Almost Everything I Wish I'd Said the Last Time I Saw You...

Personnel: Michael Grubbs (vocals, piano, Fender Rhodes piano, Wurlitzer organ, synthesizer); Matt Singer (whistling); Jake Hertzog (guitar); Tarrah Reynolds (violin); Sarab Singh (drums); Tanya Buziak (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Chris Cubeta.
Recording information: Galuminum Foil Studios, Brooklyn, NY.
The influences on Wakey!Wakey!'s first album run the gamut from U2 (whose ringing guitars are more than present on the lead-off track, "Almost Everything" ) to Maroon 5 (the source of the pop-funk anchoring "The Oh Song") to the band's true bread and butter: classic singer/songwriter pop. It's a wide range of genres, held together by the album's quirky arrangements -- a tuba here, a female choir there -- and Michael Grubbs' affable vocals. He's a musical theater veteran, one who traveled with touring productions of Camelot and Brigadoon before shifting his focus to pop music, and his baritone sounds pleasant and surprisingly understated on record. Grubbs' biggest strength, though, is the foresight to surround himself with talented musicians, including Richmond-bred singer/songwriter Emily Easterly and Lowry's Heidi Sidelinker. ~ Andrew Leahey