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The Cruzeros – Scandalosa (Maplemusic/Universal) – Kelowna’s Cruzeros tell stories of real people and real life all dressed up in a variety of musical fashions. The Way It Is Around Here celebrates small town life and traditional values as a steel guitar two - steps with mandolin and harmonica. The guitar driven country rock and environmentally friendly message of Don’t Drink The Water shines as bright as any Steve Earle song. Sensitive numbers This Lucky and November 11 – a Celtic ballad about lead singer Barry Mathers Uncle Bob who lost a leg in WWII – would have made the cut on a Townes Van Zandt album. Mathers delivers his well-written words with a powerful voice that sounds like it’s spent many an intimate night with Jack Daniels. The Cruzeros also know how to have fun and they prove it on lively numbers such as the Texas Tornados style title track and the trucker anthem Load Me Up. In stores July 19th.
**** out of *****
Peter North, The Edmonton Journal
"With tips of the hat to everything from Steve Earle, the Beat Farmers and Buddy Holly, Scandalosa impresses in the writing department and for it's lasting sonic imprint"
Larry Delaney, Country Music News
"While much of the album has a hard edge, there's enough variety including some soft touches in the Barry Mathers songs Helplessly, and the album's lead single, November 11th, an ode to a war scarred uncle.The new single release from the album is a trucker's tale in the power driven Load Me Up; all of which help make Scandalosa the most complete album in the Cruzeros trilogy of disc's to date...and that would be saying something considering that their El Niño album, released in 2000, yielded some seven charted singles"
Charlie Hodge, The Okanagan Musician
"Scandalosa has been getting rave reviews from anyone who heard the pre release version. Produced by the amazing Joe Hardy, as well as the Cruzeros, Scandalosa is undoubtedly one of the best albums produced anywhere in the country this year. It's a must have."
HE CRUZEROS: Scandalosa (Cruzaroo)
Bruce Mitchell, The Capital News
It has been a few years in the making but Kelowna's own Cruzeros have finally released the follow up to their critically acclaimed and award winning El Nino album. That previous CD was in part a loving tribute to the passing of founding member Curtis Tulman's son Lucas to cancer and those warm sentiments and subsequent careful attention to detail were prevalent on El Nino. Scandalosa again offers absolutely top notch musicianship and superb songs with tight attention to craft but Scandalosa is also more of a party album. The Cruzeros annual family holidays to Mexico have really paid off where this disc opens with the masterful title track that features sprightly Tex Mex country rock and glorious mariachi horns. After this, songwriter Barry Mathers offers his warm home grown thoughts on The Way It Is Around Here that harkens back to their last hit This Old Road while denouncing the negative economic impacts of big box retail stores. But Party songs include a loopy take of Wooly Bully that has some cool Texas psychedelia as if the lads had found an old 13th Floor Elevators garage album. The humorous crowd pleaser Cowboy Boots is a novelty rocker that features former Georgia Satellites guitarist Dan Baird while The Mavericks would have died to have written the Tex Mex groover The Way You're Lookin' At Me. There are also some superb ballads with the Steve Earle like Rosalita while the most thoughtful song titled Nov. 11th is a gorgeous Celtic styled tribute to WWII veterans that I am sure Spirit Of The West fans would adore. The lead off single on this deeply rich CD is the fabulous truck-rock song Load Me Up that has great commercial timing given the #1 status of the like minded Road Hammers' debut release. This marvellous slice of country rock has remarkably tight and dynamic musicianship of the sort that was undoubtedly forged in the crucible of literally thousands of gigs playing to sodden bar patrons. This sure fire hit, where the upcoming CMT video features the B.C. Lions cheer leaders, was co-produced by world renowned studio ace Joe Hardy of ZZ Top, Colin James and Steve Earle fame. There is going to be a CD release party on Saturday night May 28th at The Corner Pin Inn with doors opening at 7:30 and it is expected The Cruzeros will reveal the last piece of the puzzle re: a deal with a major, world wide distributor. Finally, El Nino and Scandalosa are brilliant back to back releases and proves why The Cruzeros are held by many fellow musicians and critics to be the best roots rock, alt-country band in Canada. Scandalosa is an absolute treat and ought to put them on mainstages like Merritt in the future. ****1/2
John Gavin, Atlantic Seabreeze
The Cruzeros, a roots/country band from B.C. and winners of The Indies Country Album of the year in 2002 for their amazing CD entitled, EL NINOand CCMA Group of The Year and Socan Song of The Year in 2003/2004, have just released their follow-up album entitled, SCANDALOSA.
