NEW COUNTRY REHAB     www.newcountryrehab.com

"The band's original compositions (Angel of Death, Bury Me, Cameo) are stellar and their covers are respectful reinventions as they take a cue from the Mighty Rearranger, Robert Plant, and truly make Springsteen's State Trooper (powergrass), Hank Sr.'s Ramblin' Man (trippy) and Mind Your Own Business (bluesy and funky) their own.....New Country Rehab has lovingly crafted a disc of pure pleasure blending traditional country with a fiercely independent attitude while successfully incorporating tasteful rock, old time, bluegrass, jazz and funk influences." 4-1/2 stars                      

New Country Rehab, Not your grandaddy's Bluegrass
"The term “supergroup” seems a little excessive when describing New Country Rehab, but for anyone familiar with the Toronto acoustic music scene, it’s certainly apt.... Aside from the high calibre of talent in the group, attention is being drawn to its overall unconventional approach, one that seamlessly blends well-known bluegrass touchstones with a swaggering modern rock attitude."

New Country Rehab review in EXCLAIM!

"They may feature some of Toronto, ON's best, and most seasoned, musicians, but spirit trumps technique on this refreshingly exuberant debut album.....Their sound may be rooted in tradition, but the band are unafraid to mix things up, as with the dub effects and Allman Brothers-style guitar spicing up "Ramblin' Man." The strength of original tunes "Angel of Death" and "Cameo" mark NCR as a band to watch closely. The album was recorded and mixed by Chris Stringer, who neatly captures the energy that's made NCR a live favourite. This is bracing stuff."

New Country Rehab on Spinner.ca

"As their name indicates, New Country Rehab offer recovery from the saccharine pop that passes as country music these days. It's clear that in trying to restore an old sound, they've made sure to include a fresh twist."

New Country Rehab Sound Advice review

The self-titled, self-released effort, out today, is a collection of impressive originals and inventive covers. What's immediately surprising is the delicacy; even with the deep pool of technical talent here, the focus seems to be on maintaining a mood over all else

Daily Gleaner Review of NEW COUNTRY REHAB

“Stunning Debut for New Country Rehab ….The self titled debut by a Toronto Collective called New Country Rehab is the polar opposite of the generic new country pop movement. It is instead, a new spin on the very roots of the country genre.”

“New Country Rehab are a rarity, combining virtuosity with taste, (itself a feat), They’re poised to be the NEXT BIG THING in Canadian music. New Country Rehab don’t let themselves be a folk band or a country band or a rock band, you just get the feeling that they care about making good music and that’s exactly what they do.New Country Rehab are the guys everyone wants in their band, in a band.” Tom Power/ CBC Radio / Deep Roots

MORGAN O'KANE      www.morganokanemusic.com

Morgan O'Kane's SNUG LIFE #4 on MOJO Magazine Playlist Dec. 2010 issue

” West Virginia mountain man sings loud and rawand plays banjo fast and beautiful. Impressed at London’s King’s Cross Social Club last month” MOJO

“If Jimi Hendrix played the banjo, he might resemble O’Kane, a high-intensity musician who looks like a mechanic in a rural gas station, sings like a man possessed and plays mountain music like it was an avalanche. He received a rousing standing ovation and finally deferred to shouts of “one more song.” No music event worthy of the festival moniker is without artistic surprises and O’Kane was one of Hillside’s great, ear-tingling surprises this year.”Robert Reid, The Record July 26, 2010

Morgan O’Kane – Nine Lives
“Could a banjo revolution be underway? With Old Man Luedecke bringing the instrument some mainstream attention in Canada, he’s now got some hefty competition from O’Kane, a Virginia native who’s partly built his reputation playing in the New York subway. What is most immediately apparent on Nine Lives, O’Kane’s debut album, is the sheerforce of his banjo playing ability. On tracks such as “Time” and“Tallulah May” he is able to lay down a relentless groove that bringsthe banjo back to its pre-bluegrass origins as a true rhythm instrument. In fact, everything about O’Kane seems out of time, from the subtle Irish overtones in his style, to his gruff, shouted vocals. Nine Lives is simply a stunning glimpse of an artist destined to make a mark in the Americana field in short order.” Jason Schneider, Exclaim! May,2010

“We are talking sheer joy here. Blow the roof off intensity. Gonzo spirit meets articulately flying fingers…OH!” Feb. 2010/Jessie Scott, Musicfog.com

AVETT BROTHERS+ YOUNG SPRINGSTEEN+TALLEST MAN ON EARTH = MORGAN O'KANE by Ben Sollee

http://www.buzzgrinder.com/2010/avett-brothers-young-springsteen-tallest-man-on-earth-morgan-okane/