SNIPPETS 1 - Robin Frederick Review of Water Falls Down (the album): "I love it! Musically mystical and evocative with enough body grounding groove to balance it. Lyrically cliché-free with some profound observations ("The part of you that knows hates the part of you that needs.") ... effortlessly walks the road between emotion and intellect, the abstract and concrete. 'Let's Go Bowling' and 'You are Here' made me smile. Can't wait for volume 2." ~John Braheny; author, The Craft And Business Of Songwriting" 2 FACTS: Robin Frederick used to be a staff songwriter at Walt Disney. She is a massive fan of - and an acknowledged expert on - the late British singer-songwriter Nick Drake, whose version of her song "Been Smokin' Too Long" is better known than Robin's own. 2 - Laine Review of Close The Door: "great vocal timbre, wonderful pitch, passion is certainly felt and heard. Harmonies are well done and really fit the pocket. Wonderful flowing melody, great performance." ~Garageband review 2 FACTS: Laine's successes include several songs featured in the film "The Second Degree", plus a category win in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest 2001. Based in LA, Laine is half French and half Greek. 3 - John Paul Sharp Review of Perhaps Just Maybe: "The melodic content is catchy and just makes me feel happy..there is a subtle hint of gloom in the mood. The singer has great range and pitch, his voice is full of passion and soul, his lyrics are reflective and heartfelt." ~Garageband review 2 FACTS: John Paul Sharp's songs have received multiple awards at Garageband.com. From a musical family, he lives in Denver, Colorado, where he began writing songs before he was ten years old. 4 - Frankie Ho Review of Neptune Retrograde: "flawless production! Sounds are flying all over the place throughout this track... Really does remind me of the Underwater Sunlight days of Tangerine Dream. Excellent use of stereo scape/panning. The sounds enclosed in this track are all very unique and have their own space." ~Garageband review 2 FACTS: Frankie Ho is better known in his native Hong Kong as a composer of stage musicals and operas. He also does a nice line in classical telephone ringtones. 5 - Peter Kearns Review of "What The Angel Said": "Gloriously ominous strings, perfect vocal harmonies and mysterious lyrics combine beauty and unease with inspired expertise - the flattened 2nd in melody and harmony lines providing the door to another musical dimension." ~Garageband review 2 FACTS: Peter is a longtime collaborator with Dee Long, BC based founding member of Klaatu (the band that was mistaken for a secret Beatles reunion in 1973). For a year or two he also collaborated with legendary American record producer Kim Fowley. 6 - Woodstock Taylor Review: "Very good band, very good song. Good singing, playing. Interesting song . I think it's VERY creative. Good lyrics! The best thing about you is you sound original. The vocal talent here and the instrumental talent will make anything you do work. This song is great, the hook is memorable and the feeling, the mood is ...very cool!!" ~Garageband review of Woodstock Taylor's "Right Thing" 2 FACTS: Woodstock's "Happening" is a brand new reworking of a song originally produced by UK 60s legend Zoot Money; the track also features Money on keyboards and Van Morrison sideman Ronnie Johnson on guitar. Prior to choosing music as a full-time career, Woodstock, who is half French and half British, was a journalist and broadcaster. 7 - Richard Kapp Review: "oh that voice: Richard Kapp has a voice with the natural as it is of Lou Reed, but he also sings as sweetly resonant and deeply rich as Divine Comedy's Neil Hannon. The lyrics are fantastic. Lifting, sarcastic, moody and catchy all at once." ~ Gordon Bell of Ripping Tracks on Richard Kapp's "Sitting On My Hands" 2 FACTS: Richard is the drummer in Viennese rock band Nicht King Kong. By day he works as a graphic artist, and he designed all the artwork for the CD Hope Never Dies (he also came up with the title). 8 - Suede Pudding Review of "A Note That's Just You": "Good songwriting! Well played, good singer with an 'I'm talking to you' voice. Nice melody, good arrangement. Each section is well distinguished from the other, an apparently dying art called structure." ~Garageband review 2 FACTS: DIY computer musicians Suede Pudding's members gig in various bands around the New York City area, including performing covers for the NY Islanders. Lead singer and songwriter Gregg Gavitt is also one of the co-conspirators in the Internet collaboration group Jose O'Cohen (Track 14). 9 - Steve Ison Review of "I Know A Good Thing": "This song offers up an awesome twist of 60s psychedelic folk/rock with some urbane, jazzy precision. The lyrics are well-written and the phrasing of the words works well. Those "oooh ahhhhs" that kick in around (1:08) slay me. That was perfect. To continue that "oooh ahhh" thing and have the backing vocals resolve at (1:29) had me thinking 'do that again!' ... I've heard quite a few songs here that I wished were shorter. I wish this one was longer. Thanks for the listen." ~Garageband review 2 FACTS: Steve is employed as a music support worker in the city of Birmingham, England, where he works with special needs groups. Steve's open mind and ear for a good tune have earned him considerable respect as a reviewer across the online indie scene. 