NEWS
★ Album #5 in the Works!
John is ridonkulariously swamped, between his art & design business (Plaid Design) and the ol' day-job, but he's (slowly/surely) writing & arranging the music that will become The Stan Laurels' fifth album! STAY TUNED!!
★ Many "Best of 2021" Nods!
John is incredibly honored and stunned by the outpouring of love for The Stan Laurels, as his latest album, There is No Light Without the Dark, has been named to a great number of respected industry "Best of 2021" lists! Check the "Awards & Accolades" section below for details!
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
There is No Light without the Dark (LP, 2021)
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★ Albums of the Year: 2021 (#49 of 100) - Louder Than War (UK)
★ Top 30 Albums of 2021 (#21) - Traveller's Tunes (UK)
★ Essential Albums of 2021 (#5 of 15) - Chasing the Essential (US)
★ Favorite Albums of 2021 (#5 of 50) - The Power Pop Show (US)
★ The 42 Best Power Pop Records of 2021 (#23) - Sweet Sweet Music Blog (The Netherlands)
★ Tops in 2021 (#4 of 50) - Pop Forever (US)
★ Excellent 80 for 2021 (#31) - AOTP Radio (US)
★ 2021 Philbys (100 Best Albums) (#39) - Phil Maq/Theme Attic (US)
★ Albums of the Year 2021 (#51 of 100) - I Don't Hear a Single (UK)
★ 100 Favorite LPs of 2021 (#63 of 100) - Power Pop Life (Spain)
★ Best of 2021 (#90 of 175) - International Pop Overthrow (US)
★ 2021 Top Un-Ten (Tied at #2) - All Around Records (US)
★ Best LPs 2021 - Mi Tocadiscos Dual (Spain)
★ Best of 2021 - The Sweet Spot (UK)
★ Favorite 2021 Albums - Pablo Ferrerya (Argentina)
★ Songs of the Year ("Tomorrow," #22 of 37) - Pop Forever (US)
Maybe (LP, 2018)
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★ Top 125 Albums of 2018 (#39) - International Pop Overthrow (US)
★ Top 21 Power Pop Albums of 2018 (#3) - Power Pop News (US)
★ Top 100 Albums of the Year, 2018 (#42) - I Don't Hear a Single (UK)
★ Top 60 Songs of the Decade, 2010-2019 ("Maybe") - Chasing the Essential, Ep. #220 (US)
★ Finalist, Best Song, 2018 ("Maybe") - L.A. Cinefest (US)
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★ Best Music & Sound Design, 2013 - May Day Film Festival (US)
Artist & Single Awards & Accolades
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★ Finalist, Artist of the Year, 2020 (#4 of 57) - Rela Radio (US)
★ Finalist, Artist of the Year, 2019 (#17 of 300+) - Radio TFSC (Germany)
★ Semifinalist, Best Rock/Alternative Song, 2019 ("Lost & Found") - USA Songwriting Competition (US)
★ Winner, Song of the Week, 09.15.2019 ("Lost & Found," #1 of 50) - Radio TFSC (Germany)
★ Nominee, Best Holiday Song, 2019 ("Noche Buena") - The Independent Music Awards (Int'l.)
