Press

GETTING A KLUG
A rare occurrence it is when a singer/ songwriter displays an unerring knack for marrying maddeningly catchy pop sensibilities with wonderfully wry life observations. It's rarer still to discover such a talented artist who combines that gift with some of most gut-wrenching and exhilarating guitar playing around. Yet Roger Klug joyfully defied the odds March 28 at the Barrelhouse (22 E. 12th St., Cincinnati). The slender Cincinnati resident seamlessly melded Hendrix-like leads with hummable refrains for more than two hours. Klug, with three CDs to his credit, is scheduled to open today for Paul Cebar and the Milwaukeeans at the Southgate House in Newport, Ky.
---Dayton Daily News (Dayton, OH)

Toxic And 15 Other Love Songs (Mental Giant), is superb. Klug masterfully attacks all his instruments with gusto and comes up with songs of immense charm and complexity, lyrically, smart-arsed and sharp. Add to this the fact that Klug is possibly the most blazingly lethal guitarist alive and you have a breathless mix that can't be beaten.
--- MOJO

Praise for Where Has The Music Gone?: The Lost Recordings of Clem Comstock

This honey of a disc is patterned after the movie soundtrack That Thing You Do, with faux-sixties acts performing faux-sixties tunes that are always enjoyably appropriate. Surf, girl-groups, white soul, folk-rock, garage, you name it... it's all here, and it's all good. The man behind the mask is clever pop dude Roger Klug, who deserves major kudos for pulling this off. Liner notes are a blast, too. A-
---Amplifier

LOST CLASSICS FOUND?
The most ambitious local release in a while comes courtesy of one of the best Pop songwriters in Cincinnati, Roger Klug. Where Has The Music Gone?: The Lost Recordings of Clem Comstock is presented as a series of lost master tapes discovered by Klug when he purchased an antique analog recording system (with the tapes themselves still inside). The story goes that Comstock was a Cincinnati-based producer/composer in the vein of Phil Spector or Brian Wilson, who experienced minimal regional success in the ‘60s and who has since disappeared from the face of the earth.
With elaborate packaging, extensive liner notes and archival photos, this musically farcical cross between film concepts like Grace of My Heart, Spinal Tap and the upcoming Blair Witch Project is actually a wonderfully crafted re-creation by Klug. While Klug’s previous albums have always been rooted in classic Pop sounds and styles, Where Has The Music Gone? finds Klug mimicking everything from girl groups to white-bread Pop to catchy psychedelia to grandiose Wall-of-Sound quasi-epics, each credited to Comstock’s stable of entertainers.
In lesser hands, Where Has The Music Gone? could have been disastrous. But Klug is a smart enough writer with such a clear grasp of the music he’s emulating that it turns the project into a thoroughly enjoyable listen.
Klug also captures the feel of the era with the production abilities, using analog home equipment to get a sound unattainable on modern equipment. Klug’s nod to the past isn’t just admirable in its ambition: The execution is flawless, a testament to the vision of one of Cincinnati’s great artists.
---Mike Breen, CityBeat

Quite simply, this is the find of the century, or at least a lunchtime or so. Pop artist extraordinaire Roger Klug quite by accident happened upon the master tapes of the complete output of one Clem Comstock, Cincinnati's answer to Phil Spector, and has assembled a loving tribute that belongs in every pop fan's collection. Comstock's artist roster, which included the great Judy Spanner and the pimply-faced-sounding (yet endearing) Jerry Cacciatore, spanned the breadth of 1960s pop influences, put out a wide array of records that, sadly, never caught on with the record buying public in a big way in their heyday. Hindsight, however, reveals that the mighty Clem was ahead of his time and now it is surely time for a Clem renaissance. Dig the Schulte Sisters (featuring Bridgette Schulte) as they belt out the harmony-filled "Never Gonna Get Married." Bop along with the Jan-and-Dean-ish (not to mention Beach Boys-ish) Coney Islanders as they sing about everybody's favorite roadster, the "Sport Utility Vehicle." And dig the crazy, psychedelic vibe in the United Federation of Brotherhood and Sisterhood's "Counting to Infinity." Klug contributes a wonderful original song, "Where Has the Music Gone?" that ties up all that is the Clem phenomenon in one neat package. Klug should take a bow for once again bringing Comstock's work to the public's ears, or at least to their kitchen countertops. 18 tracks and comprehensive liner notes. A must have among must haves. --- Alan Haber's Pure Pop

