Found & Lost

Jam Magazine By William A. Huffman ~ 10 out of 11 April 2004 Holy Crap! This is freakin' good. Bobbo Byrnes, locally known for The Gypsy Mechanics before he and his wife Tracy moved to Cali, has now moved musically as well. With the opening short 'Found,' the Fallen Stars debut CD begins a trek through many states- United and emotional - which all revolve around the finding and losing of many things; many of which may be determined only by the listener. The entire album is crisp. It pops from the earphones/speakers quickly and easily. Whether it's an all-out straight-forward rocker like 'We Are Only Young' or a softer ballad like 'Ellie,' each instrument is perfectly placed in production as well as perfectly played. 'In Reach' has a wonderful piano/guitar harmony while Bobbo laments of the innocence of going to the beach of younger days. And how the strip was 'lit up like a Christmas tree on the fourth of July.' 'Sioux City,' one of many that refer to a specific geographic location, has a subtle hook, plenty of guitar plushness, and Tracy's bass and harmonies in full swing. This tune,and some of the others, remind me of latter Lemonheads when Evan Dando and Juliana Hatfield began performing together. I think I prefer the songs that Bobbo leads vocally, but that's not to say Tracy isn't good. She is wonderful, but the texture Bobbo brings has a little more resonance and when Tracy harmonizes with him, it's magical. Metronome Magazine By Doug Sloan March 2004 ...

Featuring thirteen songs that highlight both Bobbo's and Tracy's vocal work, the album deals up a potpourri of pop, rock and jangling acoustic offerings. Combining elements of The Rolling Stones and Counting Crows, The Fallen Stars inject their trump card of Tracy Byrnes' vocals into the mix making for a completely original project. Coupled to tight performances by the band and soaring original arrangements. Ron's Alt.

Country February 2004 VERY loosely translated from the Dutch website ronsaltcountry.com ~ 3 stars out of 4 OK to be honest with you I have a weakness for falling stars. The stories on Elvis in his after glory days, the going down of soccer player George Best, and poet Herman Brood, are stories for me. A group with the name The Fallen Stars is first in line for me.... Lost and Found is the name of the CD from this couple from southern California, Bobbo (most of the vocals, guitar, harmonica and accordion) and Tracy Byrnes (vocals and bass guitar). Be careful the title is Found and Lost, not Lost and Found, which would be more appropriate, except this CD is thematic and tells the story of finding love and the going down of it. The theme is not concerning their own lives, but more on people they know. Musically we must place The Fallen Stars in the corner with a band known as The Wild Colonials, in the period just before 2000 in the LA scene. Just as with the Colonials, the vocals of the Fallen Stars are blended between both Bobbo and Tracy, though it should be told that Tracy's voice can't touch the vocals of Angela McClusky of the Colonials. Bobbo's warm voice does work fine in the up-tempo rock songs, which can be found in the beginning of the CD, as well as on the ballads at the end of the CD. The CD is in good balance, powerful in the beginning and fading away at the end. Which is perfect for the story of this CD, lost love.... West Coast Performer By Amanda Wells June 2004 On Found and Lost, southern California roots rockers the Fallen Stars make it very clear they write songs about folk like us. Folks in love. Folks in pain. They take a lot of stock in honest, heartfelt storytelling. Overall, their admiration for the narrative form, rife with omnipresent themes of travel and escape works well. They weave thirteen cohesive vignettes of love gained and ever so ruefully lost, encased within the aptly titled 'Found' and 'Lost'. The sound cleverly mirrors the story being told, commencing powerful ('Break The Skin'), ending disillusioned and regretful ('San Diego'). Guitars, harmonica, accordion, percussion, lap steel and piano are just a few of the too