FILM SOUNDTRACKS
★ Maybe Shower (2018)
★ Billi & Theodore (2013)
REVIEWS & OTHER PRESS
"John Lathrop is The Stan Laurels, a one man cinematic distillation of Beatles influences c. 1966-67, with a Jeff Lynne-esque sense of ambition." - Dennis Pilon for Poprock Record
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- Michael DeAngelis for There Once was a Note
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"In a world drowning in cookie-cutter crap being sold as music, it's a sound like The Stan Laurels' that gives us hope that music is not dead!" - Tom Slick, Radio Rock 92.6 The Blitz
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"It's a completely original sound. That’s jangling rhythms, spacey synths and chunky riffs leading the charge ... No weak songs here, so its a highly recommended release. 8/10" - Aaron Kupferberg for Power Popaholic
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"The gorgeous melody behind 'Where I Want to Be' is pure gold, not to mention the most engaging lyrics I’ve heard in a while. Lathrop had me from the moment he declared 'If you told me that love was in the air, I’d smile and push you down the stairs.'" - Richard Rossi for Power Pop News
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"A reverberatingly tantalising orchestration of instruments that almost act as a TARDIS back to the '60s when the general record buying population actually recognised the talent in bands such as the Beatles & Zombies. The Stan Laurels have cracked it with their multi-layered composition of Indie and Psychedelia." - Amelia Vandergast for A&R Factory
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"John Lathrop commingles longing melodies and oblique wit in a bid for three-minute transcendence." - Greg Beets for The Austin Chronicle
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"A nifty powerpop outing which fans of Fountains Of Wayne will particularly like, as Lathrop's laconic vocal delivery is a fine complement to the oft buzzy musical landscape. ★★★★" - David Bash for Shindig! Magazine
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"Lathrop crafts an ironic ambience by matching off-kilter lyrics with gorgeous melodies and layered vocals." - Terry Flamm for Broken Hearted Toy
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"There's a lot going on in the songs, and considering Lathrop played everything himself, the greatest compliment you can pay is that it sounds like a band recorded them. Guitar Solos burst out, combined at times with an 80's synth sound, all suiting his laid back vocals." - Don Valentine for I Don't Hear a Single
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Interview with John Lathrop by Patrick Donders for Sweet Sweet Music Blog
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"‘Maybe’ really does appropriate the comic fire and brimstone of ‘Buddy Holly’ with rolling harmonies, choppy jangle and thunderous beats aplenty." - Kevin Hugger for MP3Hugger
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"The gauzy guitars are perfectly distorted pretty much throughout, while Lathrop’s lead vox often recall Shoes. Grade: B" - John Borack for Goldmine Magazine
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"There's a subtle whiff of Flaming Lips in this Austin band, who also channel the psychedelic Beatles in a whimsical high-concept work punctuated by surprises that keep you guessing." - Music Connection
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"Apart from having one of the best band names I have heard in ages, The Stan Laurels have Big Star-Beach Boy harmonies, jingly-jangle guitar and '60s California written all over them." - Louis Gilbert for For Folk's Sake
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"Death of the Sun radiates tightly wound layers of pop and psych that bend the Zombies into the Flaming Lips, a surprisingly rich sound orchestrated solo." - Doug Freeman for The Austin Chronicle
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"I'm sure that anyone who listens to Death of The Sun, the fine new album from The Stan Laurels will think of the word 'Beatle-esque' and perhaps speak it out loud." - Todd Levinson Frank for Music Emissions
GLOBAL AIRPLAY
920 WON: The Apple (NYC, New York, USA)
AIR: Austin Independent Radio (Austin, TX, USA)
Banks Radio Australia (Canberra, AU)
The Basement Tapes with Nick & Bootsy (South-Central MO, USA)
Big Indie Giant (Barrydale, South Africa)
Blackdog Indie Country Radio (Ringgold, GA, USA)
Bombshell Radio (Global)
