Latest Tiles News
September 24, 2016
Prior to the release of Pretending 2 Run we sat down individually to talk about the album. The producers asked questions and we would ramble about the
writing and recording, concept, special guests and other fun stuff. The whole process was unrehearsed, unscripted and the topics were slightly different for each of us. The Chromatin production team even slipped in a few surprise questions to keep us on our toes!
Overall, our main objective was to have some bits of interview material for the album trailers – but there was so much footage we were able to group the themes into five video
segments and provide a bit of 'behind-the-scenes' insights.
We are pleased to kick things off with the aptly titled first segment, Part I – Beginnings
**Note: members of the Tiles Files Mailing List get to enjoy advance screenings so if you’re not already a member, sign up today – it’s easy!
September 10, 2016
We met up with Mike Portnoy after the recent Winery Dogs show in Detroit
and he kindly agreed to say a few words about Pretending 2 Run – in print and in person! Mike and his son Max both make guest appearances (individually and
together) on Stonewall and Fait
Accompli.
Portnoy enthuses about Pretending 2 Run in print:
“Tiles have delivered another very diverse album and continue to push the boundaries of Progressive Rock. The list of special guests is amazing and I am proud to present my very first
recorded drum duet with my son Max.”
...and...
Live and in person:
Thanks MP!
August 26, 2016
We’re pleased to once again open for the legendary King’s X Friday, September 30th at the Token Lounge. Click here for all the details.
Although we didn’t formally announce our pending show Thursday, September 29th at Wilbert’s in Cleveland as part of the Sonic Voyage
Fest word did leak out just a little bit – so..., we should clarify that due to health circumstances within the band we are unable to make the journey and regretfully will not be
appearing. Progressive rock fans are, of course, still encouraged to attend and witness the excellent Stratospheerius, Circuline and Cell15. Visit the SVF website for info on all four shows...
July 20, 2016
Now that Pretending 2 Run has been available for several months, let's take a quick look at what people are saying... (Brave, aren't we?)
Thankfully we can breathe a collective sigh of relief as an overwhelming majority of fans and critics have enthusiastically embraced "P2R". Sure..., we wrote and recorded music we're
proud of and believe in (like every other artist); but we still want our songs to connect and resonate with listeners – which is something that can never be assumed (!).
But before we list a few of our favorite review excerpts, check out this quick video plug for "Pretending 2 Run" by Mike
Portnoy: Portnoy Talks TILES "Pretending 2 Run"
Jeff & Chris visited with Mike after the recent Winery Dogs show in Detroit and 'one-take-wonder Portnoy' was kind enough to
say a few words in support of "P2R".
So..., picking up where Mike left off, here a few review quotes that are easy for us to endorse (click here for the complete
collection):
• Music Connection: (9/10) "Tiles up the ante by giving the listener a double disc with an engaging storyline, meticulously arranged string and choral pieces, sweet vocal
harmonies and tuneful jam-based hard rock, fusion and world beat sounds."
• PROG Magazine: "...the Detroiters really turn up the heat. (Pretending 2 Run) ... is more imaginative, expansive, colorful, diverse and satisfying than ever."
• All Music Guide: (4/5) "'Pretending 2 Run' is massive, obsessive even. But it is also free of self-indulgence. Disciplined performances and lyric economy balance the breadth
of Tiles' ambition with depth and maturity that only longevity like theirs brings. Who says the concept album is dead? Brilliant."
• Musipedia of Metal: (10/10) "'Pretending 2 Run' is a progressive masterpiece, it may be overwhelming for some, but after a few listens the 96-minute album drip feeds you its
secret that every time you listen you hear something new and interesting."
• Profil Prog: (9½/10) "A jewel of originality. The amazing musical variety of the concept, coupled with intelligent writing, constantly provide new discoveries with each
listen. You will regularly come back to "Pretending 2 Run" with pleasure. Highly recommended!
• Classic Rock (Germany): "... whoever successfully puts the hour and a half of 'Pretending 2 Run' behind them, will have enjoyed every single second..."
• Musicreviews.de: (14/15) "'Pretending 2 Run' is a great double album that should properly set the progressive rock scene buzzing."
