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TERRAMARA HAS BEEN FEATURED > in most local media, including TV, radio, print and on-line. Here's what they have been saying lately:
... Tom Hallett, Pulse of the Twin Cities 
FAN REVIEWS > Read "regular" people's reactions to Terramara's music. No credentials necessary, other than a love of music! {read more}
PRESS MATERIALS > View our electronic press kit online at Sonicbids.com. All press materials copyright ©2005 Terramara. All rights reserved. Not for personal use. |
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This second outing from Bloomington, Minn., quartet Terramara jumps right outta the gate with "Running Down The Avenue," a bright blast of urgent rhythms, insistent vocal harmonies and a sound that's one part Randy Newman, one part Steely Dan, one part Beach Boys and one part pure Minnesota madness. That's a good thing, in case you're wondering. Fronted by singer/keys man Rob Meany, and rounded out by the crack team of Erik Pederson (bass), Karl Koopman (guitars, synth), and drummer Dave Thomas, Terramara purvey their funkified space-jazz influences through a glimmering sheen of pop perfection, and it's nice to see a band that's so revered live lay down a batch of their songs in the studio (in this case, The Terrarium, natch!) that remain this true to their original spirit. Other standouts here include the rolling, hypnotic grooves of "Rise & Fall," which finds the outfit employing a harder-edged guitar sound; the dreamy neo-jazz vibes of "Smoke And Mirrors" (which is kind of a bizarre example of what a love-gone-wrong song co-written by Joe Jackson and Sting—when he still had enough soul to get up and make fun of himself with Frank Zappa on stage—might sound like ... once again, that's a good thing); and the timely, tongue-in-cheek synth-fest, "Virtual Lisa." All in all, a tightly knit, soulful batch of fresh material from a local outfit who have the "Urban Sound of Minneapolis" down to the proverbial "T." Just toss the album's final cut (and title track) in your personal or car stereo, and drive, walk, run, ride a bike, a bus or on a friend's back down Hennepin Avenue—you'll soon discover why Terramara are so qualified to provide your daily soundtrack. Great stuff! Terramara play the CD release show for Four Blocks To Hennepin on Fri. May 20 at the Fine Line, get more info at http://www.terramara.com. — Tom Hallett, Pulse of the Twin Cities
If you thought the parting of Spymob meant there weren't any good Steely Dan-loving bands left in town, then you obviously haven't heard the new Terramara CD. Titled "Four Blocks to Hennepin," the sophomore album is a piano- and horn-driven effort full of tight, poppy harmonies and instrumental jams that could light an incense stick. Terramara's singer-keyboardist Rob Meany has a smooth yet powerful, Sting-like voice (much like Spymob's John Ostby), and his songs such as "Running Down the Avenue" and the title track feature guy-lost-in-the-city themes. Tonight's CD-release party at the Fine Line, a 6 p.m. early show, will include a horn section with Matt Darling and accompaniment by Greazy Meal's Ken Chastain, who produced the album. .. — Chris Reimenschneider, Star Tribune
From the get go, Minneapolis-based Terramara's Four Blocks to Hennepin conjures up late '70s pop nostalgia. The kind of music the period's heyday produced through bands like Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers, and the Atlanta Rhythm Section. The period where jazz and fusion made inroads in the rock music scene. The playing on this album is very tight: crisp guitar leads, compelling bass lines, choice keyboard fills, steady drumming and warm vocals. The songs are extremely accessible to a wide range of listeners, and if the LA-sound of the late 70's comes back in vogue, each and every one of these songs could become a chart topper. Favorite Track: Track 5, "Invisible People" — Roland Goity, Online Rock
