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The Chamber Strings formed in 1997 by singer/songwriter/guitarist Kevin Junior (a native of Akron, Ohio) in Chicago. The band's critically adored debut 'Gospel Morning' was released on the Washington DC label ISM that same year & re-released with bonus tracks in 1999 on the Bobsled label. Recorded in Chicago & London, it combined such diverse influences such as Ray Davies, Brian Wilson, Brill Building pop, Rolling Stones, Beatles, Alex Chilton, 60's soul, Pretenders, Dan Penn, Only Ones, The Raspberries & Jimmy Webb into an unclassifiable style, giving the band it's own original identity & proving Junior to be a top songwriter in his own right with classic songs that had a timeless grandeur to them.
The group's stunning 2001 follow-up 'Month Of Sundays' was co-produced by Thom Monahan (Pernice Brothers/Lilys) & saw the band expand it's sound with full orchestral string & brass arrangements (including renowned Chicago
jazz musicians Ken Vandermark & Jeb Bishop) and allowed the band to channel it's more complex ambitions & influences such as Laura Nyro, Curtis Mayfield, Phil Spector, Bacharach & David, Todd Rundgren, & Dusty Springfield into a masterwork that landed them the number 1 record of the year in numerous publications. The Lp was also released to great success in Japan & Europe.
The group toured The US & Europe several times, gaining a faithful following around the world and recieving an overwhelming amount of critical praise & honors such as landing on dozens of publications top 10 Lp's & Number 1 slots for 'Gospel Morning' & 'Month Of Sundays' (London's The Guardian had it in they're "Top 10 all-time neglected American classics"). The group also had the honor of performing on the well-respected NPR radio programs 'Sound Opinions' and Nic Harcourt's 'Morning Becomes Eclectic'.
Touring like mad, they had also found themselves on tour & sharing stages with such diverse bands including Guided By Voices, Travis, Wilco (bassist John Stirratt co-wrote "Make It Through The Summer" with Kevin Junior, for The String's 2nd Lp & Stirratt's project Autumn Defense), The White Stripes, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Moe Tucker, Alex Chilton, Dandy Warhols, The Posies, Pernice Brothers, Webb Brothers (who also covered & released Junior's song "Everyday Is Christmas"), Evan Dando, Warlocks, Death Cab For Cutie, Real Kids, Ian Hunter (Mott The Hoople) & Super Furry Animals to name a few. Such well known names have come out to the band's shows like Nancy Sinatra, Ryan Adams, Hanson, Ron Sexsmith, members of Talking Heads, & Ben Stiller!
After the success of 'Month Of Sundays', the band took an extended hiatus. Leader Kevin Junior found himself unable to carry on after a long battle with depression due in part to a divorce from his wife of 15 years & health-releated problems. His Brian Wilson-esqe disappearance led many to wonder if he had dropped off the face of the Earth and would he ever return?
He has, indeed. From the fall of 2004 to mid-2005, Kevin toured extensively throughout Germany, Italy, Belgium, & England in a solo acoustic setting, while also serving time playing guitar for old-time partner Nikki Sudden on several European gigs. He also oversaw the release of 'Good Things', the final album from his late musical companian & friend, Epic Soundtracks. The record, is an Epic Sountracks/Kevin Junior collaberation & was recorded/produced in 1996 in London (Epic passed away in 1997) by Kevin Junior on his Tascam Porta3 4-track recorder. The album features only Epic Soundtracks (vocals/piano/some guitar) & Kevin Junior (guitar/backing vocals/percussion) & these tracks were only intended for demos at the time, yet it now stands as Epic's farewell, his last songs and recordings. Some critics believe it to be up there with his finest work.
