Artist description The sound of Hearts In Armor is hard to define. Sure, there are comparisons: “Your singer is a troubadour – like Elvis, Roy Orbison, Chris Isaak, Burton Cummings – a crooner – one of the most unique voices I’ve heard”, to “Guitars that sting – shades of Clapton, SRV, David Gilmour – and acoustics that ring – lot’s of influences there – Richard Thompson, Jimmy Page”. And “a musical style that’s difficult to pinpoint – from blues to rock, country, ballads, soul – even a Latin influence – this is a band that needs to be LISTENED to”. To Hearts In Armor, music is cinema - we are reminded of the visions that danced in our minds when our favorite albums played. Their music – cinema-verite – a soundtrack from a small, French film – black and white – cameras handheld. We hear footsteps on an empty street. The morning sun rises. Somewhere, a lonesome dog barks, as the story of the girl unfolds. “The Girl From the Avenue” is the debut CD from Hearts In Armor. A concept album – a novella – of love and madness, passion and pain. And most importantly, The Girl. Return to the days when songwriting and musicianship were crafts to be honored. Music that will make you laugh and cry – dance and shake – music that will touch your soul and leave you changed forever.

Music Style Alternative Pop Rock

Musical Influences The Beatles, del Amitri, Frank Sinatra, Oasis, Elvis, John Hiatt, Los Lobos, Pink Floyd, Dwight Yoakam, Led Zeppelin, Tom Waits, Eric Clapton, SRV, Carlos Santana, David Grissom, Ted Nugent, Queen, Cryan' Shames, Richard Thompson

Similar Artists Beatles, Oasis, del Amitri, Replacements, REM, Pink Floyd, Elvis

Artist History Founded as the cover band The Penetrators, Hearts In Armor has maintained a reputation for eclectic music and tasty tunes. This is a band that wants you to think, as well as tap your toes. In 1998, the band went on sabbatical to write and record their debut CD "The Girl From The Avenue", and presently, they are promoting this CD via the Chicagoland club circuit. A definite must-see - check out their gig schedule in the “Calendar” section of this web page.

Group Members Robert Pauly: Lead vocals, acoustic guitars, lyricist and songwriter ~~~~~ Eliot Levy: Lead guitar, bass, vocals and songwriter ~~~~~ Michael Menke: Drums, percussions and vocals

Instruments Electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, strings, drums, percussions

Albums The Girl From the Avenue

Press Reviews REVIEW OF DEBUT CD "The Girl From the Avenue" by Frank Cotolo: “It's near 2 a.m. and some remote cable channel is starting to air a B-movie from the '50s. Black and white. It has a haunting opening. Fade in: an inner-city apartment building. We see one light through one window on the fifth floor. The shadow of a man's face appears. His features are indistinguishable but we see him look down and then the camera takes his perspective and we look down with him. On the damp, street-lighted avenue a girl strolls along - fade in credits: “The Girl From The Avenue” and fade up this song by Hearts In Armor, a perfect theme ... it's the kind of movie that is watchable, good, too - though cheap and arty - cinema-verite. That film term, in fact, best describes the music of HIA. From this “movie” song to the prayer-like “Sabado Amen” to “Small Stories”, HIA delivers that black-and-white film feel, the camera handheld. When their lyrics are abstract they are best … in their own genre, in this mood of B&W - B-movie art-deco brilliance - a mood long dead and buried in this culture. I enjoy HIA's delivery and style. Their music sets the stage and delivers the story, proving that there is no difference, really, between the $40-million film and the good $50,000 film or the $2-million recording and the home recording. ~~~~~ MP3 ARTIST REVIEW - "The Return of the Troubadour": I can think of only a handful of men that fit into this category. Someone who is poetic and has a clear, almost mournful voice that can lull you into the melancholy state he is feeling himself. Someone who sings so distinctly that you understand every word. Someone whose words draw you in as his story unfolds. Yesterday I would've said only Chris Isaak and Roy Orbison fit that category. However, last night I listened to a CD for the very first time. I listened again this morning. And I would now have to add the band "Hearts in Armor" to this list. Robert Pauly's voice is one of the most unique voices I've heard - a true "crooner". The harmonies add a depth and lushness often lacking in current music. I learned a lot from just singing along with them. While the musical style is nearly impossible to pinpoint, ranging from ballads to blues rock to even a Latin influence - this is a CD that needs to be really LISTENED to to be fully appreciated. Each listen unveils another layer. I love the storyline and the haunting delivery in "The Girl From the Avenue." Regarding "Passion and Pain", from a woman's perspective - I cannot tell you how it warms my heart to hear a man sing about real love. Most women I know (myself included) dream about a man who knows what real love is, who knows it is more than sex, who knows it's true worth and is not ashamed to admit it. And we fear that true love to men is simply good sex and a woman who doesn't piss them off too much. Thank you for letting me know the dream is still alive. ~~~~~ MP3 & GARAGEBAND REVIEWS: ~~~~~ “The Neighborhood”: ”I've discovered many great acts since getting involved with Mp3.com, but there are a few that really stand out. Though "The Neighborhood" is possibly my favorite song from this collection, another HIA song that somehow keeps bubbling to the surface when my brain is running its own play-list through the course of a day is "Small Stories". These songs are part of a concept album by Hearts in Armor, complete with character voices a' la Pink Floyd, and lyrics that paint vivid pictures of "The Neighborhood". The lyrics in this collection are worth a read all by themselves - hard edged poetry with sights, sounds, smells - to use the band's own description, "cinema". Combined with excellent musicianship, and powerful vocal performances, these songs aren't just a good listen - they're a trip. Who died? Don't know yet, but I'm working on it.” ~~~~~ “You”: “Very nice ... modern shades of bands like Widespread Panic and Soulhat with deeper influences from as far back as Moby Grape and perhaps of the early Quicksilver Messenger Service. The middle guitar part has a strong southern feel, especially with the very tasty slide anchoring the riff. Overall this gets a major A+ and is a song I would deem to be radio ready ... and radio friendly ... great hooks ... strong playing and excellent recording ... everything I'd look for if I were programming an indie artist program.” ~~~~~ “The Girl From the Avenue”: Review #1 - “The Girl From the Avenue starts out with a cool intro with a very Santana like melody and tone on guitar that is tasty and catchy. Very nice! Nice hooks! The vocal is thick and warm in a tenor range. The guitar playing is tasty, melodic and bluesy. I dig it! Very 60’s influenced. The tune rocks! Very catchy! ~~~ ”Review #2 - "Another Good Song ... Great lead guitar line ... definitely dug the moments of harmonic minor, too. Sounds almost like the Refreshments at times, but with a touch of Elvis. Or should I say a bigger touch of Elvis. I dunno. Good song though, solid vocals, and the lead guitar again, was excellent. Very catchy." ~~~~~ “Small Stories”: "Smooth, guys. This song is pretty damned good! You can actually tell that you know how to play your instruments, something that's hard to find on this site. Your singer's kinda funny, he's got that whole broadway/lounge singer vibrato style going ... but I like it." ~~~~~ “Covenant”: Review #1 - “Your vocalist has a wonderful, strong voice. Don't let him get away! Good, good sound on that guitar ... This is just an awesome piece of work!" ~~~ Review #2 - "Covenant is one of the very best songs - if you can dare single out any song from this band as "the best" they are all strong powerful songs that demand your attention from the very first bar. The intro to Covenant is indescribably powerful, and no matter how many times you hear it the power never fades.”

Location Chicago, IL - USA

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