Sometimes the hype that gets attached to bands verges on the hilarious. "They're the new Rolling Stones!" "She's like Britney Spears, but with talent!" "If you crossed Pearl Jam with a three-eyed, seven-toed, accordion-playing monkey, you'd get this band..." Etc. That makes it all the more notable when a band actually lives up to its billing. Judging by the press I've read on this group, critics seem to think Terramara sound like the second coming of Steely Dan, with a little Sting in the vocals. And damned if they aren't just about exactly right. On their sophomore full-length, this Minneapolis, Minnesota quartet lays down some of the most sophisticated, tasty jazz-pop on record since the Dan's heyday, full of tight keyboard-based arrangements, precision playing and rich harmonies. The Steely Dan comparison extends beyond keyboardist-vocalist Rob Meany's compositions and the group's careful arrangements to guitarist Karl Koopman's nimble, tasteful fretwork, heavily reminiscent of Larry Carlton's career-making stint with Steely Dan in the mid-'70s. The beauty is that, despite the many similarities, this album never sound like a rip-off or a cheap imitation. Rather, it sounds like a musically accomplished band whose chosen niche just happens to be the same one as a well-known precursor. In terms of specific musical moments that make this album special, I'd point to these: the clean, full vocal arrangement and steady rhythm of opener "Running Down The Avenue"; the delicate funk, sweet horn section and call-and-answer vocals of "Crying Shame"; the hyperactive bass line and soaring chorus of "Black & Grey"; and Koopman's fluid, jazzy solos on "Rajasthan" and "Freedom." As for the Sting thing, it does sound rather like Mr. Sumner's work when Meany holds some long high notes toward the end of "Rise & Fall," though a fair bit of Bruce Hornsby is also evident in his delivery on these tracks. The element that makes this disc stand out from the crowd, though, is the aura of sophistication the music carries throughout. The playing is crisp and precise, the production equally so. As with Steely Dan, this makes the moments when the lyrics grow incisive stand out that much more. "You're cool, your friends think it's funny / Thick shades cuz the forecast is sunny / You think twice that it's all about money / Don't you think someone could love you?" sings Meany in "Running Down The Avenue," and the question lingers to the very end. Four Blocks To Hennepin is forty minutes of snappy, beautifully arranged jazz-pop that offers an urbane, sardonic wisdom that's beyond the reach of most mainstream acts today. And it marks Terramara as a group that bears watching - and listening to. RATING: B+ — Jason Warburg, The Daily Vault
Funky pop-rock that has a great notion of vocal harmonies, Terramara is part jazz and part Maroon 5. Recognized as one of the top 15 acts in the Midwest via DiscMakers Independent Music World Series in 2003, Terramara continues to live up to that accolade by writing domineering pop-rock songs. Their lead vocalist is what separates them from the rest of the pack as his rich vocals are sugar coated with melodies and harmonies that even accomplished vocalists only dream of-or only are able to hit with the help of a million-dollar studio. — J-Sin, Smother.net
Here is a band who doesn't seem to venture outside of their home base in Minnesota, although the rest of America, if not the entire planet, should give them a listen. Very eclectic jazzy pop-rock, at times reminiscent of Steely Dan, The Police, XTC, and Joe Jackson, while possessing a uniqueness about them. Perhaps the strongest point of Terramara's music is how infectious it is; with an emphasis on melodies, grooves and fine-tuned yet completely natural sounding arrangements, not to mention superb musicianship and production, there are no "filler" spots to be found on Hennepin. Terramara consists of keyboardist/vocalist Rob Meany, guitarist/synthesist Karl Koopman, bassist Erik Pedersen, and drummer Dave Thomas, augmented on three tracks by a horn section and some guests. Kicking off with "Running Down The Avenue", the band immediately takes charge, with a start/stop verse leading into a bouncy chorus. The horn section is employed on "Crying Shame", a funky blues number vaguely resembling a mythical Stevie Wonder/Tower Of Power collaboration. "Rise And Fall", "Wooden Man" and "Invisible People" continue to make full use of creative dynamic approaches to verse/chorus construction, which is an important aspect of Terramara's sound. "Black And Grey" and "Freedom" are the easiest two tracks to compare to Steely Dan: complete with horns, rhythms, and some tasty guitar work. "Outrunning Headlights" features only Rob Meany on piano and vocal, delivering a performance that's equal parts Ben Folds and Billy Joel. The funk-rocker title track follows, which then segues into a bonus track: a slow, spacey, repeating instrumental piece that builds into a multi-layered electronic orchestra. Four Blocks To Hennepin is highly recommended to anyone who enjoys out-of-the ordinary pop-rock music.