10 - Charas Review: "Good harmonies, a pop sensibility with a folk rock vibe to this track. I love the harp at the tail end with the guitar solo especially. Reminds me a bit of a Peter Gabriel arrangement (a very good thing)." ... "I like everything about this song, the singer, the melody, the guitars, drums . .bass . . the words are well thought out. I can tell the lyricist writes a lot." ~Garageband reviews for Charas' song "Signs" 2 FACTS: The Charas song Too Late was written by lead singer Shankarji as a tribute to his late father. Hampshire-based Shankarji has travelled extensively, including visits to Nepal. 11 - Stoopid Genius Review: "This song is perfectly balanced with regerd to instrumental relationship. There is a small touch of that 'thing' that is present in all independent bands that make them sound, well, indie. I don't know specifically what it is, usually it is the lyrics or vocal performance, which may be true a little here...I do really like the blend of vocal stylings within the song. That adds some real character." ~Garageband review of Stoopid Genius track "Rockinghorse Dreams" 2 FACTS: One of the members of Stoopid Genius is a giant puppet called Nedger. Four of the other members also play in Christian hard rock band Rock Of The Ages. 12 - Isenho Review of "Shining Star": "Upbeat! This is one of those good ol' car tunes, you know the kind you can relax to when driving down the road. Good production, everything flows nicely. The lyrics are good too! ...Interesting vocals, not your typical everyday sound, I like. Keep rocking!" ~Garageband review 2 FACTS: Isenho lead singer, Melbourne-based Frank Boner, hosts the Australian online music site, Bonemachine.com. The idea for Independent Artist Aid was prompted by a comment by Frank on an Internet messageboard, and this whole project has snowballed from there. So he's the one to blame. 13 - Back Bone Shiver Review: "The hypnotic beat drew me in a like a riptide. This has an intriguing blend of indie rock/ Radiohead-esque experimentation and originality in the mood and instrumentation (those multi-faceted guitars!), with a touch of 60s garage rock defiance in the melody and vocal delivery (the 60s invasion Brit boy-type vocal is first-rate), plus the loud-soft arrangement of modern alt-rock. ... Very catchy chorus with an excellent high-range riff. Solid production, good lyrics. Bonus points for mood. Very good melody on the chorus." ~Garageband review of Back Bone Shiver's track "Insect" 2 FACTS: Back Bone Shiver protagonist MJ is the driving force behind music site and Internet radio station PlanetOfSound.tk. He also runs Yomp! Records, who recently released "Ear Candy", a compilation of songs by indie musicians, several of whom also feature on "Hope Never Dies." 14 - Jose O'Cohen Review of "To Learn To Love": "This song is a cool track. It has an addictive sound to it. I actually played it a couple times. I really like the combination of the drums and the bass. The vocals are very soothing. Keep up the good work guys. Are you guys from England? Good Harp." ~Garageband review 2 FACTS: Jose O'Cohen is the result of an Internet collaboration by Garageband.com musicians featuring Suede Pudding's Gregg Gavitt and multi-instrumentalist Yvette Stephens. Flute and cello-playing Yvette is a member of no fewer than five online musical "collabs" at Garageband. 15 - The Box Review of Pretty Little Birdy: "Slow groove. Oh man, and then those horns come in. And they're great. Vocal reminds me of Stevie Wonder when he was good...'Pretty little' song. Great instrumentation all around." ~Garageband review 2 FACTS: The band's name originated from the original members playing in a tiny little room the size of a box. Bassist "of Mass Destruction" Dave Wimpelberg was one of the co-founders, along with current bandmate Chuck, of Long Island-based cover band "The Locals," now known as The 70's Experience. 16 - Elvis Ate My Goat Review of "I Gotta Know": "Really cool groove in this tune. Awesome vocals with great harmonies!! It's definitely an infectious track. ...The bass is slap happy and solid, the drums are funky and tight, and the vocals rock!" ~Garageband review 2 FACTS: EAMG is an internet collaboration between Florida-based CJ Denecia, one of Garageband's star reviewers, and Arizona-based Deano Nickel. The name, Elvis Ate My Goat, was coined by Shankarji (Charas, Track 10) who won an online poll for suggestions. 17 - Sachi Review of "Lost In My World": "The vocals are very sweet in this tune. Finally some harmonies!! The singer has a voice that's very easy to listen to. It's hard not to get drawn into the hook. The addition of the keyboards was a nice touch. It gave it a nice solo section, like something out of the mid 70's. good musicianship and nicely arranged. Good job!!" ~Garageband review 2 FACTS: Reviewers have called the music a cross between No Doubt and Metallica. Sachi means good fortune and happiness: "I am half Japanese and wanted to take something from my ethnic background to use in the band," says lead vocalist and keyboardist Melissa Pinion. For more information, contact Woodstock Taylor or Don Spradlin via contact link at http://independentartistaid.tk (contact telephone numbers available on request to bona fide media representatives)