Brutha Voodoo's Playlist Obscura (SHMU FM, Aberdeen, Scotland, UK)
Captain Sib's Psychedelic Freakout (Glasgow, Scotland, UK)
Chasing the Essential (New Haven, CT, USA)
Citywide Blackout (Boston, MA, USA)
Cowboy Joe Radio (Sheridan, WY, USA)
The Fanclub on Coast 96.3 FM (New South Wales, AU)
Fear of Nightmares Radio (Dyersville, Iowa, USA)
Garagerocktopia on KUCR 88.3 FM (Riverside, CA, USA)
Grampian Hospital Radio (Aberdeen, Scotland, UK)
Grey Cloud Radio (Wilmington, NC, USA)
Hidden Gems Broadcasting (HGB Canada Radio) (Fredericton, NB, CA)
Hot Tunez Radio (Hastings, England, UK)
Ice Cream Man Power Pop & More! (Gothenburg, Sweden)
Indie Pop Takeout (WHFR 89.3FM, Detroit, MI, USA)
iROCK 109 (Dayton, OH, USA)
Journey Radio (Wales, UK)
Karen's Indies (Belter Radio, England, UK)
KB Indie Radio (London, Ontario, CA)
KOR Radio (Somerset, England, UK)
Lonely Oak Radio (Laguna Beach, CA, USA)
Monie's New Indie Music (England, UK)
The Music Authority (Central FL, USA)
The Music Truffler Radio Show (North Wales, UK)
Nuclear Spectrum Radio (Paris, France)
Plástico Elástico (Madrid, España)
Pop Radio UK (London, England, UK)
The Power Pop Shoppe (WNUR 89.3FM, Chicago, IL, USA)
The Power Pop Show (KSCU 103.3FM, Santa Clara University, CA, USA)
Progressive Rock Psychedelic Beatles Pop Show (KMRE 102.3FM, Bellingham, WA, USA)
Q108 Indie (Kingston, CA)
Quasar - The Album Station (England, UK)
The Radio Candy Indie Show (Los Angeles, CA, USA)
Radio Deeside (Deeside, Wales, UK)
Radio Radio (Liverpool, England, UK)
Radio Rock 92.6 The Blitz (Athens, GA, USA)
Radio TFSC (Stuttgart, Germany)
Radio Wigwam (Reading, England, UK)
Rela Radio (St. Louis, MO, USA)
Rick's Records Podcast (Central FL, USA)
Rockin' Round the Clock Radio (Halifax, NS, CA)
Ship Full of Bombs (Southend, England, UK)
SME Fusion (Centurion, South Africa)
Smile Radio (Wakefield, England, UK)
Snap, Crackle, POP! (KWVA 88.1FM, University of Oregon, USA)
Sound Radio Wales (Kinmel Bay, Wales, UK)
Sound Street Radio (Yamagata, JP/London, England, UK)
Sunday Sounds (Sheffield, England, UK)
Sweet Sunday Sounds (Valley 89.5FM, Canberra, AU)
Throw the Dice and Play Nice (NYC, New York, USA)
Unique Beatz Radio (Huntington, IN, USA)
Valley Radio (British Columbia, CA)
Zone Radio (Cape Town, South Africa)
ZooTapRadio (Fort Worth, TX, USA)
ESSENTIAL LINKS
Michael Day @ ProDigital MFG (Sound Engineering)
Big Stir Records (Record Label)
Kool Kat Musik (CD Distribution)
BrinkMusic (Vinyl LP Distribution)
Greenless Studios (Maybe Shower)
Short Pictures Independent (Billi & Theodore)
Jim Tramontana @ Solid Arts and Science (Publishing)
ARCHIVED NEWS
★ The New Record is Here!
There is No Light Without the Dark, John's fourth studio album as The Stan Laurels, is OUT NOW on Big Stir Records on CD and digital formats!!!
★ "This is Your Life" b/w "I'm Only Sleeping" OUT NOW!
"This is Your Life" is the 2nd single from There is No Light Without the Dark and includes B-side "I'm Only Sleeping," The Laurels' take on The Beatles classic, and first-ever cover song release. Click above to listen in full and buy!
★ Big Stir Records Welcomes The Stan Laurels!
Late 2020 ushers in an exciting new era for The Laurels, as John has joined the stellar artist roster of Big Stir Records out of Burbank, CA/South London, UK!
★ More Movie Music?
John is actively seeking more film score and original song work to build on his existing résumé of having written/recorded/produced two feature film soundtracks!
★ NOMINATED AGAIN FOR A MAJOR AWARD!!!
For the second year in a row, John has been nominated for an Independent Music Award for his work as The Stan Laurels! This time it was for the highly unexpected category of Best Holiday Song! You can listen to the nominated tune, "Noche Buena," right here!
★ Artist of the Year?
The Stan Laurels had the honor of finishing #4 out of 57 bands for the 2020 Artist of the Year at Rela Radio! Thank you to everyone who voted!
★ Free Music That Doesn't Suck?
For the second year in a row, The Stan Laurels are proud to have been invited and included in the biggest and badass-est power-pop compilation in the world, Ice Cream Man Power Pop and More! This year's comp is called Screwballs and Curveballs, and the best thing about it is IT IS 100% FREE! Click the link to download all 133 songs!
★ Power-Pop + Sleigh Bells!
Ever wonder what a Christmas song by The Stan Laurels would sound like? Wonder no more, as "Noche Buena," John's first-ever original Christmas song is HERE on Kool Kat Musik's A Kool Kat Kristmas, Volume 3!
★ "Lost & Found" is out - LISTEN NOW!