In the grand tradition of the Turtles' Battle of the Bands LP comes this goofy and inspired compilation of girl-group, teen idol, surf, frat-rock and psych-pop singles, all culled from the "vaults" of fictitious 1960s producer Clem Comstock. A mad genius in the Phil Spector/ Joe Meek mode, Clem never met a trend he didn't like, so Ohio pop wizard Roger Klug gets to strut his considerable musical and conceptual talents by impersonating such tragically forgotten acts as Billy Action ("Baby Teeth"), Brave Sir Knight and the Squires ("Tilt-A-Whirl Tongue") and the Schulte Sisters ("Never Gonna Get Married"). The package's hilarious liner notes should underline the joke for even the most irony-deficient folks out there, but the tracks themselves radiate a campy charm that should appeal to any fan of mid-'60s AM pop.
--- Dan Epstein, SpectatorOnline

...judging from all of this, [Roger Klug] could definitely have a very promising future as a session musician or writer for The Weekly World News!
---Pookie the Homunculus click for entire review

Klug's stunning production mimics, salutes, and satires virtually the entire '60s music scene from girl groups and one-hit wonders, to garage bands and the psychedelic sound.
In Klug's treatment, the familiar '60s melodies sound fresh, even as they are often treated with a campy, wistful nostalgia. Klug's witty liner notes on Comstock's ''unappreciated, obscure career'' alone are worth the purchase.
The disc ends with ''Where Has the Music Gone,'' the only cut officially attributed to Klug. It plays as his lament to the loss of pop innocence, and his affection for the era's musical hubris.
--- Rick Bird, Cincinnati Post

A very interesting collection of tracks, with an equally interesting collection of press behind it. Depending on which version you choose to believe, this is either the reclamation of some fantastic tracks which were recorded during the 1960s, or an elaborate way of musician Roger Klug pouring out music under assumed names. Either scenario is easily believable & without the ability to thoroughly research which is the truth, we may never know.
Whatever the case may be, this is certainly a fascinating collection of songs. One of the outstanding numbers here is the stunning "Sport Utility Vehicle", which could easily be mistaken for a Beach Boys number. This is the track which really makes me think that it's actually Roger Klug behind the whole project, because of the mention of CDs, which weren't invented for a long time after this was supposedly released.
Other tracks like "Never Gonna Get Married" turn more towards a Supremes style, while some of the others like "Frat Rock" & "He Got Bored With Me" take a life of their own. Closing out is one of Roger's own tracks, "Where Has The Music Gone?", which is another great track & follows some of the style of his other music. Definitely worth your while whether you believe this is as the liner notes say it is or not.
---hEARd (Australia) click for entire review

He's a mad scientist turned mad musician/ songwriter/studio guru. He's the man of a million thoughts -- sometimes all of them smashed into a four minute song. On TOXIC AND 15 OTHER LOVE SONGS the listener is sometimes overwhelmed at this Cincinnati man's scope in which he works, but gladly chip away at the multi-layered structures to get to the sugar-coated center that almost every pop-rock candy piece contains.
--- Cleveland Scene

Roger in good company!!!
WNKU is hands-down the best radio station for music in the Cincy area.

What an awesome surprise this disc is! Roger Klug writes tunes like an Elvis Costello and produces like a Todd Rundgren. On Toxic And 15 Other Love Songs, Klug runs the gamut from pop/rock to acoustic swing, while wrapping it all up with humor and wit.
--- Virtually Alternative

If ideas were clothing, the suitcase of Klug's brilliance wouldn't close. Not that this album is overpacked or anything -- it's just that Klug gets a handle on the kind of power pop that folds the pain and beauty of love into one artistic statement. Anyone who can create an image like "angels in their bras" has the sort of devilishly clever talent that's harder to find than a pitchfork in a cathedral.
---Jordan Oakes, Popsided

In short, this is a rare gem of a disc that's as inventive musically as it is lyrically. For all of his smarty pants intentions, Roger Klug still manges to invest Toxic with all sorts of cool little twists and turns that make it a minor classic. --- John M. Borack

