Melodrama

• Track Listing

'If there's a story so far this year in Canada it's Joel Kroeker' - The Calgary Sun 'When I first heard Joel Kroeker play guitar it reminded me of a modern pop version of Lenny Breau. His guitar playing, and phrasing are very reminiscent of Lenny. His playing is familiar sounding but with a new approach to standard riffs and things which gives him his own unique style right from bar one.' - Guitarist Randy Bachman (the Guess Who) 'Joel is the kind of artist that True North can take around the world. I think he's got one foot where Paul Simon is, and one foot where Jack Johnson is.' - True North president Bernie Finkelstein A strikingly original singer/songwriter, Joel Kroeker is about to release his third album 'Closer to the Flame' on February 13th, 2007. Recorded with producer Danny Greenspoon at Canterbury Sound in Toronto, Joel's second album 'Melodrama' features a band that matches Joel's sizable talent: guitarist Kevin Breit (Norah Jones), keyboardist Gary Breit (Bryan Adams), drummer Gary Craig (Bruce Cockburn), bassist George Koller (Peter Gabriel), and with background vocals by Kathryn Rose and Susie Vinnick. Guesting on 'With Me' is former Guess Who/Bachman Turner Overdrive guitarist Randy Bachman. Joel returned the favor to Randy by performing on his album 'Jazz Thing'. Joel is also up for OUTSTANDING POP ALBUM OF THE YEAR and SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR at the WCMA Music Awards along with Sarah Maclachlan, Nelly Furtado and Jann Arden. Joel completed a Bachelor of Music in Composition and Guitar Performance at the University of Manitoba and then a Masters Degree in Ethnomusicology and Popular Music Studies from the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Joel's debut CD 'Naive Bohemian,' released independently in 1999 by his Dancing Monk Productions, reached # 7 on the National Campus Radio Specialty chart. The same year Joel was named Best New Recording Artist by the Alberta Recording Industry Assn., and won the Film Score of the Year category for the documentary 'Tokyo Gardens.' Joel also went on to share stages with such top Canadian acts as Sarah Harmer, Bruce Cockburn, Hawksley Workman, Stephen Fearing, Colin Linden, Colin James, and the Payolas. In addition, Joel's songs have been covered by several artists in the past year. Toronto cabaret singer Patricia O'Callaghan recorded 'Naked Beauty' as the title track of her recent Marquis album. Lee Aaron included five Joel co-writes on her album 'Beautiful Things' on HipChick Records; and Toronto-based band Micro Maureen recorded another Joel co-write, 'We're Still Here' on it's Aquarius debut. ____