Phil Aiken

After taking everyone that knew him only as the Buffalo Tom keyboard player by surprise with his first release, Don't Look Down, Phil Aiken has returned with more surprises. His second album, It's Always the Quiet Ones, leaves behind the loud guitars and rock drums of its predecessor, instead stripping down the core of the music to acoustic piano, bass, and drums. There are deft touches of other keyboards, percussion, strings, mandolin and yes, some guitar, but this is essentially a piano based album. As Phil wryly notes, 'This is my sensitive guy with a piano record. Only in my case I guess it's a somewhat ascerbic sensitive guy with a list of grudges and grievances as long as your arm (and a piano) record.'
     Phil used his live band in the studio: Joe McMahon (Senor Happy, Spaceshots, Merrie Amsterburg) on stand up and electric bass, and Dean Fischer (Tanya Donnelly, Juliana Hatfield) on drums. Some basic tracks were recorded with noted producer Paul Kolderie (Hole, Radiohead, Pixies) at his studio, and the remainder of the album was produced and recorded by Phil in his home studio. Guest performers include Tanya Donnelly (Belly, Throwing Muses), Chris Toppin (Fuzzy), mandolin ace Jimmy Ryan, and others.