I know I feel better about nearly everything if this glorious pop confectionery-esque candy sampler is playing in the foreground, background or on the battlefield of life. There have been a lot of great pop albums released in the last couple of years, but not many that are as overly satisfying as Toxic. There's something for everyone here -- something grand, something infectious, something you need even if you didn't know it until now.
--- Alan Haber's Pure Pop

On his second self-produced CD, terminal romantic Roger Klug deals with love in a wide variety of guises. In the title song, a relationship gets compared to various forms of chemical waste. "Nothing Better" is the optimistic side of the coin, "I've tasted Haagen-Dazs, seen angels in their bras. Nothing is better than love."
...Don't miss this one. Toxic is a real breath of fresh air from a major local talent.
--- Cincinnati Enquirer

Cincinnati-based singer/songwriter Roger Klug has made his mark on the local music scene, not with a flashy stage show or major label record deals, but with great, unforgettable Pop songs. With two top notch CDs under his belt, Toxic and 15 Other Love Songs and his debut Mama, Mama, Ich bin in dem La La Land, Klug has emerged as one of the leading purveyors of quality songcraft, celebrating the power of the Pop song with each note he plays. Live, with his more than capable power trio, Klug runs through songs from both of his albums, making for a most enjoyable cavalcade of unbeatable hooks with a Rock candy center.
---CityBeat

First impressions are always important & the first impression I've gotten about Roger Klug's music is that it's quite amazing & deserves all the attention it can get. His US label sent 2 of his albums for review & I'm sure as hell glad they did. There's an astounding number of great songs here, with the first album being more on the conventional side of things, the second being a real evolution of sounds...this is indeed essential listening.
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hEARd (Australia) click for entire review

ROGER KLUG
Mama, Mama, Ich bin in dem La La Land
Out of nowhere (Cincinnati, actually) comes the mighty Roger Klug with a full length CD on which he plays everything, and what a monster he's created. Breathlessly rocking over an eclectic and inventive set of great songs, Klug sounds like he's having fun all the way. Lyrically he's clever and amusing, the highlight being "About Your Cat," a majestic sweeping number about accidentally running over his girlfriend's pet, that is neither silly or mawkish but profound and recognisably touching. The playing and arrangements are exciting throughout -- rock'n'roll with intellect. He even plays the drums like he means it. Best of all is the guitar work, played like he's getting through a set of asbestos marigolds with every gut wrenching ear drum searing solo. It all seems out of control but you know that ultimately Klug has mastery over La La Land. It's fun, but it's fun with depth. A rewarding and substantial body of work, that's well worth tracking down.
--- Mick Dillingham, Bucketfull of Brains

Toxic is the year's top local release so far, with an addictive catchiness that should easily usher in a fervent national audience for the local singer/songwriter. Klug's songs are as exquisitely arranged as the best Joe Jackson song, and Klug never writes lazily, instead piecing together extravagant song structures with unforgettable melodies. With an almost '80's like edge (in a good way, mind you), Klug's music is as endearing as current buzz-mongers Ben Folds Five, but without the burden of lugging a big piano around.
--- Mike Breen, CityBeat

Former Willies guitarist goes solo on this CD, which houses seventeen songs of bright pop rock (fans of the psychodots would love this stuff). Klug admits he's in la la land, my personal favorite place to travel, so I can't help but like him. This is honest rock, engineered without concern for trends. Klug writes organic songs that center around sometimes unusual subjects, but always showcases focused, solid musicianship.
--- Amy McDonald, Everybody's News

Not Lame Recordings and Executive Producer Doug Powell did a fine job of bringing an eclectic group of artists, famous and not so famous, to play and pay their accolades to one of pop's finest songwriters...the most victorious ones are accomplished by adding some attitude that gives Lynne�s composition a little extra muscle. Best places to find this experimentation can be found on Pat Buchanan�s �Rockaria!�, The Swag�s �Don�t Bring Me Down�, The Shazam�s �Twilight� and Roger Klug�s �Turn To Stone�. --- www.hardrockhaven.net

Roger Klug turns in a great guitar-driven cover of �Turn To Stone� that would make Jeff Lynne smile proudly.
--- www.popmatters.com

Let's roll the highlight reel - Roger Klug totally rocks out on "Turn to Stone".
--- www.fufkin.com

Turn To Stone - Roger Klug: my choice for best of disc 2. Roger turns the song on its ear...simply great!!!
---The Move "Useless Information" List