Frank is a singer-songwriter from Charleston,S.C. He has been writing powerpop songs for many years and just released his first solo album "Thru The Years". It was released on the Kool Kat Musik label and is widely available online! Prior to that he played guitar on the Eddie Bush record "Hands In Pocket", which was recorded  before Eddie Bush got singed to a major label deal w/ Decca this passed year. He was also a member of the Fire Apes from 97-98 and guitar player on the debut Fire Apes cd from 1997 titled 'Perfect Day For Bannafish".(Which is a smash!)

His songs are very catchy and heavily influenced by the Beatles, Beach Boys, Smithereens, Elvis Costello, and Matthew Sweet to name a few. The solo album has been recieved well in the states and well in parts of Europe, mainly Spain.

Shindig Magazine says:"The opening tune, "I'm So Glad" is a gorgeous slice of jangly guitar powerpop, with echoes of the early Smithereens in the vocal and the song structure."

Frank Royster "Thru The Years" Music veteran Frank Royster has been a member of The Fire Apes and The Hed Shop Boys. This guy has real melodic guitar chops. If you took Randy Newman and Elvis Costello and spiced together the DNA with The Smithereens, you'd get Frank. His new solo album is called "Thru The Years" and like a Pinata, it contains lots of musical treats. The album starts with "I'm so Glad" a Beatlesque tune with a fantastic wall of sound production that would make the Spongetones blush. The DIY ethic is all over this album and I haven't heard a better example of this since The Breetles. It's followed by "You Don't Understand" a really nice rocker that could've fallen off the Elvis Costello "Armed Forces" album. The vocals here really emulate Elvis C. nicely. The raspy rock voice on "Mr. Wiggins" recalls Ian Hunter a bit, with great guitar riffs here. Along with the great guitar playing is truly great songwriting ability. The chord changes on these tunes are akin to Marshall Crenshaw and other great writers of power pop. Frank puts his guitar melody in the forefront of the sound. Granted it sounds brilliant, but I think the vocal echo effects are a bit too much on some tracks and would've liked it mixed a bit more evenly. "Lullaby" gets into some Emitt Rhodes acoustic territory. "I Don't Want To Lose You" is a terrific song in the Enuff Znuff mode. Some of the other songs here reminded me of The Oohs excellent "Llamalamp" album. If you like any of the artists I mentioned in this review you'll enjoy Frank Royster. This is essential listening for power pop fans. Frank's Website | My Space | Kool Kat | Itunes | Not Lame | Musicishere.com Labels: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic