Press for Innocent Words Compilation #2 - A Warm Breath... and A Scream

From: Impact Press 6.04
There is a nice selection of diverse, mellowed-out and adrenaline-filled indie rock on this compilation from Innocent Words Records, a label that doubles as a magazine. With a mixture of sounds that gets drama-fueled with Sublime style deliveries alongside droning rock repetitions, a lot is wrapped into this release. Standout tracks come from the likes of Lorenzo Goetz with Czar Absolute, Veruca Salt, Triple Whip, Rachael Sage and Lucky Mulholland.

From: Playback STL. 2.04
God bless the Midwest. Here we have a brilliant 19-song compilation featuring the known (Ani DiFranco, Veruca Salt) and the unknown (where to begin?)- a tricky venture, to be sure, but it works, and works well. And it’s all conceived and compiled by Innocent Words out of Danville, Illinois, with a portion of the proceeds going to Riley’s Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

Kicking off the disc is the stripped down "School Night" by Ani DiFranco, a quiet stunner that underhandedly reels you in. Another female-driven highlight is the return of Veruca Salt with the fuzzpop "Blissful Queen." Firetrucs’ "Telephone" is a bit grunge, a bit glam, and a lot rocking, whereas Rachael Sage’s "What If" lends a sultry tone. For the harder rocking, take a bite of Lennon ("Nothing Out of Me"); country souls will be assuaged by Edward Burch & the Scallion Shufflers (with Jay Bennett) performing "You Shared You."

Fittingly, there’s a healthy dose of Champaign-Urbana music on the disc, courtesy of labels Innocent Words, Mud, and Parasol Records. Lorenzo Goetz (with guest Czar Absolute) thoroughly entice with the rapped-and-sung "Fist Above My Wrist." Centaur delivers the dreamhazy "Thimblee," and Legs for Days with the gently strummed "Song in D."

St. Louis’s own Riddle of Steel and Ring, Cicada make an appearance, as well, with "Kissing in Secret" and "I Remember," respectively; also featured is Chicago’s Cameron McGill with "Long Way Back to California." Noe Venable, who opened for Ms. DiFranco on her recent solo tour, closes out the disc with the breathy "In the Dark."

It’s inconsistent at times, as all compilations are, but given that this disc is culled largely from the Midwest unknown, it’s a highly impressive offering. And it’s for the kids-how can you go wrong?
~ Laura Hamlett

From: Punk Planet: Issue #62 6.04
Compilation album with a wide array of indie pop, folk, and rock bands to benefit a children’s hospital in Indianapolis. Congratulations, Innocent Words, you are responsible for my finally actually hearing an Ani DiFranco song. Strong tracks here from Andrea Maxand, Lucky Mulholland and many others.
~ Dan Laidman

From: Splendid 5.6.04
Like its predecessor, Small, My Table, this compilation was created by Innocent Words founder Troy Michael to benefit Riley's Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, Indiana. The tracks are mostly solid but undistinguished, although a few stand out. Ani DiFranco's "School Night" is intelligent and well-crafted, featuring DiFranco's vibrato-inflected voice and piercing lyrics about choices. I have problems with the second verse of her song, which poses a sort of Sophie's Choice scenario in which a mother has to decide which of her children to rescue from a burning house; my problem, basically, is that she's using kids in jeopardy as stage props. Also, the details are wrong. Most mothers of preschoolers can carry both kids at once, because early motherhood is, among other things, a kind of progressive weight training. If you don't believe me, stand at the exit of any zoo or amusement park, and you'll see at least three moms an hour carrying kicking, screaming kids. Still, the song is quite lovely, and I wouldn't be thinking about it so hard if it hadn't made an impact.

Other highlights include the MBV-ish fuzz of Centaur's "Thimbles", the Smashmouth-y bounce of Lorenzo Goetz's ""Fist Above My Wrist", the indie-rock wail of Andrea Maxand's "When God Shuts the Door" and Edward Burch's "You Shared You", a country-flavored indictment of a promiscuous ex ("I shared my tears / I shared my dreams / You shared you with a high school football team.").
~ Jennifer Kelly

From The Buzz 1.28.04
Now that's what I call music: Local label/publication Innocent Words releases 2nd CD compilation
By Brian Mertz staff writer
Late night airwaves are flooded with cheesy compilation CDs that promise to deliver the "freshest hits." The Now That's What I Call Music! albums sell millions of copies worldwide. Right here in Champaign-Urbana, a new compilation is about to be released that may not have the same fanfare, but is still eagerly anticipated by the local music scene.

Local label Innocent Words Records will release A Warm Breath...and A Scream on Feb. 6. The compilation features 19 total tracks, 10 of which have never been released to the public (see accompanying sidebar).

