Artists

M.J. BABY & THE LAST WORD: Unbound

GoGirlsMusic.com calls Unbound "a must-have for every blues/rock fan," saying "M.J. Baby & The Last Word pour their heart and soul into every song," while music journalist Kristi Singer observes "M.J. Baby & The Last Word brings soulful roots-rock with more jazz appeal than most 'rock' bands today can truthfully dish out."

Unbound traverses a wide emotional range, spanning from the uncanny "Insomnia," slow blues "Cold Town," and introspective "The Grand Scheme" to hard-edged grooves like "Shades of Brown" and "Never Go Back." Many of the songs on Unbound describe a kind of wanderlust: being on the road, observing the terrain that's passing by. It's also about breaking out, cutting loose from past and beginning anew.

Vocalist and bass player Melinda Rothouse is a classically-trained singer who left the opera world to pursue her own musical path. Her songs interweave poetic lyrics (many originally written as stand-alone poems) with bass and melody lines that draw from a variety of genres. In 2001, while in Philadelphia recording the original five-song demo that would become "Unbound," she met gifted guitarist, vocalist, and drummer Matt DeOrazio. The in-studio chemistry was immediate, forging an extraordinary musical and romantic partnership. Matt had been playing in bands around Washington, D.C. and Philly for years, developing a strikingly expressive guitar style; he describes his playing as "all heart." DeOrazio's guitar work adds another dimension of energy and soul to Melinda's songwriting, and his original tunes cut straight to the bone, revealing his musical roots in electric blues.

During a visit to attend Jazz Fest, the couple heard the call and moved to New Orleans in the spring of 2003 to develop their sound in the country's most fertile musical ground. Joining forces with New Orleans drummer Eddie Ecker, the band recorded and released their debut, independently-produced CD, "Unbound," in New Orleans during the summer of 2004 and have been playing and touring extensively.

Post-Katrina, Rothouse and DeOrazio landed in Austin, TX, where they have been developing lots of new material for their next record, which will feature an edgier, more raucous sound, so stay tuned for much more to come!

Check out the artist's website:
http://www.mjbabyband.com

Track List:
1. Shades of Brown
2. Insomnia
3. Snapshots
4. Wish You Would
5. Never Go Back
6. Cold Town
7. The Grand Scheme
8. Forsaken in Paradise
9. Sing to Me
10. Last Ditch
11. I See Only Shadows
12. Gratitude

Suggested CDs:

Other Genres: