User:TakaraKnight/Speech machine

A Seattle alternative-rock/progressive-fuse/emo band since 1997, Speech Machine consists of one central songwriter and musician, Martin Charlebois. Born in Quebec City, Canada, Martin began playing music where he grew up in Buckingham, Quebec. Other members of the band are for-hire recording session players that are not present during live shows. Among the session players is Speech Machine's primary drummer Ben 'Stix' Smith (current drummer for Heart .)

Inspiration
The name Speech Machine and the independent recording label Yellow Sign Productions were derived from literary works of HP Lovecraft. The music is inspired by rock band classics from the 70's and 80's, such as Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix , Pink Floyd , and The Beatles , among others.

Album releases
In 2006 Speech Machine released its first album entitled Curious Punishments of Bygone Days. The name of the album was inspired by the literary works of Alice Morse Earle. The Album has 13 songs all of which are on Pandora Radio. In 2009, Speech Machine II was released. The album titled was inspired by Led Zeppelin's album Led Zeppelin II. The album has a total of 12 songs, which are also available on Pandora Radio. Simultaneously with the release of Speech Machine II, Speech Machine 2 Special Edition Version was also released, featuring three additional songs. Songs include: "Wastes of Dawn", and a combination of two songs played as one entitled "Superstar and the Fortunate One". The Special Edition was only available through their website for a short time. Now it is very difficult to find and the special edition songs are not available for streaming or download anywhere.

Website
In 2010 Speech Machine changed their website from SpeechMachine2.com (printed on Speech Machine II back panel of the album) to SpeechMachineBand.com with the intentions to prevent any confusion or misguided clicks from people interested in Speech Machines (a device to help write or read text on a computer screen, or a device to help one speak.)

Press
Speech Machine was reviewed by Seattle's Dave Segal from The Stranger in 2006. He wrote: “Curious Punishments Of Bygone Days abounds with soft-focus, midnight-blue atmospheres that have that consoling power often found in high-quality, dejected-sounding songs” He went on to say “It's one of the crucial paradoxes of music, and you can never have too many artists mining that particular vein of songwriting...” In 2008, Speech Machine received a review from a freelance writer Marrissa Lampart. She wrote: "…you could compare Speech Machine to: Elliot Smith's lyrics, the Meat Puppets' unique and deliberate melodies, Connor Oberst's poetry, Ben Harper, Ween's White Pepper album, Eric Clapton, Kitchens & Bathrooms, and I could go on. Only problem is, Speech Machine is as much like these bands as they are different. They don't hash out the same old styles in their dream to become an MTV insta-rockstar; this is an album that takes the best of their influences, and molds them into something unique and thought-provoking and progressive."