Tokyo Rosenthal’s “Who Was That Man?” was released May 1st through Rock n Sock Records. Here are what the critics are saying:
“Great CD Toke! Once again you have outdone yourself.” – Simon Barrett USA Today/BNN
“It would be a mistake and a shame to saddle Tokyo “Toke” Rosenthal with the label ‘singer/songwriter.’ Better to call him one of the most entertaining story tellers working today.” – No Depression
Pic by Vikas Nambiar at the Evening Muse
“‘These are the gritty points of life that make a song interesting and visceral. Listening to this album was like looking into the soul of the artist.” – MUZIK Reviews
“Thus I conclude that Tokyo Rosenthal is not an ordinary singer-songwriter and ‘Who Was That Man?’ is not an ordinary album. Terrific from start to finish.” – Bluesbunny Music
“Tokyo ’ s new tunes will grab Americana fans all over the World.” – Keys and Chords
“‘Who Was That Man?’ Is an addictive nice disc from an exceptionally gifted songsmith from North Carolina.” Alt Country
“Storytelling style remains strong on singer-songwriter’s latest Americana album.” – Creative Loafing Charlotte
See Toke In Charlotte This Thursday:
Tokyo Rosenthal
The Evening Muse
Thursday, May 19, 2011
7pm door, set at 8pm, $10
704.376.3737
3227 N. Davidson Street
Charlotte, NC 28205 www.theeveningmuse.com
Rock and Sock Records announced today that their recording artist, Tokyo Rosenthal, will begin his Fall Tour on September 24th. In a career that started with the country rock boom, Rosenthal has honed his craft and “rootsy/ Americana with a little blues thrown in” sound to perfection. His most successful release to date, “Ghosts”, reached #5 on the Euro Americana Chart and the critical acclaim and US airplay has been overwhelming. This will be Rosenthal’s first extended tour since his April and May UK tour. The tour will begin in ”Toke’s” backyard of ”The Triangle” in North Carolina and extend South before heading up to the Northeast in November. Tokyo will be joined on the tour at various times by Charlie Chamberlain(mandolin/lead guitar), Bobby Britt(fiddle) and Warren Sharp(lead guitar). In addition to live venue performances Toke will also be making radio and TV appearances.
Included among the dates announced so far will be Tokyo’s second appearance at The Bitter End in New York City this year. Toke will also be performing in Newport, Rhode Island for the first time in over 20 years, an area where he did a lot of his early performing. ”I’m looking forward to playing new venues in markets where “Ghosts“ got extensive airplay and returning to venues to play again for old friends and fans”, said Rosenthal. “It’s also a privilege to make music with Charlie, Bobby, and Warren.”
Press quotes:
“There is no perfect love but there is damn near perfect old time Americana swing here, the affectionate dance prevails, giddy yet tender it heals… These are songs that seem to talk to each different one of us they are immediate in their connection yet their caress abides long after the player has stopped spinning.” – THE NEXT BIG THING“Be it ballads or rather rocking titles such as Inside Your Skull, this musician masters all facettes.” –Bruno Michel – CMJ
“I have a soft spot for Toke (pet name for those in the in crowd), he is one of those great musicians thats just keeps coming up with great music.” Simon Barrett – USA TODAY/BNN
“ ‘Did we really start that war… did they really lie about what for?’, Tokyo asks over a dramatic fusion of swirling fiddle and bombastic drums.” – COUNTRY MUSIC PEOPLE MAGAZINE
TOKYO HAPPENINGS:
* Toke will be touring the West Coast beginning in January 2011 and playing LA for the first time since 1993.
* Tokyo has begun work on a new album that is scheduled to be released in the late spring of 2011.
* Toke’s last CD, “Ghosts”, is being considered for a Grammy nomination in the Contemporary Folk Album category!