On the heels of his Independent Music Award nomination for Best Indie/Alt Rock Album (Maybe, 2018), John's follow-up is the cracking single "Lost & Found," a dynamic, high-energy power-pop roller coaster with a perfect mix of crunchy guitars, upbeat hooks, low-key grooves, and meaningful lyrics. Pre-release listens had several radio show hosts exclaiming it may just be The Stan Laurels' best song yet! Before its release, "Lost & Found" hit #2 on the Radio Indie Alliance global top 40 chart, with #1 in sight!
★ On June 22, 2019, John and his wife Elvira attended the Independent Music Awards in NYC!
A Note from John:
"From the beginning, I honestly felt I already won, having been chosen as one of five out of thousands of worldwide entries by the likes of Robert Smith, Todd Rundgren, and Tom Waits, among the stellar judges. Not many can say that, and even fewer can say that while having done everything themselves alone. Even more than that, I've won because I gained much-needed knowledge and made awesome connections in a wonderful experience at the IKon and Awards. Congrats to the winners, Árstíðir, and to my fellow nominees, Ryan Curran, The Motels, and Cary Brothers! What's next? I will continue to do what I've always done: work my ass off making the best music I possibly can. As always, stay tuned!"
★ Maybe has been nominated for Best Indie/Alt Rock Album of 2018 at the 17th Annual Independent Music Awards!
Maybe has been the most revered album of The Laurels' career, scoring tons of positive reviews, landing on several "Best of 2018" lists, and getting regular airplay all over the world. But an IMA nomination is the pinnacle of what indie artists aspire to. Essentially the Indie Grammys, The IMAs are the biggest music award in the world for independent artists. John is utterly shocked, humbled, and elated!
Official IMA press release:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 11, 2019
April 11, 2019
The Stan Laurels are Among the Year's Most Exceptional Music Projects Nominated in the 17th Annual Independent Music Awards
John Lathrop’s mod power-pop band, The Stan Laurels of Austin, TX, USA was named by Music Resource Group (MRG) today as a Nominee for Best Indie/Alt Rock Album of 2018 in The 17th Annual Independent Music Awards (The IMAs), the influential awards program for independent artists and releases. Innovative indie label and self-released projects in all styles and mediums were nominated by fans and industry panelists in 103 Album, Song, EP, Music Producer, Music Video, and Design categories that were culled from thousands of submissions worldwide.
Nominated along with The Stan Laurels is an eclectic mix of work by established artists and emerging talent from around the globe. More than 400 artists will be honored at The 17th IMA ceremony on June 22 in New York City including: Masta Ace & Marco Polo, Miss Tara, Prateek Kuhad, Foreigner, Juliana Hatfield, The Motels, Mark Erelli, Ella Vos, Maria Muldaur, QUOR, Pedro Luís, Bleu, Nsimbi, Marta Gómez, Firkin, Bombay Ricky, Jackknife Stiletto, Lucy Wainwright Roche, David Chesky, and Lucy Kalantari & The Jazz Cats.
The nominees were selected by judging panels of top recording artists including: Tom Waits, Robert Smith, Todd Rundgren, Lee Ann Womack, Boyce Avenue, Martha Wash, and Ben Lovett, among many others; and influential press and talent buyers from the Americas, Europe and Pacific Rim. The same panel of judges will select the winners.
The year’s best indie label and self-released projects will be announced June 22nd from the Symphony Space stage during The IMAs Indie Konference in New York City. Now in its third year, the annual conference for Artists, Artivists, and Artistpreneurs draws hundreds of top-ranked creatives from around the globe for awards, performances, workshops, and networking events. Honors will be presented in between performances by nominated artists. IMA winners will be promoted to millions of music fans via online & broadcast promotions, performance and distribution opportunities. Details and a complete list of Nominees and Judges available at:
Artistry. Diversity. Excellence. Now in its 18th year, The Independent Music Awards - produced by Music Resource Group - honor the year’s most exceptional and artistically daring music projects from indie label and self-released talent from around the globe. Program winners and nominees are extraordinary artists at every stage of their careers. Previous honorees include Amy Lee, Killer Mike, Valerie June, Meghan Trainor, Passenger, RuPaul, Jackson Browne, Team Me, Radio Radio, ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, Girl in a Coma, Masta Ace, Pokey LaFarge, Nik West, The Mud Howlers, The Apples in Stereo, fun., and JD McPherson among many others.