From: "Larry Davis" (larry_davis@gbinc.com)

"Elektra's Jason Falkner: Not An 'Unknown' Debut" 
by Craig Rosen
(Billboard, 7/13/96)

(copyright Billboard Magazine, 1996)

LOS ANGELES-- Although only 28, Jason Falkner has already been signed
to three major labels as a member of three bands.  However, Elektra--
and even Falkner himself on occasion-- would like to think of "Jason
Falkner Presents Author Unknown," due Aug. 13, as his debut.
    "The weird thing is that, from my record label's perspective, this is my
FIRST record," Falkner says.  "It's kind of strange, because I don't feel like
this is my first record...but this is the first thing that I have been 
completely responsible for and that I'm totally in love with."
    Falkner plays almost every instrument on the album and wrote and
produced the set.  That kind of autonomy is in marked contrast to 
Falkner's earlier musical experiences.
     In 1988, Falkner was featured as a guitarist on the Three O'Clock's
"Vermillion", which the band recorded for (The Artist Formerly Known
As) Prince's now defunct Warner Bros.-distributed Paisley Park label.
A teenage Falkner landed in the band after answering an ad in a 
magazine.
     A onetime fan of the Three O'Clock, Falkner says the band had changed
dramatically by the time he joined.  "The songs were different than the
earlier stuff, and the production was god-awful, but I was the new kid
in the band," he says.
    From there, Falkner joined San Francisco-based pop act Jellyfish.
"I was brought into the band under the guise that I was going to write,
too," says Falkner.  "But I had to fight to get my two words in.  It was a
nightmare after a while." Falkner quit the band after touring behind its 1990
Charisma/Virgin debut.
    In 1994, Falkner resurfaced as a member of Epic recording act the
Grays, a band that "really happened by accident," he says.  Falkner,
singer/guitarist Jon Brion, singer/guitarist Buddy Judge, and drummer
Dan McCarroll entered a practice studio simply to jam with no intentions
of forming a band, but they soon found themselves fielding calls from
labels.  The Grays' "Ro Sham Bo" was a commercial disappointment, but it
included the Falkner track and minor modern rock hit "Very Best Years".
Unfortunately, the Grays split after touring to support their debut
album.  "The group just didn't work because we had too many generals
and no soldiers," he says.
     After the dissolution of the Grays, Falkner once again pursued his
solo dream.  "It's something I've always wanted to do," he says.  "I would
do demos playing all the instruments.  The album is really just an
extension of the 4-tracks.  I wanted to keep the integrity and general
excitement."
     While recording "Author Unknown," Falkner--whose songs are
published by Arthur Unknown Songs (ASCAP)--was relieved to find that
Elektra gave him artistic control.  "They totally left me alone when I
made the record," he says.  "I didn't see anyone until I was mixing."
     The result is one of the most pleasing pure pop records of the year,
from the infectious first single and opening track, "I Live," to the more
subdued, orchestrated pop textures of the album's "Untitled" closing
track.  In short, "Author Unknown" has "critic's favorite" written all over
it, and Elektra plans to take full advantage of that.
     Dana Brandwein, senior director of marketing for Elektra, says,
"Jason's association with Jellyfish and the Grays has been very helpful,
particularly with the press, which we think is going to lead the way
with this project."
     Elektra plans to service "I Live" to modern rock and triple-A radio
July 22.  "We really feel confident about the song," says Brandwein.
"Once we get a foothold at alternative and triple-A, we're going to go to
pop radio."
     On the retail front, Elektra has delivered large quantities of advance
cassettes to its regional staff for distribution to chain buyers and
store reps.  "This is a real musicians' and song-lovers' album," says
Brandwein, "so we wanted to get it out early to the tastemakers."  At
least one retailer says the timing couldn't be better for Falkner's solo
debut.
     "I'm anxiously awaiting the album.  Other Jellyfish-related projects,
such as Imperial Drag and the Moog Cookbook, are generating a lot of
interest," says Bob Bell, new release buyer for the 280-store, Torrance,
Calif.-based Wherehouse Entertainment.  "And when the Grays came out,
they had some very strong airplay.  There seems to be a lot of interest
in that kind of pop."
     "Author Unknown" isn't the only release Falkner has coming out in the
near future.  In September, Sub Pop will issue a gatefold, double-7-inch
single of Falkner's 4-track demos, including an alternate version of
"Miracle Medicine", which is on "Author Unknown".  Brandwein says, "That will
get us some more exposure at independent stores after our release is out there."
 
     As for Falkner, who is managed by Russell Ziecker at ZERO, he is
putting together ANOTHER band for a tour.  "It will be a very different
scenario," Falkner says.  "The album's done, so there will be no disputes.
Now, it will be fun, and everyone will get paid."