MYSTICS ANONYMOUS: Mystics Anonymous

Mystics Anonymous

Mystics Anonymous

© 1998 Soul Reflect Music (701027900327)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

SPECIAL: 20% discount if you buy more than one copy of it today!

(About MP3 downloads at CD Baby)

Adult Alternative. R.E.M. crossed with the Dave Matthews Band. Literate and jammy.

notes

Mystics Anonymous is the name of award-winning singer/songwriter Jeff Steblea's musical project, best defined as indie college rock with elements of jazz, funk, and folk. "With Mystics," says Steblea, "the whole point was to establish a project where nothing was off-limits. If I write a funk song, great. If I write a jazzy song, great. Straight-ahead rock, great. Anything goes." Although Mystics has an eclectic nature, Steblea's distinctive voice and songwriting skill are the glue that holds Mystics together and keeps its sound unique.

Jeff Steblea managed, booked, promoted and performed in the alternative band Go Figure for four years. The band received many awards and industry accolades, and their debut CD La Luna garnered airplay on college radio nationwide and commercial radio in the Northeast. After the dissolution of Go Figure, Steblea graduated from the University of Connecticut and hit the road, traveling up and down, side to side, and sometimes diagonally across the United States.

During these travels, he began recording the debut Mystics Anonymous CD with friends and fellow musicians lending a hand. Once he found himself jump-starting the car every morning and driving only during the daytime (the headlights stopped working), Steblea decided to leave the road and live in the artistic community of Northampton, Massachusetts.

The eponymous debut CD was released in October of 1998 and focuses on a rootsy alternative sound with poetic, confessional lyrics. Steblea surrounds himself with accomplished musicians that complement his original songwriting style, including solo artist Bradford Robinson, who has worked with many artists, including Boyd Tinsley of the Dave Matthews Band and Sara Hickman, drummer Dave Hamilton (Hypnotic Clambake, Go Figure), guitarist Peter Sikoski (Go Figure, Cranick), and horn player Alec Haavik (The Alec Haavik Quartet, Jayuya).

The album is simultaneously catchy and musically complex, resulting in international radio airplay for songs The Rain Comes Down, Dear Old Mr. Hand, Megan G., Dirt & Disease, and Vivian Line. Megan G. remains a popular download on sites such as Apple iTunes, and this album is consistently ranked among the top-selling college rock albums on CD Baby. Reviewers have compared the music on this album to artists such as Wilco, Dave Matthews Band, R.E.M., Robyn Hitchcock, Phish, and The Beatles.

"Jeff Steblea compares his musical project to R.E.M. The folky acoustic emphasis of his songs makes the comparison stick somewhat, but Mystics Anonymous possesses a black humor that Michael Stipe lacks altogether. In addition to composing and singing, Steblea plays all the instruments except for the saxophone cameos." -- Listen.com

"Lead singer Jeff also won an individual award for best vocalist, and it is perhaps his mature and surprisingly deep singing voice that sets this band apart from their peers...Jeff's singing creates a distinctive sound for the group. His vocal range is impressive and despite his off-the-wall antics and wacky sense of humor, it is obvious that he is a disciplined performer. His manipulation of both his voice itself and the microphone creates a variety of differences that suit the mood of each particular tune. But it is when he sings in his true voice, unaltered and clear, that he really shines." -- Mixx Magazine

reviews

Please log in to review this album.

  • !!
    author: megaNN<3

    i love megan g, because its my full name! haha but the album as a whole? i'd give it a four.

  • My Name!!
    author: meg09

    OK i LUV the song Megan G., cuz thats my name!! and it is pretty cool i also like the rain comes down totaly worth it

  • The vocals are heartfelt
    author: Lewie F. Nix

    The vocals are heartfelt, really pretty and to a nice musical and rhythmical backdrop.

  • big sound, intimate topics
    author: philosopher

    Wow, this album has a nice, big sound that is dramatic and engaging. The guitars ring out, the propulsive drumming drives it along, many instruments come and go, participating in the conversation, and the singer spins tales in poetic form over it all. the band is tight, veering off into instrumental passages and then bringing it right back to the song structure. Overall, it's a pretty unique sound, mixing lots of styles and playing techniques, though I would classify it as alternative rock in the grand sense.

