Stars and Satellites

Review by:  Melissa Madore           

MySpace Address:  www.myspace.com/starsandsat

Website:  www.starsandsatellites.com

Genre:   Alternative / Emo / Indie

Headline:   "…you're so close, yet so far away…"

Band Members:  Robert Johnson - Everything - Vocals, Guitar, Keys, Programs, Drums, Bass, Synth, Sounds, and Engineering

Sounds Like:  Clan of Xymox, Jimmy Eat World, Death Cab for Cutie, and The Chameleons U.K.

Summary: 

Robert Johnson, the mastermind behind Stars and Satellites, creates a sonic soundscape that is quite difficult to describe, which is precisely why I love his music. I first became aware of SAS after receiving a random request to be added as a friend on MySpace and the name alone reeled me in since I collect all things celestial.  As the opening beats of "Solutions" soared through my speakers, I was instantly hooked and after listening to the four-track sampler, I quickly added the song "Shine" to my own page and began hyping Stars and Satellites to anyone who would listen.  "Shine" has an etheral/Britpop/Celtic/other-wordly quality about it that would complement a wedding procession just as easily as a night drive while "stars and satellites" illuminate the sky.

I'm also a huge fan of each of the four bands contained in the "Sounds Like" section and had the opportunity to speak to Robert via e-mail about the music we had in common.  With so many bands hiring outside help to man their sites, it came as a welcome surprise when he not only e-mailed me back but also added a comment to my MySpace page.  Robert takes an interest in his fans and mentioned in one of his blogs:  "Lastly, thank you to everyone for the emails, messages, and comments of support.  I get so many messages every day about the music and they all mean the world to me.  Thank you for reading.  Thank you for listening.  Thank you."  Robert frequently updates his page and there are always new blogs to read and other creative content for those to enjoy.

Although SAS has only been a member of MySpace since January of 2006, there is a loyal fan base of over 10,000 friends and judging by the following excerpt it is easy to see why:

"The timeless, emotional music of Stars and Satellites continues to expand. As heard through songs like 'Shine' and 'Solutions,' Robert intricately combines ambient synthesizer sounds with melodic guitar and piano."

Robert's brother, Brad, adds voice and guitar to "Dream Catcher," proving that this is an extremely talented family.  The Johnson brothers also welcome the opportunity to gather guest musicians, all visionary in creating songs that metaphorically take your hand and lead you on an inner journey, but not in the usual homogenized "emo" sensibility.  With so many bands choosing cash over creativity, it is refreshing that Robert is refusing to compromise and each of these tracks is a true testament to that.  Each song celebrates its individuality and the full-length release will finally justify the "five sweet years" it has taken to bring Stars and Satellites to this heavenly horizon.