“A clear hint at the mistakes politicians and the economy leaders constantly make”~Bruno Michel – CMJ
“ ‘Did we really start that war… did they really lie about what for?’, Tokyo asks over a dramatic fusion of swirling fiddle and bombastic drums.” – COUNTRY MUSIC PEOPLE MAGAZINE
Award winning singer/songwriter Tokyo Rosenthal announced today that in light of the hard economic times the world over that he would offer free downloads of his original recording, “Mister Tell Me ‘Bout The Great Depression”. This is being done in conjunction with Rosenthal’s record label, Rock & Sock Records and is available on Rosenthal’s web site www.tokyorosenthal.com. The song also appears on Tokyo’s latest CD, “Ghosts“, which recently was #5 on The Euro Americana Chart, and has received rave reviews and airplay the world over.
Rosenthal’s tune documents the causes for the economic turmoil that has become a global phenomenon. “It was inspired by the stories my grandfather, ‘Poppy Jack‘, used to tell me about the 1929-1939 Depression,” said Rosenthal. “But this song is about now. And it’s futuristic. Picture a young man sitting on the door step of his neighbor asking what happened back in 2009-2010. Hopefully he’s not saying 2009-2019!”
Critics such as No Depression said, “It’s a song for these times, for all time, and big thanks to him for writing it.” Americana UK was even more direct as they said,”Epic!, This song truly has balls”.
Rosenthal felt that offering the tune at no charge was the best way to get his message across and at the same time make it affordable to all who want to have it and pass it on. “I hope people the world over take advantage of this opportunity and both like the song musically and relate to some if not all of what I’m saying,” Tokyo added.
Rosenthal, along with Charlie Chamberlain on mandolin and guitar, just completed his fourth tour of the United Kingdom and his planning a 40 city US Tour beginning in late August. For more information log on to www.tokyorosenthal.com and www.myspace.com/tokyorosenthal.
“‘Mister Tell Me’ why this next song shouldn’t be a miracle of a cross over hit, just enough rough, just enough dirt, the smile this induces, is an intimate thing.” ~THE NEXT BIG THING
“Rosenthal can draw you into his lyrics much the same way that James Taylor and Don Henley can”.
“Take Jackson Brownes’ personal confessions and wrap them in Kris Kristofferson’s world weary tales of broken relationships and you have an idea of what to expect from Tokyo Rosenthal.”
“This is Americana with real teeth in the lyrics”
This and more is what the critics are saying about Tokyo Rosenthal. But it wasn’t an overnight trip. Hardly, as “Toke” has spanned the music scene for three decades. But it was in 2007 when recognition finally reached him through the recording of his CD, “One Score And Ten”.
In a career that started with the country rock boom, Rosenthal has honed his craft and “rootsy/ Americana with a little blues thrown in” sound to perfection. His recent move to Chapel Hill, North Carolina has allowed him to team up with the famed producer and recording star Chris Stamey in the studio.
While content to let the critics compare his style to others Tokyo doesn’t hesitate to point out his influences, who include The Band, The Byrds, The Indigo Girls, Gene Clark, Emmylou Harris, and believe it or not Janis Joplin. Toke’s version of “Piece Of My Heart” always sets off a crowd reaction.
In 2008 Rosenthal released a new CD entitled “Love Won Out”, that featured the single “St. Patrick’s Day”, to critical acclaim. This CD broke into the charts reaching #11 on the Euro Americana Chart, #14 on the Far Chart and #10 on the North Carolina Roots chart. He completed a Northeast US tour in March and a UK tour in April of that year. In August of that year he toured Japan and debuted in The Netherlands in October. In November Toke was back in New York City followed by Woodstock and Boston and then made a “Heartland” tour from North Carolina to Texas and back, headlining along the way at the World Music United Festival in San Marcos.
He began 2009 with the release of the timely and moving single, “Mister Tell Me ‘Bout The Great Depression”. Then he returned to Holland and Scotland for two weeks in February for a radio concert tour. This was followed by Germany in the spring and another tour of the UK in the fall. And of course he played all over North Carolina while recording his next album, “Ghosts”, that was released in January 2010. His most successful release to date, “Ghosts”, reached #5 on the Euro Americana Chart and the critical acclaim and US airplay was overwhelming. “Toke” then once again toured the North East U.S. with the highlight being his headlining at the world famous Bitter End in New York City. Toke then completed “UK Tour IV”. Extensive US touring is on the agenda for the balance of 2010. Always writing and always gigging, his musical journey continues.
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