2006 found Kevin Junior re-uniting with the classic 'Month Of Sundays' Chamber Strings lineup & returning to the stage & studio. On January 20th 2007, the band played they're first live show in 5 years to a sold-out Double Door in Chicago. The re-union has brought a renewed interest in this vastly underrated band, including a cover story in The Chicago Reader, features and reviews in The Chicago Tribune, Time-Out, San Francisco Guardian, SF Weekly, The Onion, Magnet Magazine, NPR's 'Shadow Classics' & Illinois Entertainer's top 25 local Lp's of the last 10 years, amongst others. A documentary film about the band is out now (www.gloriousnoise.com) and they were just featured on NPR's Sound Opinions (for the second time). Live shows are happening in the US again & a new record deal is being sought. A 3rd LP has already been written & the band is busy working on preparing this new record. In the meantime, look for a Chamber Strings comp/rarities LP to be released in Europe in the upcoming months.
Stay tuned.....
Quotes:
"The band's wonderful debut 'Gospel Morning' was abundant with pretty tunes. The band's spectacular sophmore effort 'Month Of Sundays' is the genuine article with it's melodic sofistication, orchestral grandeur, & clear-eyed plangency. Junior has managed to make music that lives up to it's models. The 3rd one should be an instant classic." -Peter Margasak Chicago Reader
"The Chamber Strings are certainly the most unique sounding band in a long time. It's the band thats primed to bring back emotional sofistication to pop music. With complex arrangements & Junior's world-weary & sleepy voice front & center, the bands albums have a timeless grandeur to them" -Chicago Daily Herald
"A comtemporary classic" -The Onion
"Kevin Junior appears to be a very fragile looking glam rockstar you'd expect to see emerging mid-afternoon in London's Soho with tousled hair, fashionable "trousers" and the musty smell of last night's free-for-all at the pub. Because of this, I have to ask, who better to sing the songs of rock n' roll than this man Junior? Practically every song is it's own bittersweet symphony on Gospel Morning, something I discovered while I was busy making fun of the album art, and Junior and the lads were busy making a fool of me. I am a true believer now, thank you." -Faster Than Sheep
"Like John Lennon in Memphis. Incredible!" -Swizzle Stick
"Gospel Morning is so fully-realized that it seems more like the product of a band that has honed its style for decades." -Wendy Mitchell CMJ
"This incredible album, powered by Kevin Junior's vocals, always sound as they have just drifted out of his mouth, every track is well-crafted and instantly hum-able." -James Baumann Swizzle Stick
"The man writes achingly beautiful gorgeous compositions" -Lost In Guyville
"Month Of Sundays is a testament to Kevin Junior's impeccable songcraft" -Chicago Tribune
"The Strings second Lp is a tale of redemption in a barrage of misery, a plea for sanity after a lost, lost weekend. One of the 25 essential albums of the last 10 years." -Illinois Entertainer
"Truely setting a higher standard for popular music" -The Hoya
"A superb songwriter with heart to spare" -Dan Epstien LA Weekly
"This year's model. A great favorite around here. I don't think I have heard a song so enchanting as "All Of Your Life" since John Lennon's 9 Dream" - Bucketfull Of Brains (UK)
"Kevin Junior can craft classic pop that will still sound vivacious in 30 years" -Alternative Press
"Stunning and timeless" -Now Toronto
"Junior's songs are all misty atmosphere & sing-along choruses, bittersweet valentines to a pop world long vanished" -Seattle Weekly
"Kevin Junior's sense of drama is profound. The Chamber Strings can do no wrong" -Stereophile
"A knack for crafting devastatingly lovely songs" -CMJ
"Junior tips his rooster haircut in the direction of Brian Wilson, John Lennon, Ray Davies, and Laura Nyro with an unabashed homage to classic pop tunesmithery. Junior's adroitness at channeling his heroes is matched by his ability to stamp his songs "Chamber Strings." HE CAN'T MISS: a gentle, personable vocal style, guitars that serve the song and not the ego, piano and organ motifs that nurture his sublime melodies and arrangements warm enough to melt the hearts of Eskimos. The future of pop music looks bright indeed." -Fred Mills Magnet