Listening to this fine album, there is no doubt that this album will sweep the CCMA 2005 awards in September. Already the band and their music have received an amazing number of nominations for 2005. Their album, El Nino was included in the top 12 albums produced in 2000.
This album, Scandalosa, contains 10 original songs and even includes the famous song entitled, WOLLY BULLY made famous by Sam The Sham back many years ago. The band does a superb job with the song.
BARRY MATHERS, front man with the band, is a well-known songwriter and penned most of the songs on the CD. One particular track on the CD is entitled, NOVEMBER 11 and written by Barry and dedicated to private Robert Mathers, Barry's Uncle. And what a well-written tribute song! This song will certainly be a song to play and remember on November 11. Another song on the album written by Barry entitled, LOAD ME UP , is a truck driver lament and will be a hit among all truck drivers. This song is the first single release to radio.
Here are the song titles: Scandalosa-The Way It Us Around Here-Don't Drink The Water-Cowboy Boots-Helplessly-Stuck With It-The Way You're Lookin' at Me-Rosalita-November 11th-Load Me Up-Wooly Bully and This Lucky.
The Cruzeros are Barry Mathers, Curtis Tulman-Jim Pa Ryan and Gary Smyth. The CD was produced and engineered by Joe Hardy (ZZ Top-Steve Earle and The George Satellites).
The CD ranks high on Atlantic Seabreeze listings and awards 5 stars to this fine CD. For more information regarding The Cruzeros and their music and how to obtain the CD, refer to their website, address posted above.
www.AtlanticSeabreeze.com
Freight Train Boogie, Santa Rosa, California
THE CRUZEROS (4 stars)
El Nino ... (Blue Leaf Music)
As a jaded music journalist, I've come across just about every musical hybrid and genre splice you could ever think of. Mongolian blues band? Heard that. Moroccan polka reggae? What, again? Brazilian space-rock? Been done. I've heard it all. Or, at least I thought I did. Until I heard the Cruzeros. Get ready......the Cruzeros are a Canadian roots rock band who happen to favor a Mexican sound. Of course, you might have realized this from the CD title and the band name, but, hey....I'm a little slow sometimes. Vocalist/guitarist Barry Mathers is pretty much the leader here, writing the lion's share of the songs with and without his bandmates. Mathers and the rest of the band craft a pretty solid CD of radio-ready country mixed with a substantial bit of cantina. In fact, it sounds more like authentic (whatever that means) Texas music than most of the country music currently coming from Texas. The production, by Bill Buckingham and the band is very good, nothing lo-fi here. If I were to make a comparison I would say a Canadian version of our own Texas Tornadoes. Very good and I hope they get the attention Stateside that they deserve.
True West Magazine, Larry Johns
El Niño, The Cruzeros, Blue Leaf Music
The Cruzeros blend an infectious combination of 70's style country rock ad Texas Tornados-flavored country sounds - think nitty Gritty Dirt Band with a little more dirt and a good shot of south of the border hot sauce thrown in for good measure. Voted the "2002 Best Independent Country Music Album" in Canada, the cd still garners critical acclaim in Canada and the US.