Light and steady, Terramara arrives in Duluth this Saturday with an Uptown beat.Ý They are Steely Dan cool with a jazzy pop Sting slickness.Ý Mixing various styles and lyricism into an easy to listen to album titled, Four Blocks To Hennepin (Redhead Productions), they end up with a full sound and many facets. Terramara was started by Duluth native Rob Meany (Lead Vocalist, Songwriter, and Keyboards) in 1998.Ý The current lineup consists of Karl Koopman (Guitar), Dave Thomas (Drums), and newcomer Erik Pederson (Bass).Ý Four Block To Hennepin is for the listener that wants to chill and take in some quality city inspired music.Ý The tune "Rise & Fall" has a Sting quality complimented by a steady piano beat keeping tempo.Ý The song soars in the chorus becoming modern and utilizing harmonies.Ý "Wooden Man" is softer and really goes into an eighties sound that seems a bit dated.Ý As the disc plays through the songwriter begins to emerge.Ý When you get to "Invisible People" there is an observation of the homeless with Rob singing, "Can you see them on the avenue?Ý Begging for change with an empty shoe/there but for the grace of God go me and you." "Smoke & Mirrors" is light jazz with an intimate twist.Ý We enjoy a long instrumental that feels Steely, but has a bit more bite as it fades out.Ý Another style that pops up is in "Outrunning Headlights." This one had Randy Newman optimism with nice lyrics and a good hook. The entire album is based on an artist's view of the city and feels like a foreign take on a strange land.ÝÝÝ Terramara emulate the city, and try to become part of it with their album.Ý You can almost hear the cars driving by and see the homeless begging for some change at some points.Ý Listening to the album is like taking a trip to the cities, and walking in another man's shoes.Ý Take a trip with them, and save on gas by going to Luce. — Andrew Olson, Duluth Weekly Reader
CD Review & Interview with Rob Meany on Mizar5 music site. {read more} — Mizar5
What a great day to stop at Guitar Center, in Edina.Ý On my way out the door, I saw a stack of free CD samplers by a local band named Terramara.Ý I thought this was a great deal because I get so sick of picking up a copy of City Pages and sifting through distracting advertisements and lame editorials before I find something interesting to read.Ý All I had to do is listen to any of the three songs on this CD.Ý The idea was to insert, listen, fast forward, eject, and coasterize the CD with a refreshing can of Diet Coke, and forget about it. By the middle of the second song titled "Summer's End," I had to check out the band's website and make sure the date was August 30th.Ý What a great song to close the summer of 2005!Ý The experience of listening to Terramara for the first time was like waking up and taking one hell of a whiff at the status quo of today's music scene in the Twin Cities. If you go to Terramara's website, check out what the media is saying about this band.Ý I thought it was interesting that a lot of music critics are comparing the sound to the infamous jazz-fusion of Steely Dan.Ý -Yeah, I figured they would mention that one before I checked the band's web site.Ý Personally, these local editors and journalists should go back to "my old school" and really think about what they are saying.Ý For one thing, Steely Dan has never been big on album tours or live performances.Ý In fact, they hate touring.Ý They are studio-band exceptions in the world of popular music. When music critics say, "This band sounds like..." or, "This band is the next...;" are they trying to say something intelligent, relevant, or just making their job easier?Ý Better yet, are they comparing apples with oranges?Ý Especially these days, musicians are working harder than ever to make it on the music scene.Ý It didn't take much to notice this band works hard at maintaining very important qualities necessary for survival on the scene: performing, image, and of course originality.Ý And that is where Terramara gets away with presenting a solid progressive-style jazz sound that is hard to identify: this is how musicians break boundaries. Here's my point: listen to any of these three songs and think about how Terramara would sound live.