"The number 1 record of 2001. A souful masterwork" -Tim Perlich Now Toronto
"A few heartstrings away from genius" -Uncut
"A contender for all 2001's best-of lists" -Philadelphia Weekly
"Grand and gorgeous. Kevin Junior crafts heart-breakingly, spine-tinglingly beautiful songs" -Lyndsey Parker Yahoo! interviews
"Gospel Morning have such perfect, lush melodies that they could be forgotton 60's classics. Kevin Junior's reedy voice echoes both John Lennon in ballad mode and Sister Lovers-era Alex Chilton." -Steve Klinge CMJ
"Wonderful! I am a true believer" -Amplifier
"Heartwrenching! A melodic sing-along to everyone who's ever graced our lives. Not only outstanding sounds and pretty melodies, but genuine heart." -PopMatters
"Very cool songs!" -Eric Carmen (The Raspberries)
"Kevin Junior essentially disappeared after a one-two punch of depression and divorce, leaving in his wake two cult-favorite albums." -The Onion
"Pop visionary Kevin Junior's songs are on the cusp of greatness. dark beauties imbued with rich harmonies, counterpart melodies, and cinematic colors, the kind of pop dreams that warrant serious discussion next to the work of Brian Wilson, Ray davies, Laura Nyro, or Alex Chilton." -Chicago Tribune
"These compositions sound like someone must have already written and entered it into the cannon at some point in history, but no one had until singer/songwriter/human scarecrow Kevin Junior corrected the cosmic oversight. Lush and glorious." -Ken Stringfellow (Posies/Big Star/REM)
"Music so magical. Listeners from the 60's and 70's generations will discover a songwriting voice in Kevin Junior comparable to Ray Davies, John Lennon, and Roger McGuinn at their best. What emerges from all the dreamy vocal harmonizing, delicate textures, subdued emotions and mystical atmosphere of Junior's songs is a music of enthralling emotional range, melodic insight and opulent beauty. It's music of the first order." -Robert Hicks The Villager NYC
"Masterminded by sonic architect Kevin Junior, 'Month Of Sundays' sorid tales are brimming with ecstatic melodies, dense harmonies and tunes so effortlessly humable that they could stop a Hollies compilation dead in it's tracks. A solid and thoroughly satisfying album, 'Month Of Sundays' does nothing if not prove Kevin Junior to be a top songwriter in his own right." -Spendid
"Poignant and romantic, lonesome and yearning, it's the kind of, yes, timeless pop/rock music that could have been made in '67 as well as '97. It's a gem. Absolutly timeless." -Stomp and Stammer
"Critics routinely mention The Chamber Strings in the same breath as Brian Wilson, Phil Spector, & Todd Rundgren. Add Kevin Junior to the list." -Cleveland Plain Dealer
"This is something genuine & new" -Milk
"The Number One Lp of 2001. Majestic arrangments, excellent musicianship and Kevin Junior's impeccable songwriting and beautifully fragile voice encapsulates everything that is great about this album" -The Phoenix
"I believe Kevin Junior to be of the same caliber of songwriters like Ray Davies & Alex Chilton. I want this 3rd album NOW!" -Greg Kot Sound Opinions
"Tailoring scarf-fetish, true-believer rock of the finest weave. 'Gospel Morning' is the perfect rock record, the kind they don't make anymore. Not because THEY don't want to, but because their hearts aren't PURE enough. Because their brains are sullied with irony. Because their eyes aren't on the prize. You have to learn chivalry before you can get to this. This is a record for big brothers to give to their little sisters, to be passed on like a whispered treasure, to prepare the little girls for sour apples & glad tidings. If these songs don't carve some truth & beauty into your Grecian Urn, you've stopped believing. And while that's understandable in this world of shoddy scarves & shoddier scarf owners, it's a shame." -True Crime Magazine