The Province/Vancouver, B.C./John MacLaughlin
Kelowna's Cruzeros are Canada's finest roots/Americana band and with a little luck will be as big or bigger south of the border as Prarie Oyster should have been. Canadian roots meister Fred Eaglesmith is a big fan and you will be too.
Fred Eaglesmith
The Cruzeros are the best band I have seen in ten years! Very good songwriters and great performers. They should be very optimistic about their new cd El Nino.
Country Music News/West Coast Country by Jim Brown/September, 2001
Back in January, 2001, when CMN record reviewer Larry Delaney, selected The Cruzeros' El Nino among his "Delaney's Dozen" Best Albums of year 2000, little did he know that the release of this terrific album would be delayed, and delayed, and delayed, by a series of minor and major disasters in the record Group spokesman Barry Mathers told me recently, that in a way, The Cruzeros had been blessed by not having gone with a recently 'bankrupt' distributor. That blessing aside, once the group's second album is heard, the word will really be out . In my estimation this is the best new album by any Canadian band during the past 12 months. Bar none. Delaney was right on with his call.
In the spirit of the best country rock of the 70's, Mathers and bandmates Curtis Tulman and Jim Ryan have made a record that rocks, but never forgets its roots. And during the time that has passed since it was mailed to the media and radio, critical acclaim has been pouring in...and not just from the critics. Fred Eaglesmith has called The Cruzeros "the best band I have heard in years". Richard Flohil has called the CD "a fresh gust of warm air that is going to blow in from Kelowna', and predicted that this ought to bring the band to national attention. Which, when translated, means recognition in Toronto, where The Cruzeros have not played all that much, even though they have charted five Top 40 singles, four hit videos on CMT and been nominated for a Juno award.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, The Cruzeros have been playing to packed houses and Cruzeromania has been building in the same way that The Beatles built up their early fan base.
When the group's self-titled album was released in 1996, the band was 'ragged but right'. Since the addition of ex-Patricia Conroy band bassist Jim Ryan their harmonies have got sweeter and their stage show has steadily improved.
Barry Mathers' songwriting has also grown and numbers like This Old Road and Tangled Up In You are as close as it gets to contemporary songs in the tradition of the songwriter's heroes, Townes Van Zandt and Guy Clark.
Mathers' collaborations with Curtis Tulman and Jim Ryan on songs like Am I Losing You and Close As It Gets To Goodbye are just as good. Perhaps the best offering on this terrific CD however, is the set closer, Beautiful What's Her Name.
This CD may be too good to be recognized within Canadian borders where radio worships the made-in-Nashville label and record companies regularly flog tired old formulatic records made by foreign superstars and cloned teenyboppers. El Nino would better fit the Americana format that is viable in the U.S. but rarely played here.
Still, Curtis Tulman believes the band can make it based in Kelowna, B.C. where they are hugely popular. And Mathers confirms that the band will be attending CM Week in Calgary. "It's a great time to get together with all our friends in the music industry and hang out for a couple of days", says Barry. "The Cruzeros have been nominated for Independent Group Of The Year, El Nino is nominated for Album Graphics, and Curtis Tulman is nominated for Special Instrument in the All-Star Band category. It's nice to be back".
If you would like to subscribe to this great publication, phone Larry Delaney at (613) 745-6006 or fax (613) 745-0576
The Leader Post/Regina, Saskatchewan/Gerry Krochak/August, 2001
The Cruzeros are a band that has rediscovered its roots. The Kelowna-based group admittedly first made a name for itself in amongst the cluttered and confused world of pop-country with its self-titled debut in 1996.
But even after five charting Canadian country singles, singer -guitarist Barry Mathers and guitarist-singer Curtis Tulman wanted something more for the band they had invested the last 16 years into."We're being inspired by people like Steve Earle and Lucinda Williams these days. Americana is a really cool style down in the states right now and it's (derivative) of what we've been listening to."We basically like songs that are well written and not over-produced."The result of a philosophy that has seen the band dust off a few old Johnny Cash tunes for its live show has also resulted in a new album that's as comfortable as a well-worn pair of shoes.