Ý Now, think of Steely Dan or even a live Steely Dan concert.Ý Better yet, how about Donald Fagen and Walter Becker thinking about taking their music on the road anywhere? Are you drawing a blank?Ý I did. -It is very unlikely they will perform anywhere.Ý Out of all the albums their historic brotherhooded band produced, there is only one live CD I can think of and personally, I think they did it either out of boredom or under protest.ÝÝ On the other hand, now is the time to see Terramara perform!Ý Although I have not yet been to their show, I am almost certain their music would sound much different and that's really important.Ý Whither or not this band takes off into the main stream of music, Terramara has a unique, captivating sound for the local music scene.Ý There is a great sense of quality felt in this sort of music and when this happens, you really can't compare it to anything else.Ý Everything from the rhythm to the songwriting, Terramara is an exceptional band! — Nate Douglas, River Valley Reader
Upon your third or fourth spin of this album (you just keep hearing something new and different that you didn't quite catch each time!), you realize what Terramara is: a wonderfully rich and layered tiramisu of sound. Lead vocalist Rob Meany possesses all the effortless poetry of Sting. In fact, many of the songs have that feel, aided by lyrics that showcase a passionate talent. His voice is flexible enough to soak up the flavor of each new track, all containing the subtle differences and intrigue that make up a good album. The eponymous album finds Terramara drawing inspiration mostly from modern rock, but gives a nod to some blues and funk as well. Rob is backed up by bandmembers David Thomas (percussion), Jay Jordan (guitar), and DJ Sandau (bass). Jay Jordan is especially impressive as a solo player in several tracks. Expertly mixed and balanced, Terramara adds layer upon layer of quick rhythms and amazing solos. They would definitely be a joy to see live. — Heidi Fellner, Pulse of the Twin Cities
The Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St Paul gave the world acts like Prince, Husker Du and the Replacements. Now they may be poised with their next gift, Terramara. The rock-fired funky groove of this band has a much larger sound then usually comes from a foursome, partly from added guests kicking in some choice harmonica and horn licks. Rob Meany's vocals remind you of classic rocker voices from the 70s, with that passionate but not-stuffy feel. You can feel elements as diverse as Steely Dan, Royal Crescent Mob and Sting's earlier solo stuff, but these guys keep their own signature on it with a lively background groove that permeates the songs and gives them a kick that keeps you happy through all ten tracks. — Mark E. Waterbury, Music Morsels
I saw a band at a private party recently that really caught my ear, and I have a feeling they're going to start popping up a lot in bars and conversations in the very near future. Terramara's sound has been described as jazz-infused rock. I hear "Can't Buy a Thrill"-era Steely Dan, but I also hear jagged power pop similar to Ben Folds Five and ex-Jellyfish guitarist Jason Falkner, particularly his debut solo album "Presents Author Unknown. — Ann Wickstrom, Tourdates.com
I'm always leery of "jam" bands - you know, those PhishCheeseIncidentWuRescueUnit kinda bands with long instrumental excursions and rabid fans with poor personal hygiene. I also think Jerry Garcia sucked eggs when he wasn't busy doing heroin. So I was ready to skewer this disc as a pointless Dead-wannabe bore. Boy was I wrong. This group actually writes good songs, and their level of musicianship is top-notch. The guitar solos even go somewhere! — Dylan Ritalyn, Toast Magazine
Think Steely Dan with an edge. Great pop tunes with a flavor of jazz and rock. Good stuff. Look for these guys. — TwinCities.com
Terramara is the best band nobody's heard of in Minneapolis. We've aired at least four different tracks off their debut CD and can't wait for more! — Mei Young, DJ, KQRS Radio, Minneapols
You're going to start hearing this name a lot-Terramara. — Robyne Robinson, KMSP-TV Channel 9, Minneapolis
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