But this is not just another no-name indie compilation. In addition to new material from bands on Innocent Words, A Warm Breath features tunes from Ani DiFranco, Steve Turner from Mudhoney, Centaur and new tracks from Veruca Salt, Ring Cicada and Edward Burch with Jay Bennett.

"I am proud that 10 of the 19 tracks have never been released to the general public and I think I have a great diversity of bands too," said Troy Michael, founder and head of Innocent Words. "That kind of sums up Innocent Words; we really aren't looking for a certain sound, just great music."

Innocent Words began as a magazine that Michael and Larry Gates (lead singer of the Champaign band Lorenzo Goetz) started in December of 2001.

"We organized and started Confronting Innocent Words, which was the first issue of the magazine that came out and looked like absolute shit," Gates said. "We had it Xeroxed and didn't really have the best software. But we made some adjustments and some changes and it went from there."

Gates eventually left the publishing duties to Michael. Today, Innocent Words magazine is a quarterly publication that most recently featured interviews with The Shins, Hey Mercedes and Hammel on Trial.

Innocent Words also branched out as Michael decided to start a record label. That label has since signed and released music from four local bands—Lorenzo Goetz, Triple Whip, Terminus Victor and Legs for Days. The label also reissued The Dynamo Theorem's album and the first Innocent Words compilation called Small My Table.

Part of Michael's decision to release the first compilation was to project his love of music.

"Well, I am a failed musician—no ifs, ands or buts about it. I play guitar at home but that is about it," Michael said. "With the compilation, it is like my personal album. I get to choose track listings, producers, art work, etc."

"It's like in junior high and Troy is making mix tapes in his basement, only it's on a whole bigger level," Gates said.

But like so much else that Michael does, there is also a desire to help other people with his efforts. A portion of the sales from A Warm Breath...and A Scream will go to help Riley's Children Hospital in Indiana, where Michael himself had spent time when he was younger.

"I spent a lot of time there as a kid and I know it sucks to be cooped up in a hospital as a kid for days, weeks or even months," Michael said. "There just isn't much to do. So Innocent Words is a way I can give back to the place that literally saved my life."

"When I was in the hospital they had an arts and crafts type room, but they don't have that anymore, to my knowledge," Michael said. "I made my Dad this leather wallet, (and) although it was no masterpiece, I think it meant more to my father than anything in the world. I think he might still have it. So I am trying to bring that back through these wonderful bands donating their time and effort."

His efforts with last year's compilation enabled Michael to purchase several dozen art books to donate to the hospital for the children to look at while they are there.

What undoubtedly helped some copies of last year's Innocent Words compilation was more unreleased material from local artists, but also a contribution from Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard.

This year's compilation sees even more contribution from nationally established artists.

"I never thought I would be able to top getting Stone Gossard, but I did with Ani DiFranco (who appears on A Warm Breath)," Michael said. "I have a great deal of love and respect for what she does, who she is and her record label. Luckily, through some channels and friendships at Righteous Babe Records, they agreed to put a track on the CD since it was for a good cause."

In addition to DiFranco's previously released track "School Night," A Warm Breath has a song from Mudhoney's Steve Turner called "Smart Operator" with Gossard on bass. There is also a new Veruca Salt tune called "Blissful Queen."

Despite the bureaucracy and hurdles that must be cleared to get a major recording artist on a compilation, Michael continues to do so without a set formula of how to do it.

"Hard work and luck," Michael responds when asked how he did it. "I really don't know. I am blessed to have such good friends in rock ‘n' roll."

But the experience of putting out the first compilation seems to have helped Michael as well.

"The red tape is, in fact, an issue I hate to deal with, but it is only a small part of this and well worth it," Michael said. "A lot of people just assume you put a song on a disc and that's it. But there is a lot more to it than that. This year seemed a bit easier because I knew more about the legal issues."

Those national artists will sit beside local artists including the Innocent Words roster, Ed Burch, Ward and Centaur. Michael's friendship with artists on the national level doesn't take away from his pride for local artists.

"This could be a loaded question because I don't want to eliminate anyone," Michael said. "But the tracks that mean the most to me are the Innocent Words bands who specifically recorded new songs just for this comp. You can't or will not find them anywhere else. Words can't describe the love and respect I have for Terminus Victor, Triple Whip, Lorenzo Goetz and Legs for Days."

The artists on Innocent Words reciprocate that respect for Michael.

"There is mutual respect and trust and equal hard work," Gates said. "The only person I had experiences with that will work as hard as possible for all of us is Troy."

A Warm Breath...and A Scream will be available online at www.innocentwords.com in addition to receiving distribution from Carrot Top Distribution in Chicago and Parasol Distribution in Champaign.

It is also possible to pick up a copy of the compilation live and in the flesh at a CD release show on Feb. 6 at Cowboy Monkey. The lineup features Terminus Victor, Lorenzo Goetz and Triple Whip. There will also be some surprise guests joining the Innocent Words bands on stage.

