Movements is the latest release from Tulsa solo musician Tony Romanello. The long-time fuzzed out rawker returns, yet again, on the heels of 2021’s Volume For Your Restless Heart via this seven-song suite composed of equal parts static bliss and analog hiss. The rhythm drives, the bass pounds and the guitars crash. Layers of keyboards, quirky samples and commanding brass round out a modern-age wall of sound. Recurring themes, both musical and lyrical, push unsuspicious pop hooks to the verge of semi-prog territory before deconstructing into waves of distortion and feedback that bleed into the next track… and the next track… and the next track… The listener is sure to sail through the Movements.
Playing in a number of bands between Tulsa and Norman, OK early in his musical career, Romanello crept onto the indie scene by working with members of Oklahoma alt icons Chainsaw Kittens and Flaming Lips. He dropped three solo CD’s: Lo-Fi Dreams in Stereo: Vol. I (2000), The MumbleOdd (2000), and Counting Stars (2003) to consistent rave reviews throughout CMJ Radio (Counting Stars – no. 65 Spring ’03) and international press (CMJ, Uncut, Pop Culture Press). Counting Stars even boasted the drumming of Lips’ maestro Steven Drozd as well as a full horn and string ensemble. The comparisons in the media ranged from the abstract (Jeff Buckley, Jeremy Enigk, Catherine Wheel) to the concrete (Foo Fighters, Smashing Pumpkins, Queens of the Stoneage).
After bowing to requests to hit the regional alternative rock circuit, Romanello diverged from his solo work to form TRB as a tangible rock and roll unit. The band released the Shades of Grey EP (2001), Where Are You Tonight? EP (2003), and TRB s/t (2004). The latter releases garnered the band a taste of major commercial radio success (“Where Are You Tonight?” and “Better Days” added to KMYZ summer 2003 & Fall 2004) and attracted a significant amount of industry attention. The fans of their hometown of Tulsa, OK responded by voting him and the band multiple awards over this span, including Artist of the Year in 2002.
In 2005 he returned to his solo work. He released the Rock ‘n Roll Fairytales EP (2006) and Lo-Fi Dreams in Stereo: Vol. 2. (2007). In 2009, Romanello returned to his hometown of Tulsa, OK and formed The Black Jackets. During the Black Jackets’ tenure the band released the Pleased To Meet Us EP (2012) and the sonically lush full-length record, Chasing Airwaves (2016). Reuniting with several past partners-in-crime, The Black Jackets hit the local scene for almost 10 years forging a sound jettisoned by a 3-guitar assault and anchored by a pounding rhythm and bass section.