El Nino showcases and exposes the group's folk-roots-country-Americana-Canadiana and bluegrass heart. Cuts such as "Tangled Up In You" , "Dig Myself Out Of This Hole" , "This Old Road" (the album's first single and video) and "Am I Losing You" are the kinds of songs Mathers feels most comfortable writing.
"We had quite a vast collection of tunes for the (latest) record," he offers. "And I like to just kind of think of these songs as Cruzeros songs. I mean, I write a lot of different kinds of music. I've been listening to Neil Young all my life and I kind of learned that it's OK to do that."
The release of the new album means even more to Mathers and Tulman when you consider the sad days they needed to get through while it was being made. El Nino means The Child and the record is dedicated to the memory of Tulman's young son Lukas, who passed away to complications of cancer before the album was finished.
Within the grooves of the new album, it's easy to feel the love and joy as well as the sadness and pain of such a tight knit group of musicians. Mathers and Tulman, along with Jim (Pa) Ryan (bass, keyboards and accordian) and Craig Wilson (drums) love to write and sing and play, but more importantly, their best friends.
Nothing means more to the guys that getting out on the road to play for a gathering of fellow music fans as well as the new friends they seem to make with every tour stop. "The tour has been going really well," Mathers says. "I think people are wanting something a little more authentic and we've got some real nice three-part harmony stuff happening."
"What we're finding is that if we do what we do best, people are listening. For the most part we're trying to get into places where people are interested in listening to music. Its not about putting on a big show for us. We have a lot of fun playing, but there are no line-dance moves involved.
The Record/Richard Flohil/November, 2000
...this record by a rootsy British Columbia country band is available as advance warning that a fresh gust of warm air is going to blow in from Kelowna. Rife with accordian parts, harmonica runs, killer West Coast sidemen and original songs that are as comfy as old shoes, this ought to bring the band to national attention. Am I Losing You has already gone to country radio, who should check out several of the others that make the charts down the road - This Old Road, the jaunty Dig Myself Out of This Hole and the final honkytonk rave up, Beautiful Whats Her Name, which closes out the disc.Instrumentally, vocally and attitude wise, this is a very pleasant suprise on the CanCon country indie scene.
Country Music News,/Ottawa, Ontario, /Record Reviews by LARRY DELANEY August, 2000
Five year waits in-between album releases usually spell disaster for an act's recognition in the music marketplace -- there are exceptions to the rule, and The Cruzeros prove that point here with El Nino, an album that borders on being one of the most creative on the Canadian music scene in years. El Nino is not bubble-gum, champagne and roses...this is gutsy, gritty, and sometimes even grimy. What a wonderful change from that assembly line Pop/Pretty Boy/Country stuff that has engulfed our airwaves and CD players in recent time.
El Nino is chock full of goodies and is basically built around the crafty songwriting talents and crusty vocal work of Barry Mathers; joined of course by partner Curtis Tulman and sidekick Jim Ryan (Jay Terrence and guitarist John Carter are also featured on the recording). Barry Mathers must have been super-inspired with his songwriting for this project as there are some genuine nuggets here -- none better than the hardcore country-hurtin' song Believe Me I Know (Mathers will have earned the respect of every pure-country songwriter in the business with this offering).
The album runs the full gamut of emotions and style -- there's some 'hurt' and there's some 'fun'. The mix makes for a really enjoyable listen. Piece of Stone is a bouncy effort combining touches of a Tex-Mex sound with an arrangement something akin to The Beatles...it works to perfection and sets the pace for the rest of the album. Tangled Up in You has a volatile, raunchy Texas Swing feel; while Close As It Gets To Goodbye makes good use of the 'Spanish' flavour that has always been a key to the uniqueness of The Cruzeros, even though the band comes from downtown Kelowna, B.C.
