ROGER CLYNE & THE PEACEMAKERS

Roger Clyne doesn't like serving the musical version of junk food. "I like to put a little more heart into my cooking than that," Clyne said.

For over a decade, Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers have avoided unnecessary additives, preservatives and sugary substances that may initially be satisfying, but ultimately provide no sustenance. Instead, they have been serving up nothing but uncompromised, unadulterated, pure rock-n-roll. RCPM have stuck to their credo of letting art lead commerce by mixing relentless guitar licks, four part harmonies and thought-provoking lyrics.

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers have released six consecutive albums that have debuted in the top 10 on Billboard's Internet Sales chart, the first independent band to ever accomplish that feat. Two of those albums, 1999's Honky Tonk Union and 2004's ¡Americano!, debuted at #1. That streak of creating timeless rock music continues with RCPM's long awaited sixth studio album, Unida Cantina.

Roger Clyne, guitarist Jim Dalton, drummer PH Naffah and bassist Nick Scropos are renowned as one of the tightest, most exciting live acts on the road today. Over the past year, The Peacemakers have toured the U.S. several times over, traveled south of the border to play in Mexico and completed their first ever tour of the United Kingdom. The energy between the band members, experience and comradeship shine on Unida Cantina, the most upbeat and collaborative effort yet for the band.

"It's been 3 years since we've released a studio album," Clyne said. "During that time, we've incorporated Jim Dalton into RPCM and he brings a unique magic to our chemistry. It took some time to know ourselves again. It's always a challenge to remain consistent without being predictable; to create something novel, but not novelty; to appreciate success without becoming complacent. With Unida Cantina, we took our time and poured our hearts into it. Now that we're ready to share it. ...it's almost a rebirth for me."

On Unida Cantina, RCPM teamed up with producer/engineer/mixer and long time friend Clif Norrell (The Refreshments, Rush, No Doubt, R.E.M) to record 13 new songs. Collectively, the songs on Unida Cantina represent both the disillusionment and enlightenment of where Clyne's life is today compared to where he thought he would be when he was in his "immortal 20s." In many ways, it turned out different than he thought it would. But it also turned out better than could have imagined.

RCPM look to share those feelings of coming to terms with the differences between the expectations of youth and the reality of emerging adulthood on Unida Cantina. But in spreading that message, the Peacemakers also wanted to rock. Like their past albums, RCPM hope Unida Cantina will bring people together and unify those of like mind and heart. Sometimes people need a unification point or a place where they know they're not alone to face certain challenges, like a cantina. "My music will often bring people to that cantina," Clyne said. "If you need a cantina, you can put on Unida Cantina."

Unida Cantina is Clyne's most infectious record since he and Naffah released their 1996 cult-classic, Fizzy, Fuzzy, Big and Buzzy with their previous band, The Refreshments, on Mercury Records. Fizzy, Fuzzy, Big and Buzzy was Radio & Record's ninth Best-Selling Debut Album of the Year, went to #1 on Billboard's Heatseeker Chart and spawned two popular radio hits, "Banditos" and "Down Together." The Refreshments performed on national late-night shows and Clyne wrote and performed the King of the Hill theme song with the band.

With Unida Cantina, Clyne found his songwriting soulmate in Dalton. "For the very first time, I found someone's inclusion that didn't chase me or put me off my artistic vision. It opened the world to possibilities rather than close it. I felt magic," Clyne said.
Likewise, Clyne said he was more open from gathering input from everyone in the band than he has been on any other record. Both Scropos and Naffah, childhood friends originally hailing from The Windy City, had big input on the final production of Unida Cantina.

The result is pure American guitar-driven roots rock-n-roll. "All Over the Radio" is the album's first track, mixing the classic elements of RCPM music in crunching guitars and mariachi horn section. Other rockin' songs soon to become instant RCPM classics include "Dinero," "Heaven on a Paper Plate" and "Go With the Flow," the first song Clyne and Dalton ever wrote together.

The Spanish-influenced "Marie" has already become a fan favorite thanks to an acoustic recording session with MusicFog during the Steamboat Music Festival and a video that was released on the Internet.

The beautifully written "Small World" touches on the difficult task of showing the ultimate act of love for someone by letting go.

As Clyne sings on "Paper Airplanes," 'if you're feeling like you're too small for this world, or if you're feeling you're talking but there's no one there to listen,' sometimes you just need a place you can unify with other like minded people to weather the storm. And you may just find Unida Cantina.