Chancellorpink's 2008 release "Valentine Parade" is a perfect suite of songs for the broken-hearted and a nice antidote for anyone who wants to avoid loved-up couples on Valentine's Day.Inspired by that which he says inspires all great writers - 'alcohol and broken hearts' - Chancellorpink has crafted a record full of rich vocal harmonies, filtered, staccato guitar lines and heartfelt lyrics.
Look into your heart."An amalgam of David Bowie, Scott Walker and Stephin Merritt. It becomes clear that McLaughlin (who wrote, produced and played everything) is a man of singular vision." ~ David Cowling, Americana UK (Mar 19, 2008)"Personal and real. An interesting, disjointed, calm sort of rage, of the sort that tends to come after heartbreak." ~ Joe Mackey, PopMatters (Apr 3, 2008)"An adventure in sound recalling the glam of Bowie and gloom of Nick Cave with vocals that are, by turns, pretty and pretty eerie.
'~ Scott Mervis, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Feb 14, 2008)"The perfect moment is reached for 'Mrs. Kowalski' where McLaughlin's yearning vocals are balanced against rattlingly intense guitars. It's a terrific song by anyone's standards." ~ Jonathan Leonard, Leonard's Lair (UK) (Mar 13, 2008)"The pop-music landscape would be a lot less exciting if there weren't Chancellorpinks on the outskirts, doing just this sort of thing."~ Andy Mulkerin, Pittsburgh City Paper (Jan 31, 2008)"You're supposed to feel this one, not just listen to it. And that's just what happens."~ Michael Lidskin, Twirl Radio, Sacramento (Apr 11, 2008)"A love letter you have kept tucked away in your closet or an old chest all these years. McLaughlin has a magic for changing the mood with the chimes of his voice and heart strings."~ Chris Knowles, U.C.I.S. (Jan 31, 2008)Bio: From Humble Beginnings Come Humble MiddlesAs a boy, he wanted to be a magician and a ventriloquist. But he couldn't hide the secret or throw his voice.
So he took to music, mostly culled from mom's record club collection. Movie soundtracks like "The Graduate" and LPs from crooners like Tom Jones, Andy Williams, Noel Harrison.
Cross-legged on the sofa, he grasped his shin-bones in both hands and rocked furiously back and forth, while the wax spun under the needle. While mom ironed and dusted, he rocked and dreamed. And while the drapes danced in a breeze, his little boy mind mumbled, "Life is real, and I'm alive."45 singles also dug their way in. Some cut from the backs of cereal boxes. Others chosen after a listen or two on the AM radio. Yes, he needed THAT song. So he sang it for the record store man: "Come on, you have to have it. I think it's new... 'Those were the days my friend, we thought they'd never end...'"One day our failed magician was given an organ and a play-by-number songbook filled with Bacharach/David tunes. And though he drew moustaches and Satan eyes on Burt and Hal, he loved that songbook.
Eventually someone gave him a tape recorder. And this day probably seemed harmless enough.
But from humble beginnings...He'd sing made-up words he didn't understand. Grown-up words about love, war, poverty. Stuff the AM radio and Burt Bacharach had taught him to sing. "Must be the way to go."Mom eventually bought him a pretty-white, righty Jackson Soloist, and though he played lefty, he simply had it re-strung and played it upside down. "I am right-handed, after all, so how could mom have known?" In his ...
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