I Ate Your Microphone

Tek Intro
Life To Me (Feat. Estelle)
Interlude (Feat. Lil Tone)
My Piano (Feat. Ghostface, Raekwon And Dion)
God’s Plan (Feat. Young Buck And Outlaws)
Ohio All Stars (Feat. Cross, Showtime, Mann And Chip The Rippa)
Back On The Grind (Feat. Riz, Sean Kingston And Dion)
I’m Back (Feat. Rem Dog)
Kill You (Feat. Push Montana)
Handling My Bizness (Feat. Lep, Count, Big D And M-1 Of Dead Prez)
Come Get It (Tekstrumentals)
Step Ya Game Up (Remix) (Feat. Dion And Little Brother)
Know Me (Feat. Jonell)
Time (Feat. Talib Kweli And Dion)
Outro

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Stephen Speaks and hundreds have been listening. (OK, that play on words was way too easy.) But the keyboards and vocals that deliver "Disappear" (Symptoms of Love 2007) will attract the attention of more fans as this group spreads the word. Straight out of Stillwater, Oklahoma, Stephen Speaks also makes its mark with "So Many People" from the same recording. This is not a rock band, really, but an acoustic ballad effort that works.

Generally considered a "garage band" throughout a successful run that began almost a decade ago, Stephen Speaks has reached audiences around the world. "Passenger Seat" and "Out Of My League" go back to 2000 and 2003, finding international success years ago. It really should be no surprise. The piano on "Out Of My League" is fine, fine!

Much of the top-quality work from Stephen Speaks comes from a home studio, through the efforts of Rockwell Ryan Ripperger and Dain Samuelson. In fact, the "distribution" of music is literally a word-of-mouth tale, with radio play and fans responsible for the group’s popularity. As the band’s information states, most of this was accomplished with "no lawyer, no record label and no booking agent." Ripperger and Samuelson do get professional help when playing some larger venues, with individual musicians and rock bands such as The Hero Factor helping out. Can we expect more widespread greatness out of this dynamic duo? It remains to be seen.

Stephen Speaks at MySpace

Tags: independent music, indie music, indie, stephen speaks, music