Tokyo Rosenthal - Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church

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Tokyo Rosenthal - Love Won Out

Tokyo Rosenthal - Love Won Out - An Americana Daily Review

I discovered Tokyo Rosenthal the way many people discover new artists; via the internet. And, in one of those funny little twists of fate that people sometimes call coincidence, his new CD, Love Won Out, found its way into my player.

The first thing that strikes you about Tokyo Rosenthal is his name; it conjures up all kinds of images. And, the second thing is that he writes in all kinds of styles. He's bloozy, jazzy, folky, country and a little bit funky rock and roll. His picture on the cover even looks bloozy, jazzy, folky, country and a little bit funky rock and roll.

Tokyo Rosenthal is a gifted singer-songwriter who goes wherever the songs take him. From the opening riff on St. Patrick's Day, he follows the songs through jingle-jangle folkland, cool-late-60's Morrison (Van) jazzland, cool-late-'60's Morrison (Jim) jazzland, straight on through to 21st century anthemville with the title cut, Love Won Out, a head-on blues number with a dead-on message about gay-rights.

By the end of the journey, he's traveling through time as well as sound, ending up back near the beginning with a West-Coast country-folkrock ballad that could have been penned in 1968, Goodnight Carrie, I'm Coming Home.

With production assistance from Chris Stamey (a legendary musician/producer himself) and a solid group of players behind him, Tokyo Rosenthal's Love Won Out is a journey worth taking. Join him.

Tokyo Rosenthal
Love Won Out
Rock and Sock Records - © 2008 Bronx Flash Music
Reviewed for Americana Daily by s j welker

Tokyo Rosenthal - New CD and Tour

North Carolina-based Americana songwriter, performer and former boxer Tokyo Rosenthal, who in fact isn't Japanese but as American as you can get, has a new CD, 'Love Won Out'.

Produced by Tokyo with additional production by indie music legend Chris Stamey, Rosenthal's new CD, featuring the single "St. Patrick's Day" and the title track "Love Won Out", was recorded at Stamey's Modern Recording studio, along with Chris who plays bass and harmonium and Alex Little on bass, guest artists on 'Love Won Out' include Brent Lambert (slide guitar), Bobby Britt (violin) and Jeff Taylor (flute). Also featured is Al Perkins on pedal steel guitar, who is best known for his work with the Flying Burrito Bros and Steven Still's Mannassas.

"Tokyo Rosenthal can draw you into his lyrics much the same way that James Taylor and Don Henley can - This is Americana with real teeth lyrics!"

Hardly an overnight success, "Toke" has spanned the music scene for three decades recording and touring the world over. He's released an EP and last year's critically acclaimed smash CD 'One Score and Ten', in which one music reviewer hailed as "one of the years's best albums, no matter what the genre!" The pinnacle of Rosenthal's recent acheivements came with the receiving of the keys to the city of Edmonton in Canada. This honor was bestowed upon Rosenthal in January 2007 by the city's mayor for Toke's song "Edmonton" as an award for cultural and artistic contributions to Alberta's capital city. "I was playing this club in Stamford, CT that had adopted the Edmonton Oilers as their Stanley Cup team during the 2006 playoffs," says Tokyo. "It seemed that everytime I would play 'Edmonton' the Oilers would score. Pretty soon they had me playing the song over and over during the playoffs and the song took on a whole different rhythm... Soon it was on the radio in Alberta and I was getting the key to the city from the mayor for writing it."

Proceeding Tokyo's prestigious award for "Edmonton" came a month long tour of Canada. The artist made many TV and radio appearances along with an opening slot for several nights in Toronto for Rock 'n' Roll Hall Of Famer and former Byrd and Burrito Brother, Chris Hillman. Tokyo was personally picked by Hillman to share the bill. "As a kid, he was my idol," gleams Toke, "Opening for him was like going to fantasy camp!" He also opened for the likes of America, Rick Roberts and Come On In My Kitchen in additon to headlining shows. His recent festival work includes The Edmonton Fringe Festival, The Carrboro Music Festival and Tyler's Americana Festival. Likewise, Tokyo recently completed a successful tour of Great Britain including an appearance on the BBC.

"There's fake country music and then there's Tokyo Rosenthal!"

While content to let the critics compare his style to others, Tokyo doesn't hesitate to point out his influences, including The Band, The Byrds, 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. Always on the move, Tokyo Rosenthal just arrrived back home after several successful gigs in Japan. With the release of "Love Won Out", Toke's preparing to tour the US in November along with making several live radio appearances. He will be performing at the upcoming World Music United 2008 festival, as well as a tour of UK, Scotland, the Netherlands and US Heartland Tour. For upcoming tour dates and more info on Tokyo Rosenthal visit his website: www.TokyoRosenthal.com

Tokyo Rosenthal's 'Love Won Out' is available from independent CD retailers in the US and Canada, as well as his official website.