  • Mystics Anonymous
    author: Dave Hamilton

    Mystics Anonymous is the brainchild project of Jeff Steblea, a fantastic songwriter and good friend of mine, as well. In fact, I even played the drums on all but one of the tracks on this album. Jeff's songs and melodies will catch you right off the bat, and you're sure to enjoy.

  • good songs
    author: rdk

    a collection of good songs, kinda folk rock with some more trippy passages. grows on you.

  • cool song
    author: fan-n-nyc

    dear old mr. hand is a really catchy tune. since having heard it i repeatedly find myself humming it in route to wherever i'm going. de-da-loop-dupe-do. good work, keep it up.

  • basements in rowayton...
    author: TOM :) GRIN

    ...thought I'd let people know that they ought to stop what they're doing and check out Jeff's music, because, well... because they owe it to themselves... Yeah, that's it... that's the ticket...As always, Jeff has reinvented himself with this album. It was more than likely ahead of its time, but I guess that's a trend that follows J closely with every piece of work that he completes. Great music from an astounding individual. Check it out. Pass it on. Tag, you're it.

  • good stuff
    author: Tommy Redd

    heya, as a bassist I must say "phat bass" in the song "The Rain Comes Down". All the songs are very good overall though, I like.

  • great
    author: mystics fan

    The only thing missing from this CD is Jeff’s powerful and charismatic stage presence. I am waiting for him to play shows again! Please!

  • cool cd
    author: dude

    this is a cool cd. highlights include the arena-rock chorus of The Rain Comes Down, drumming in Song Of Friends, harmonies in Dance To The Sky, horn section on Dear Old Mr. Hand, awesome jam in Lost At Home, and the mellow angst of Singular Joy. lots to enjoy in this one.

  • one to watch
    author: fan

    A favorite. Great instrumentation, great jams, great lyrics across the board - & what a spectrum, from the melancholy "Rain Comes Down" to the infectiously danceable "Megan G" to the psychadelic "Lollipop Virgin." Will keep my eye on this guy.

  • Desert Island Disc
    author: DB

    this is one of my desert island discs, along with beatles white album, dave matthews crash, barenaked ladies rock spectacle, and elvis costello's spike -- a must have

  • "Mystics Anonymous" delivers something for everyone
    author: A music fan from Massachusetts, U.S.A.

    I knew Jeff Steblea's last band, "Go Figure," from college (and LOVED them), so I'm very excited to see his new work. It's very different than his "Go Figure" days (which was a sort of infectious funk thing, very danceable)... Steblea has dug deeply with this album, and delivers a much more personal musical experience. It's one of those albums in which anyone can find something they like... there are very melodic songs ("Song of Friends," for example), and very catchy pop tunes ("Megan G."). "Dear Old Mr. Hand" is an offbeat tune that reminds me of Robyn Hitchcock and the Beatles. There's a really trippy tune at the end ("Lollipop Virgin") with some spoken word stuff that I really like. Some of the refrains really stick with you, like the great chorus in "Lost at Home" and parts of "Vivian Line." Although "Mystics Anonymous" is very different from Steblea's last band, it's still marked by Steblea's characteristically intelligent, interesting lyrics. I think my favorite song is "Megan G.," which is at once a great pop tune and an engaging story. Some of this album reminds me of Mark Eitzel's confessional lyricism, especially in songs like "The Rain Comes Down." Take a listen for yourself and see what your favorite song is! (And if Steblea ever decides to offer his "Go Figure" stuff here, definitely check that out as well!)

  • wow
    author: A music fan from Connecticut, USA

    This album is one that I would not want to miss. It strikes a chord in me every time I listen. Hope to hear more from this incredible artist.

  • true grit
    author: music fan

    Jeff foregoes his usually trippy lyricism and gets right down to the business of failed relationships, disillusionment and something we can all relate to - the neverending search for answers in a world that offers none. All this while still delivering great melodies and cool jams. A highly recommended disc.

  • intelligent rock music
    author: mystics fan

    a cd for people who like music that matters. a cd for people who like good lyrics and interesting music that doesnt always do what you expect it to. steblea has a great singing voice and something to say. this is a mature work but one that isnt afraid to rock when it wants to. alt bits of vu, rem, bob mould, cure, toad, kravitz, police, and jam bits of blues traveler, spin drs, dmb, widespread, aru, phish...throw in some classic bits of beatles, kinks, doors, etc and stir it up

email

Please log in to email this artist.