / And we’ll save your soul.’ "Ameline" is a stripped down mournful New Orleans-influenced character sketch of a brutal Southern Belle featuring an accordion solo, tastefully arpeggiated electric guitar melodies and Hyland’s trademark multi-part vocal harmonies. The EP’s closing track, "This is The Place" is the musical relative to the movie Pleasantville, where the guilt ridden character (in color) dreams of his black and white utopia. Underneath the surface, Hyland’s longing, anger, and compassion are expressed in a beautiful pop package. Upon hearing "And Where Have You Been?", listeners may feel the same incredulity as the reporter in The Natural asking the question… "Where have you been?" I guess he just got sidetracked along the way. Be sure to visit Chris Hyland's Web Site |