Sean McCarthy’s new EP, “Everything Has Past”, recorded in Los Angeles, California, was produced by Steve Bertrand. The line-up of musicians and talent involved in the making of this record include: Steve Bertrand (The Tories, Avion), Kenny Aronoff (best known as John Mellencamp’s drummer, more @ www.kennyaronoff.com), Chris Chaney (Jane’s Addiction, Alanis Morrisette), Sean Woolstenhulme (The Calling, Lifehouse), Scott Simons (LA-based Solo Artist), James “Jimbo” Barton (Producer @ Lippman Entertainment – http://www.lippman-ent.com/producerroster.html), Tom Baker (Mastering Engineer @ Precision Mastering – www.precisionmastering.com) SEAN MCCARTHY – “EVERYTHING HAS PAST” EP – CREDITS Sean McCarthy – Lead & Backing Vocals, Guitars Kenny Aronoff – Drums Chris Chaney – Bass Guitar Sean Woolstenhulme – Guitars Scott Simons – Piano, Keyboards Steve Bertrand – Guitars, Backing Vocals, Keyboards Produced, Mixed & Engineered By Steve Bertrand Producer: Steve Bertrand Former singer/guitarist and songwriter for the bands “The Tories” (signed by legendary producer Phil Ramone) and “Avion” (signed to Columbia Records), his credits also include the Top 20 Hot AC hit “Seven Days Without You” (Avion- Columbia Records), Top 30 Hot AC hit “Beautiful” (Avion- Columbia Records), 2 ASCAP Film/T.V. Awards, 1 People’s choice award for NBC “Jesse” Starring Christina Applegate, 4 Network theme songs- “Jesse” (NBC,) “Coupling” (NBC), “AUSA” (NBC), “Zoe, Jack, Duncan and Jane” (WB), Over 100 placements at film/tv, and much more. His solo album, “Pain Is A Megaphone” was released in May, 2007. Drums: Kenny Aronoff (Excerpt from www.kennyaronoff.com) Kenny Aronoff is one of the world’s most influential and in-demand drummers. The list of artists he’s worked with reads like a who’s who of the music industry, and includes John Mellencamp, The Smashing Pumpkins, Bob Seger, John Fogerty, Melissa Etheridge, Jon Bon Jovi, Elton John, Bob Dylan, Rod Stewart, Alanis Morissette, The Rolling Stones, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Puddle of Mudd, Avril Lavigne, Joe Cocker, B. B. King, Mick Jagger, Ray Charles, Alice Cooper, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Raitt, Ricky Martin, Santana, Trey Anastasio, Michelle Branch, Vince Gill, Gladys Knight, Aaron Neville, Trisha Yearwood, Patti LaBelle, George Jones, Conway Tritty, The Buddy Rich Big Band and many others. With a style of playing that combines power and finesse, Kenny was named the #1 Pop/Rock Drummer and the #1 Studio Drummer for five consecutive years by the readers of Modern Drummer Magazine, and in addition has played on over 30 Grammy-nominated recordings. Bass Guitar: Chris Chaney (Excerpt from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris_Chaney) In the past 13 years Chris has built up a reputation as a top-level professional bassist, having recorded and/or toured with a wide variety of artists such as the previously mentioned Jane’s Addiction, The Panic Channel, all-star cover band Camp Freddy, Alanis Morissette from 1995 to 2002, Celine Dion, Michelle Branch, Ben Taylor, Carly Simon, Rob Zombie, Andrew W.K., Tommy Lee’s Methods of Mayhem, Will Hoge, and the song “I’m Still Here” from soundtrack to the animated movie Treasure Planet with The Goo Goo Dolls’ Johnny Rzeznik. He is also featured on Sara Bareilles 2007 album “Little Voice” and Shinedown’s 2008 album, The Sound of Madness, following the departure of former bassist Brad Stewart. He also worked with James Hart on his new project Burn Halo. He is currently recording tracks for Slash, a solo album by Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash. Guitars: Sean Woolstenhulme Former Guitarist of “The Calling” and later the band “Lifehouse“, Sean is a session, studio, and live guitarist. Since leaving “Lifehouse” in 2004, he has played with a wide range of musicians including Kelly Clarkson, The Jimmy Chamberlin Complex (former drummer of The Smashing Pumpkins), A Fine Frenzy, Daniel Powter, and Colin Hay (former lead singer of Men at Work). Keyboards: Scott Simons (www.scottsimons.net) Since last summer’s success, Scott Simons’ debut “The Start of Something EP” has been highly anticipated. Scott has been performing his new material live around the country and has recently shared the stage with One Republic and Keane. Just this year, Scott was signed by major independent publisher Bug Music/Windswept, which also represents such artists as Wilco, Ryan Adams, and many more. As a songwriter, Scott is managed by Sandy Roberton at World’s End Management in Los Angeles and has been working with and writing for artists on Mercury, Island Def/Jam, Atlantic, Hollywood, Epitaph Records and more. Additional Engineering (Drums) was done by none other than James “Jimbo” Barton (http://www.lippman-ent.com/producerroster.html). Jimbo has produced and/or engineered albums for acts such as Rob Thomas, Matchbox Twenty, Black Eyed Peas, Rush, Metallica, Stone Sour, Buck Cherry, Queensryche, KISS, Eric Claption, David Bowie, Linkin Park and countless others in addition to numerous live albums and live performances from the top artists/bands in the music industry. Other credits include: Grammy Nominations for producing albums for Eric Clapton, Rush, Queensryche; Juno Award (Rush), 3M Visionary Award; Multiple Platinum & Gold sales awards; Multiple Golden Reel Awards. Mastering was done by Tom Baker @ Precision Mastering, Los Angeles, California (www.precisionmastering.com). One of the top mastering engineers in the business, Tom has mastered albums for countless artists & bands including Rascall Flatts, Gwen Stefani, Velvet Revolver, Fuel, Hoobastank, Ray Charles, Buck Cherry and so many more. REVIEWS ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ “Snow Patrol meets Kings Of Leon……the best recorded version of Sean McCarthy to date.” - Steve Bertrand, Producer ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Album Title: Everything has Past Artist: Sean McCarthy Reviewer Name: Mike Ososki, Review You / Ariel Publicity Rating: 4 stars (out of 5) Title of Review: Highly Competent Modern Rock Pop