From: E3 Music Feature 3.18.04
By Don Gerard
Recently I chatted with Troy Michael, Innocent Words the magazine and the record label founder and I discovered many things about the soft-spoken, Downstate Illinois-native (for one, he would rather I did not tell you he lives in Oakwood). Also, for instance, he does not eat red meat, but he will eat chicken as long as it is not on the bone. And he is allergic to eggs. And he does not want me to mention his age on the off-chance he has a shot at a date with a college girl.

I also learned the most difficult task Michael has encountered in regards to his second Innocent Words compilation disc A Warm Breath and a Scream (IWR 007).

"The hardest thing so far? Trying to do this interview, dude," Michael laughs.

Michael managed to wrangle some top-notch alt-music superstars to contribute to this years compilation: Ani DiFranco, Steve Turner (Mudhoney), Centaur (ex-Hum), Veruca Salt and Lennon contributed cuts. He also culled tracks from his own stable of recording artists Lorenzo Goetz, Terminus Victor and Triple Whip as well as local and area notables Edward Burch and the Scallion Shufflers (featuring Jay Bennett), Cameron McGill, Rachel Sage and Lucky Mulholland.

You see, the thing about Troy is I did not really have to ask him very many questions okay, I really only asked that one - because his actions speak for themselves:

In 2002 Michael celebrated the first year anniversary of his quarterly music magazine with the release Small, My Table (IWR 001), a collection which featured such national artists as Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam), Burden Brothers, Stickfigure (featuring ex-major leaguer and Cy Young winner Jack McDowell) and the Maroons (Stephen Malmus) as well as local hot-shots Lorenzo Goetz, Absinthe Blind, Robynn Ragland among others. The proceeds from the disc went towards purchasing art supplies for the kids at Riley’s Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

Michael spent a great deal of time there as a young man and there was nothing much there to do all day but watch soap operas on a fuzzy television set or draw on scraps of paper with broken up crayons. He vowed if he ever had money he would give something back to the kids in the hospital.

Thing is, Troy STILL does not really have any money. In fact, since the demise of Record Service, he has taken to working on his label and magazine (which now comes out twice a month) full-time and is looking for another paying gig.

But he is still keeping to his pledge to bring a little sunshine to the kids at Riley’s.

"With the wonderful music from 19 bands, Innocent Words feels we can only improve on a cause we all take to heart," Michael notes in the disc’s press release.

In person, however, Michael tells me, "Seriously, dude, I can eat eggs if they are in something, but just not plain."

The disc, by the way, is really, really good and worth twice the measly $10 price tag. So go buy it. It is available through his website, Parasol Distribution (www.parasol.com) and at Border’s Books, Music & Cafe.

And if you get a chance to meet Troy chat him up. He is a really swell egg.

From Wonka Vision Magazine Summer 2004
By Justin Luczejko
Around the age of seven, Troy Michael, owner of Innocent Words Magazine and Records, was receiving regular shots and pills as he was diagnosed with severe asthma. But this wouldn't be the end of his health issues. On May 16, 1986 Troy was informed that he would need a Kidney Transplant due to the fact that his kidneys never matured [a possible side effect of the asthma medications]. His mother gave him her kidney. "It was actually on Mother’s Day too. I just celebrated the 18th year. It is like a second birthday for me", confesses Troy. "The doctors left the original kidneys in when i got the transplant so technically i have three kidneys. No one knows if the old ones are still working or not," he continued.

Years later, In December of 2001, Troy started his now bi-monthly, independent music magazine, Innocent Words Magazine. To celebrate the first anniversary of the magazine, Innocent Words released a compilation CD entitled Small, My Table which featured Stone Gossard, Lorenzo Goetz, among others. A portion of the sales went to Riley's Hospital for Children for which Troy bought Calvin & Hobbes comics and art books to start a library for the sick children.

"I had the idea of giving back to the hospital that took care of me, basically saved my life. I know first-hand what it is like to be sick in the hospital with nothing to do all day. I have always wanted to give back, but never had the means or funds. We released our second compilation in February of this year and did the same thing. So we are amassing quite a collection of books for the kids," says Troy.

Living with a chronic disease is enough to send most people straight to the bottle. On the other hand, constant suffering and recuperation can be a motivating factor to give life everything you've got. As well as giving something back to those who've suffered similar illnesses. "I think in all the bad that has happened, I have made some good out of it," says Troy. "I am a WAY more compassionate person. I try really hard at everything I do and I wear my heart on my sleeve. I know what it is like to almost die and face death and continue on. I would never wish this on even my worst enemy though."

How far will Troy's campaign for the Children's Hospital extend? "I am not a crusader by any means but this cause, along with many others, is very dear to me and I want to do as much as I can to expose that and get people help who need it," Troy says. "As you know, America’s health care system is an absolute joke. So people, especially kids, battling in this life certainly need all the help they can get."