Empty Orchestra

"Empty Orchestra" is the literal english translation of the japanese word "karaoke."



people say nice things:

"Empty Orchestra's skill for earworm jangle and twangle comes courtesy of leader-guy Stephen Wisniewski, who, in an earlier time (say the mid-'90s), woulda been a bona fide contender for the kind of major label bidding war that brought us such awesomeness as the Jayhawks, the Bottle Rockets and AM-era Wilco. I'm loath to pigeonhole the goods on offer at their MySpace page, so check for yourself. I will say that there's a grand pop sense at work."

- Detroit Metro Times, 8/6/08

"They're torchbearers of the rough edge urban folk of Billy Bragg, or the smoky idiosyncratic poet-blues of Tom Waits and a revival of classic 70's singer/songwriter balladry--only amped up with a squadron of talented musicians bringing a fire to even the slower tunes.The distinct sound of classic American R&B, that meloncholic escapism, that near-bluesy visceral howl and that near-country twang, combined with a distinct whirlwind alt-rock urgency, beautiful intertwining guitars, be it the strummed acoustic, the steady rhythm or the more exertive lead, with its solos and pedal roars.an invigorating live band."

- Jeff Milo, Real Detroit Weekly

"Empty Orchestra's music might be best described as experimental Americana. Perhaps inspired by whatever cosmic forced produced the off-kilter creative freedom of Wilco, Tom Waits and Bobby Bare, Jr., the quintet that composes Empty Orchestra seems as interested in masterful '70s rock and balladeer song-writing as they are in the folksier outer-rings of the indie circuit."

- the Ann Arbor Current

"Lead singer Stephen Wisniewski's vocals stand pretty heavily in the mix, but with a lot to say it's not hard to see why. Somewhere musically in the ilk of darker alt-country and kindredly in the sentiment of most rust-belt hardcore, it's definitely worth the e-purchase."

- David Obenour, Ghettoblaster Magazine

"If Tom Waits met Mike Patton in a bar, then a mellower Gogol Bordello walked in, they all shared a couple rounds and wrote a few songs together, this is what it might sound like. One of the best albums of 2007."

- The Flint Journal

"One of the best albums of 2007.Some of the best music comes out of the worst case scenarios, so apparently Flint = Tom Waits + Jawbreaker."

- David Obenour, editor, Ghettoblaster Magazine

"Some time in the dead of a Flint, Michigan winter, The Boss and The Coug were drinking draft Coors in a dive bar. In stumbles Tom Waits and sprays whiskey in their faces, cursing them and chastising their lack of depth and innovation in the past decade. What followed was a long and bawdy drinking, cussing, battle of wits that lead the trio to stumble into a recording studio populated by a few local kids. All three of them sobered up a few weeks later, just in time to watch Stephen Wisniewski walk out the front door with a few reels of tape labeled "Here Lies. Empty Orchestra."

- Aaron Smith, friend, musician

"Empty Orchestra sound like an army."

- The Hard Lessons

thanks.



"It Gets Better" Music Video



"It's All True" -- making of our new split 7"



Click on a link above to order "Here Lies Empty Orchestra."

Or go here and purchase our old EP, "Get Well Soon," from Acutest Records.



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