One of the best toe-tapping fun-time tunes to come along on a Canuck album in ages is found in Dig Myself Out Of This Hole -- the bluegrass flavoured arrangement makes it truly an infectious piece of music and it's' made even more ear catchy by the tasty dobro and mandolin licks laid down by guest Robbie Steininger, and some equally welcome b/g vocals by the 'long lost' Rachel Matkin who thankfully is also featured in the same role on several other entries on the album.
Other treasures here come in the soulful Can't Find AWay (a touch of 'Yoakam' on this one); and the macho message tune Not Gonna Get To Close To Me. The album closes with a tongue-in-cheek Beautiful What's Her Name, complete with a bar-room chorale that makes you want to join in on the socializing.
El Nino (it's Spanish for "little boy", and is dedicated to the memory of a young lost loved one), was produced by the members of The Cruzeros with Bill Buckingham, and was totally recorded in Vancouver and area studios, featuring a cast of 'west coast wonders' on instrumental and vocal support.
Bruce Mitchell/The Capital News
There is a bit of sadness and yet a lot of joy to this lovingly created album by Kelowna's favorite sons, The Cruzeros. El Nino is dedicated to founding member Curtis Tulman's son Lukas, who unfortunately passed away after a lengthy illness while much of this disc was being recorded. But what a tribute young Lukas is honoured with in El Nino.
It is a fabulous set of songs and without a doubt one of the best roots country albums I have heard in a few years.
While the love for Lukas inhabits the spirit of this album, it's theme is in the superb opening song, This Old Road, where golden throated songwriter Barry Mathers stakes his claim. He sings... I was born here and I got roots all the way down the line I guess we could do better, if we moved away But there's things here money can't buy that's why I stay On this old road, it always takes me home...and that has always been The Cruzeros credo. They firmly believe they can make a go of it on their own terms based in Kelowna and I do to, once this wondrous disc finds it's way to a larger audience.
There is just a myriad of delights here where Mathers and Co. have come up with the strongest set of songs to date. There are so many marvelous musical embellishments and instrumental suprises from these veterans that elevates this music to the next level and beyond, I might add, most of the cookie cutter fluff currently coming out of Nashville.
Check out the Norteno and Texas overtones of Piece of Stone and its excellent accordian that would put a smile on the face of Flaco Jimenez
Mathers also proves to be a fine story teller on the edgy country rocker Roses and a Cross, while the rustic closer, Beautiful What's Her Name rollicks along with a tongue -in-cheek humour like Guy Clark's classic, Rita Ballou.
Meanwhile there is a heartfelt melody to Mather’s hero, Townes Van Zant, on the world weary Believe Me I Know, that is highlighted by a searing guitar solo.
But the most radio friendly song here is the guitar driven Am I Losing You that should catch programmers attention with its bouyant pace and sly Hank Williams Sr. references.
In El Nino The Cruzeros have proven beyond doubt they are a major market talent lying in wait for the rest of the world to catch up. Some smart A&R agent could make his reputation at a big label with the astute signing of this superb road ready band that is loaded with integrity.
Until then, Curtis Tulman tells The Capital News they are shopping around for a distributor but you can find El Nino at most CD stores in the area. Trust me, this stellar release will be on mine and a lot of suprised country music critics top ten list at the end of this year.
Andre Wetjen/The Daily Courier
The material on El Nino, honed over the past few years both on stage and in the recording studio, is in keeping with the most progressive music coming out of Nashville today. The only difference however, is that The Cruzeros hail from Kelowna and the music features a mix that includes only a dash of country but gobs of a whole lot else.
El Nino's sound combines Tex-Mex, bluegrass, swing and rock, featuring the soaring harmonies of The Cruzeros throughout. It's The Eagles visiting The Texas Tornados, with BR-549 dropping in as well.