REVIEW SUMMARY With recording production par excellence and soaked in Marshall modern rockpop guitars, Sean McCarthy is assuredly professional performance grade. His spot-on lead vocals are rendered in unquestionable confidence, backed by a consummate team of musicians and engineering. And the songs? Well... they're pretty darn good. Here and there maybe even close to great, but not quite. Like 96.3% of modern pop and rock music, the vast majority of the essential songwriting content here is derivative. REM, Bruce Springsteen, Steve Earle, Switchfoot, and many, many more are heard. Imitation is the highest flattery. Those who are familiar with pop hit music since the Beatles will easily recognize pieces and patches, segments, sections and melodies, vibes and vocals that we have heard over and over through the years. And who can fault Mr. McCarthy for putting out more of a good thing? Still, it is always oh-so refreshing to hear artists push and struggle for uncompromising originality and uniqueness, what little there may be of it left to find. After so many decades of so much so fine, it is a tall order, to be sure. Track by track: 1. I know it's only rock-n-roll, but this particular one is known as "Found Mary." She strives for a glorious and celebratory feel, and is somewhat successful in achieving it. Heavily chiming, rhythmically consistently predictable lower register and high bell-like rock rhythm guitar(s) abound. They drive the trad-rock beat home more or less throughout this arm-waving party crowd let loose. During the verse, the lead vocal melody is slightly more buried in the mix than might be ideal, but it's a fine pop note sequence, with happy 6ths and some subtle, poignant major-7 injections that tend to tug at heartstrings. Likely a rousing, get-up-on-your-feet, crowd pleaser, this one. Crank it up and dance! 2. The lead vocal is plenty on top here, especially during the backed-off backup instrumentation in the first verse, and beautifully executed. "Pretty" again seeks to touch deeply in a traditional pop-rock kinda way, and will certainly succeed for what may be an appreciable percentage of the audience. With just a few more dynamics than the previous track, this song offers a semi-innovative chord progression behind part of the pre-post chorus, and a plaintive progression for the rest. "I will give you everything in this heartbeat" is a poetic line that any open-hearted woman will soak up and glow in, when uttered by her beloved, sincere man. 3. "Sunday Morning" starts in a sparse, sad soft synth draped with a hopeful melancholy. Steadily building by gentle percussion, chimey fade-in guitars and methodically added layers of atmospheric drone, we keep thickening the stew, waiting until after the 2-minute mark to solidly land and resolve into the major key pay-off hook groove chorus sing-along section. Musically, like much of this CD so far, the chorus of this tune seeks to inspire us reaching up and out into a triumphant spirit of hope, with soaring add-2/9's, a very common and essential ingredient in most guitar-based, modern rock music. 4. We all need a little "Sympathy"—agreed. And Mary is back to help tell the story. Sammy, the working man, breaks down from a lack of familial relations, and it sounds like a healthy, good and true thing for him to do! We gotta acknowledge our deep feelings, my friends. 5. It was not a good scene, so he adamantly belts out "Goodbye" and good riddance to her, feeling (bitterly?) light and optimistic about his fresh new start. Powered and fueled by choppy staccato rhythm guitar machine gun blasts over a thumping beat, we march out into our brave new world. It may have been good while it lasted, but it's definitely time to leave, and this departure is done with expectant, exciting conviction. Enough of those under-the-breath comments. Review by Mike Ososki ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Sounds of summer emit from Sean McCarthy's "Everything Has Past". That is, if you're up to genuine, honest rock whilst cruising down the highway towards the beach or gathering with friends for drinks around the BBQ. I bought this record in April, but somehow this is where it took me. There's something warm and familiar about "Everything Has Past" - perhaps this is why others have compared Sean to other famous rock bands. Yes, the production on this record is well polished. But there's something fresh here that those comparisons don't quite capture. For me, it's the song writing. It's original. And heartfelt. Combine this with catchy melodies and there's something quite addictive here that you'll catch on to more and more with each listen. Something pure. Likeable. Driven. If I was forced to pick a favourite song, I wouldn't. I love them all. I could pick Found Mary as a single with great potential. Optimism and angst in perfect harmony. Or maybe Sunday Morning. There's a beautifully pent-up tension in the first half of this song that releases itself like the first taste of beer after a long week at work - reflective and quenching. Pretty and Sympathy are solid rock ballads, the latter that's 2nd verse had me belting in the shower. And if I ever won the lottery, I would deliver my resignation with Goodbye! But the songs work best as a collection. For an EP, it's entirely satisfying from start to finish. This record is in constant rotation at home and on the iPhone. "Everything Has Past" will play significantly in the soundtrack of my summer 2010. My only criticism - it is entirely too short. - T. Fourner, Fan (London, United Kingdom) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ This is one of those CDs you wish there was more on it! I still haven't picked a favorite between Found Mary and Sympathy yet and the others are close behind! Sean's Style is his own and it is hard to put a label to it but if I were to try and describe him, it would be a more rock version of John Mayer!! He really pulls you into his songs and music and it is an overall great CD! Hope you enjoy! - C. Frye, Fan (New Hampshire, USA) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________