Screen-door rock is how The Narrators, a duo from central Wisconsin describes their rootsy music. Blending harmonizing vocals with stellar musicianship on original tunes, Narrators Jim Felhofer and Tom Dupuis have just released their first album, Chapter One on Fret Boy Records. While one is always wont to peg artists into easily identifiable musical slots (i.e., “they sound like….”), The Narrators aren’t that easy to peg. OK, if you must, the Jayhawks, a little Byrds, some R.E.M., BoDeans and Gin Blossoms, the Eagles, maybe even a little Mavericks, but musically they have taken off on tangents that can’t define them. They’re pieces of rock, some pop, folk and country --- all rolled into one. Chapter One is crisp and clean, with jangly guitars, occasional tasteful keyboards, and unobtrusive, rhythmic drumming. Like their self-penned tagline, this is music to listen to while sitting on the back porch on a lazy summer day, soaking up the rays, and whatever else comes your way. Love’s angst is a popular theme in their self-penned songs, with Felhofer and Dupuis equally sharing songwriting responsibilities. In “It’s Not For Him Anymore,” a marriage has lost its spark. The wife continues to do many of the things she used to do for her husband, but “its not for him anymore,” as those efforts are now for a new lover. The shoe is on the other foot (male) in “Play The Part,” when the man cannot seem to find the “perfect line” to attract a woman and after stumbling again and again, he resigns himself to “play the part” of a guy who remains happy while living with a broken heart. Meanwhile, in the hypnotic “Casual Beauty,” a woman doesn’t realize the affect she has on men. With her natural looks and demeanor, without even trying she renders the singer’s heart another “casualty” simply by being there. The Narrators’ songs have already garnered praise and attention. “My World Turns Around You” and two other songs have been picked up by Brandon Hills Music, which is shopping the songs around to studios in Hollywood for possible use on a TV show. Felhofer’s long career as a guitarist shines on a number of tunes, including “Play The Part” and “Hold Me Now.” In addition to being an accomplished guitarist, he has an impressive collection of acoustic and electric guitars. Previously, the duo was part of The Fret Boys, a Stevens Point, Wis.-based trio which included bassist Claude Chmiel. That group played live gigs. The Narrators at this point is studio-only. Life’s daily obstructions eventually prevented The Fret Boys from continuing on as a trio, yet Felhofer and Dupuis continued to collaborate on songs. The pair played all of the instruments – including keyboards and harmonica -- and performed all the singing on Chapter One. The songs were recorded, mixed and mastered at Fret Boy Studio, in Stevens Point, all over a period of four years. Self-produced and self-released, The Narrators’ Chapter One is a true independent album. It is available via The Narrators' website at www.thenarratorsband.com or from http://cdbaby.com/cd/narrators. Greg Loescher, Former Editor, Goldmine Magazine