The 12 songs on El Nino are even stronger than the ones on The Cruzeros' 1996 self-titled debut album, which scooped a Juno nomination and scored two top 10 singles. Songwriter Barry Mathers has come up with his best tunes to date, and the four he co-wrote with bandmates Curtis Tulman and Jim Ryan could all serve as the album's first single.
The CD, produced by The Cruzeros and Bill Buckingham, was recorded over a two-year span in six different studios. The final mix, although you couldn't describe as dirty, intentionally avoids the squeaky-clean production that plagues so much of what comes out of Nashville today. If you listen hard, you might even catch the occasional off key-note.
One of the best songs here is the opening cut, This Old Road, which Mathers wrote about the road leading up to his childhood home in the hills. Another is Going There With Grace, a true story about an elderly couple that makes you want to believe in romance and fairy tales all over again.
Over all, there isn't a weak song on the album, meaning you can give your cd remote skip button a rest.
Bruce Leperre, Program / Music Director Country 730 CKDM
I would have to say that this is definitely one of the best albums I have heard in this not so young anymore year! The songwirting...the production...the performance...is all top notch. If this album doesn't land at the top of the critic's top ten lists come January there is something definitely wrong. The songs are "real", yet still commercial. Drawing from influences such as Steve Earle, The Mavericks, John Prine, Joe Ely and other "real" artists they have come up with an album full of traditionally influenced attitude driven songs about life that just about anyone will be able to relate to on a lyrical level as well.
Standout tracks which should be considered for a single release include "This Old Road", "Roses and a Cross", "Piece of Stone", "Going There With Grace", "Tangled Up in You", and "Am I Losing You" but this album is so strong you could probably release just about anything (except "Beautiful What's Her Name" which should turn out to be one of those popular live tracks)...especially once you’ve caught the attention of the programmers and listeners with one of the above songs that I have highlited.
Live Performance Review • Fred Eaglesmith Charity Picnic/Port Dover, Ontario August 26 and 27, 2000 Brenda Hazlewood
Many of those attending the Annual Fred Eaglesmith Charity Picnic this past weekend had never before heard of the Cruzeros. However, since Fred had invited them, we could be sure there would be something special about this group. We were not disappointed. I was immediately impressed by their beautiful harmonies ... perhaps the tightest harmony I have ever heard in a live performance. These talented musicians and songwriters had the audience rocking, their music a blend of country, blue grass and folk, with obvious Latino influences. They write of everyday life as viewed and experienced from a well-worn park bench ... sometimes under the bench, sometimes beside it, but most often, planted squarely in the middle ... slivers and all. The audience picked up the lyrics and joined in quickly. Only Barry, Curtis and Pa were able to make the picnic as there was no room in the van for the rest of the band (what they said was "the good looking part").But there was nothing wont in the performances of these three talented and humourous guys. Pa is awesome on the keyboards and can sure keep a soundman hopping ... "Where is the banjo?" Most groups have difficulty in determining the appropriate place for a twelve string in their music ... not the Cruzeros. Curtis' bold and beautiful style could almost be a trademark of their unique sound. And Barry quickly became known as the guy who had had so many girlfriends in his life. He says he had a quick mandolin lessen from Willie P. Bennett over the weekend, though we are sure that none was needed.
Though I promised myself that I would not buy another CD from a festival this summer, I could not resist. And judging from the crowd around the product table after each of their shows, I would guess that a good number of new Cruzeros fans were born this weekend. South Western Ontario sends out a big thank you to B.C. for sharing with us the Cruzeros ... we can't wait to have them back again.
Derek Kortschaga, Music Director CKKR FM
I must say I was really, pleasantly surprised by the new album "El Nino". My favorite so far, and in heavy rotation (28 spins/week) on CKKR, is "NOT GONNA GET TOO CLOSE TO ME"."The 'artist' shines through on this fun-loving sometimes-retro romp. The Cruzeros are the next generation of "The New Traditionalists".
James Richards, Music director CHAT, Medicine Hat
I think The Cruzeros are one of the best independant artists in Canada...