*** PRESS RELEASE *** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wed, April 6, 2005 Tel – 603.425.3552 E-Mail [email protected] Subject Bias Releases New CD Portland, ME Subject Bias, led by Kevin Ouellette, has released its new album, “It Takes One to Know One.” Kevin Ouellette (vocals) teams up with Joe Gouzie (drums), Jason Marshal (bass) and Terry Palmer (producer/keyboard) to produce one of the most “honest” albums of the summer, critics say. Subject Bias is an indie-rock band, based out of Portland, ME, that uses acoustic and electric sounds to deliver smart lyrics with a sarcastic edge. It has been compared to Bright Eyes, Pedro the Lion and Elliott Smith. Songs such as “Weapons of War” and “Guilt” contain smooth melodies, while “Something Borrowed Something Blue” displays some country flare. About “It Takes One to Know One,” The Portsmouth Press Herald wrote, “Ouellette’s flair for combining poetic nihilism with melodic whimsy is intact, as are his disarmingly honest lyrics and simple, sprawling arrangements.” Be sure to see Subject Bias perform – April 8th (Fri) Free Street Taverna, 128 Free Street, 11pm, Portland, ME 207.772.5483 April 14th (Thur) Live on WCYY 94.3 fm, spin out, 8pm, Portland, ME April 15th (Fri) Gorham Grind ,7pm – 9pm, 18 South Street, Gorham, ME 207.839.3003 April 22nd (Fri) The Blue Mermaid, 409 The Hill Portsmouth, NH 603.427.2583 April 28th (Thur) UNH 730pm – 10pm, Englehart Hall Durham NH May 7th (Sat) Cafe On The Corner, 730pm, 478 Central Ave, Dover, NH 603.742.0314 May 14th (Sat) Free Street Taverna, 128 Free Street, Portland, ME 207.772.5483 May 19th (Thur) The Ale House, Portland, ME 207.253.5100 July 8th (Fri) Acoustic Coffee, 8pm, 32 Danforth St, Portland, Maine 207.774.0404 For more information about upcoming shows and news log on to the web at www.subjectbias.com/ # # # To hear the CD “It Takes One To Know One” in full : subjectbias.com/ittakesone.html For publicity or interview requests, please contact Kevin Ouellette at (603)425-3552 or via email at [email protected] For hi-res pictures ‘ bios to use with this story or to review a complete calendar listing of all Subject Bias events, please click here or there is an attached picture and bio at the end of this email: http://www.subjectbias.com/ subject bias bio

(live venue lineup) Kevin Ouellette – vocals / guitar Joe Gouzie – drums / backing vocals Katrina Abramo – bass / backing vocals Frank Hopkins – keyboards/ backing vocals

Subject Bias singer-songwriter Kevin Ouellette has a simple word for his band’s music

“Honest. Honesty is the hardest thing to get. My music is as honest as I can muster at the moment,” said Ouellette, a Portland, Maine, resident formerly of Windham, N.H.

On its latest album, 2005’s “It Takes One to Know One,” Subject Bias uses acoustic and electric sounds to deliver smart lyrics with a sarcastic edge. Listeners are carried through the band’s music with a brilliant combination of controlled calm melodies and moments of rage while its lyrics question everything that is personal to Ouellette.

“As far back as I can remember, I’ve had this part of me that just won’t shut up,” said Ouellette, whose band has been compared to Bright Eyes, Pedro the Lion and Elliott Smith.

“What’s right and what’s wrong continually bothers me. At age 5 or 6. I was completely disturbed when I saw one person steal a ball from someone else. It would keep me up. If someone was mean to someone else, or someone lied, it just blew my mind. Just to watch people ignore certain things, I don’t know how you ignore them.”

He cites the song “Beautiful” from “It Takes One to Know One” as an example.

“It’s all about how it disturbs me that women think they have to walk around in skimpy outfits to get attention or recognition. At the same time, I’m the first one to turn my head and pay attention to that because that’s attractive. It’s a double-edged sword kind of thing,” Ouellette said.

During the songwriting process, Ouellette found himself delving more deeply into his personal life, dabbling in songs about relationships, something he had previously stayed away from.

“This album for the first time has a ton of stuff about relationships, which in the past I’ve tried to steer clear of. My views toward relationships, my views toward manipulation within people, my views toward marriage, toward all that stuff just came out.”

Ouellette is the centerpiece of Subject Bias, having written all of the songs. His goal with his 2003 debut, “Average Potential,” was to record an album as a solo artist with an acoustic guitar. Things quickly changed, however.

“I went to record my first album and it just blew me away how many people offered to be on it. I thought I was going to do a solo thing but people just kept on offering,” he says.

His collaborators included Portland music heroes drummer Matt Luneau, cellist Andy Happel (formerly of the Capitol Records band Thanks to Gravity) and Hank Decken (formerly of the Metal Blade act Nevada Beach).

After hearing the finished product, Ouellette opted against promoting “Average Potential” with strictly an acoustic guitar and decided to form a full band.

“It definitely sounded way better with a full band. So I started asking people if they’d play.”

The full band format inspired Ouellette to write “It Takes One to Know One,” which was produced Terry Palmer, the head engineer at Dizzyland Studios. Guest musicians on the album include drummers Joe Gouzie and Matt Luneau; bassist Jason Marshal (of Eldemur Krimm); back-up singers Kevin Kennie (of Headstart), Dan Blakeslee, Amanda Hamilton, Liz Parmalee and Katherine Albee; dobro player Hank Decken; Nathan Cohen (What is It Mr. Fox?); guitarist Kim Bird; trumpeter Jack Narcotta; and pianist Judy Ouellette.

“I wrote the new album with a band in mind, definitely. Most of it came together during practices with my drummer (Gouzie). I’d come up with ideas and we’d take it from there. I didn’t always write with the guitar as the main focus. I decided to let the songs breathe more,” Ouellette said.

“In some cases, I could let the song be simpler because there were other instruments and other textures that were planned to fill the space or control the melody.”

Instruments from dobros to keyboards were used to fill the aforementioned space on “It Takes One to Know One.”

“It was the easiest thing to write for me because this is the first time I’ve ever been involved in a band where there’s somebody in charge. I was so used to compromise, compromise, compromise. A band member had a quarter of a song,” he said.

The plan must have worked. Subject Bias is a two-time Best Indie Band nominee for the Portland Phoenix’s Best Music Poll. In 2004, it was also nominated for Best New Act.

“It Takes One to Know One” is available at BullMoose Music and www.subjectbias.com