"Phil Ayoub has an MBA degree. He also has some kind of ear for commercial pop-rock melodies and intelligent lyrics. Ayoub's first solo release, 'Schoolbus Window Paper Heart,' is filled with radio-friendly grooves and themes that range from the 9-11 nightmare to carefree romance...."
-The Sun Chronicle
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Arrivals and Departures, the new record from singer-songwriter, rocker-folker, coffee drinker, hookah smokah, and dog walker Phil Ayoub is finally cleared for landing in April 2010!
The record's 13 songs were written in terminals, coach seats, security offices, food court Sbarros, on runways, baggage claim belts, during strip searches, random bag checks, and $10 for 10 minute massages in airports and airplanes all over the world. As well as in the kitchen of his parents' house.
Arrivals and Departures
Arrivals and Departures, the new record from singer-songwriter, rocker-folker, coffee drinker, hookah smokah, and dog walker Phil Ayoub is finally cleared for landing in April 2010!
The record's 13 songs were written in terminals, coach seats, security offices, food court Sbarros, on runways, baggage claim belts, during strip searches, random bag checks, and $10 for 10 minute massages in airports and airplanes all over the world. As well as in the kitchen of his parents' house. Appropriately, recording sessions for the album were split between Massachusetts and Stoke-On-Trent in the U.K.
Arrivals and Departures finds Ayoub reuniting with Tim Bradshaw, who produced his solo debut Schoolbus Window Paper Heart. Bradshaw, formerly with John Mayer and David Gray, is a supremely talented multi-instrumentalist and an inventive producer, and helped turn Ayoub's mumbled song ideas on cassette tapes (yes, Phil still uses tapes) into this record. It also features drumming from the ever cool Kevin Figueiredo from the band Extreme. Perhaps the most astonishing accomplishment of the sessions, though, might be the fact that Phil got the born and bred Brit Tim to voluntarily drink and enjoy Miller Lite Beer (Official Beer of the Ayoub Men).
Ayoub likes to say he's from "Boston, RI," as he considers both the city in Massachusetts where he got his musical birth, as well as Rhode Island, where he grew up, home.
Having been delayed on the runway for slightly longer than expected, Arrivals and Departures is the follow up to Schoolbus Window Paper Heart, which had Ayoub performing in venues from the Viper Room in LA to Fenway Park in Boston, and featured songs on such notable and respected stations as WBOS Boston, WXPN Philadelphia, WBCN Boston, WDHA New Jersey, WHJY Providence, WXRV The River Boston, WMVY Martha's Vineyard, KEXP Seattle, XM Satellite Radio's XM Café and Sirius Satellite Radio.
Here's a small sampling of what critics had to say about Schoolbus Window Paper Heart:
"Phil Ayoub has an MBA degree. He also has some kind of ear for commercial pop-rock melodies and intelligent lyrics. Ayoub's first solo release, 'Schoolbus Window Paper Heart,' is filled with radio-friendly grooves and themes that range from the 9-11 nightmare to carefree romance...."
-The Sun Chronicle
"He has a fan club and an MBA, which might not make all that much sense. But if you listen to Phil Ayoub, you can hear the two opposing qualities in his music: It's keen and endearing, witty as well as likable...Ayoub writes empathically, with sensitivity and intelligence....he must be doing something right."
-The Phoenix
"His influences are classic, and he lives up to them...The result is a radio-ready sound for radio-ready songs."
-The Providence Journal
"Ayoub's lyrics are heartfelt and meaningful...memorable melodies and acoustic pop hooks...an amazing album. Ayoub's brand of "grad-school rock" is comparable to Bob Dylan, Neil Young, and Tom Petty."
-Indie In-Tune Magazine
"...He wears his heart on his sleeve and his songs are as truthful and honest as they come...clever lyrics, solid musicianship... from the cocky barroom wisdom of Bono, the social commentary and good ole rock 'n' roll punch of Bruce Springsteen and the wordsmith master, Bob Dylan.. a definite keeper."
-The Noise Magazine
"...filled with poignant songwriting..."
Metronome Magazine
"It's good, but why do you have to say a swear word in that one song? It would be much better without that word. You know I don't like you saying things like that."
-Mom
Schoolbus Window Paper Heart
We've all known that great musician friend from high school or college, that talented guitar player or singer who we just knew would be on American Bandstand, or American Top 40, or American Idol someday. But more often than not, that "can't-miss kid" did miss. They'd fail to make it in music and quit, probably to go back to school, get a graduate degree, and settle down to a more "normal" life working in insurance or maybe investments.
Well, some people do things a little bit backwards. Phil Ayoub failed at "normal" life...and quit. After earning an MBA from Boston College and finding his way to a prosperous job at a large investment company, Ayoub left it all behind to write songs. After earning B's in business school (well, B-minuses actually), Ayoub enrolled himself in the school of Bruce, Bono, and Bob...
While he was still working his day job, Phil made a local name for himself creating, fronting, and engineering the Boston band Riverside Train. With Riverside Train, Ayoub (pronounced A-yoob) amassed a solid, loyal fan base, performing at some of the top music venues in Boston and New England. The band also earned national recognition when Hall of Fame baseball journalist Peter Gammons wrote "If your tastes include The Black Crowes and/or Three Doors Down, get the debut disc of a great new band, Riverside Train. Try their web site. You will not be disappointed," in his ESPN.com column.
When he eventually brought Riverside Train to its final stop, Ayoub walked away from the band, and his job, armed with experience, new friends, a growing legion of fans, and over 40 acoustic demo songs ready for an album. He toyed with the idea of moving from his native New England (he splits his time between Boston and Rhode Island) to New York, Los Angeles, or Nashville, but it was at this crossroads that the hand of fate stepped in. Or more accurately, the mouse-click of fate.
Ayoub came across an online ad from a producer looking for new talent to work with. The location was Providence, Rhode Island and that producer turned out to be Tim Bradshaw. Bradshaw, most recently played keyboards in John Mayer's band and was also the longtime keyboard and guitar player for David Gray, including playing on Gray's breakthrough record White Ladder and worldwide hit "Babylon." Bradshaw had recently relocated to Providence, liked Ayoub's demos, and signed on to produce his solo record.
The result of this collaboration is Schoolbus Window Paper Heart, the debut disc from Phil Ayoub. Americana pop-rock at its best, the disc consists of 12 songs written or co-written by Ayoub. The record also features the drumming of Ed Toth, formerly of Vertical Horizon ("Everything You Want," "You're A God") and currently with the Doobie Brothers. In addition to continuing to write, record, and perform in Gray's band, Bradshaw, formerly of Dog's Eye View ("Everything Falls Apart"), also appears on the most recent records by Liz Phair and Josh Ritter.
Inspired by Springsteen, U2, and Oasis, Phil has the energy of Bruce, the passion of Bono, and none of the attitude of Oasis' Gallagher brothers (well, not usually...). Hear his brand of "grad-school rock" on the startling disc Schoolbus Window Paper Heart and hear it live...