• Sea of Tranquility: (4½/5) "It's a wild ride from start to finish. 'Pretending 2 Run' contains many layers, a wealth of textures, and lots of color; featuring stellar
vocals & musicianship from the band and their guests. So make sure you don't miss out on this gem."
Special Fan Mentions:
• One of Chris' favorite reviews comes from "PlanetRondentia2" at ProgArchives due to the in-depth analysis
of the "Pretending 2 Run" story - intriguing.
• And one of our favorite fan comments about "Pretending 2 Run" comes from a veteran Rush fan who hopped into his Time Machine and co-opted this phrase from way back in a 1975 ad for
Caress of Steel : "The more you hear it, the more you hear in it!"
• PROG Magazine: "...the Detroiters really turn up the heat. (Pretending 2 Run) ... is more imaginative, expansive, colorful, diverse and satisfying than ever."
• All Music Guide: (4/5) "'Pretending 2 Run' is massive, obsessive even. But it is also free of self-indulgence. Disciplined performances and lyric economy balance the breadth of Tiles' ambition with depth and maturity that only longevity like theirs brings. Who says the concept album is dead? Brilliant."
• Musipedia of Metal: (10/10) "'Pretending 2 Run' is a progressive masterpiece, it may be overwhelming for some, but after a few listens the 96-minute album drip feeds you its secret that every time you listen you hear something new and interesting."
• Profil Prog: (9½/10) "A jewel of originality. The amazing musical variety of the concept, coupled with intelligent writing, constantly provide new discoveries with each listen. You will regularly come back to "Pretending 2 Run" with pleasure. Highly recommended!
• Classic Rock (Germany): "... whoever successfully puts the hour and a half of 'Pretending 2 Run' behind them, will have enjoyed every single second..."
• Musicreviews.de: (14/15) "'Pretending 2 Run' is a great double album that should properly set the progressive rock scene buzzing."
• Sea of Tranquility: (4½/5) "It's a wild ride from start to finish. 'Pretending 2 Run' contains many layers, a wealth of textures, and lots of color; featuring stellar vocals & musicianship from the band and their guests. So make sure you don't miss out on this gem."
• And one of our favorite fan comments about "Pretending 2 Run" comes from a veteran Rush fan who hopped into his Time Machine and co-opted this phrase from way back in a 1975 ad for Caress of Steel : "The more you hear it, the more you hear in it!"
April 15, 2016
Pretending 2 Run is now available!
Read the official press release here
...and get your copy today:
CD: (indulge in the tactile experience of Hugh Syme's elaborate 2-disc digipak w/ 28-page booklet)
• Signed copies direct from Tiles
• Direct from our label Laser CD
• Amazon
• Burning Shed (UK)
• Just For Kicks (Germany)
• Progrock.co.uk (UK)
Digital: (includes download of Hugh Syme's lush 28-page booklet)
• Laser's Edge Standard Digital Download (mp3, FLAC and more)
• Laser's Edge 24-Bit Digital Download(mp3, FLAC and more)
• iTunes
April 12, 2016
We are pleased announce "the world's loudest rock magazine" Revolver is
exclusively streaming our new double CD "Pretending 2 Run" in its entirety (!) a few days ahead of the April 15th release date. All 96-minutes are premiering here!
Check out the full Laser's Edge / Earsplit announcement here
for behind-the-scenes information.
Plus..., not only do we lift the veil off Pretending 2 Run – but if you're reading this then welcome to the debut of the brand new TILES website! Be
sure and look around and don't forget to check out the STORE for our "Pretending 2 Run" CD special, t-shirts, special "Off the Floor" 20th Anniversary shirts and
our entire back catalog...
Many thanks to Mike at ProgScape for the great design!
April 5, 2016
We are pleased to release the second full-length song from our upcoming double album Pretending 2 Run – this time in the form of a lyric video. Along with some interesting perspectives on being "weightless," the song features guest appearances from several of our hometown musician friends: Sonya Mastick on percussion, Keith Kaminski on soprano saxophone and Kevin Sharpe on the Hammond B-3 organ. Matthew Parmenter of Discipline. also trades lead vocals with Paul. One of the last songs recorded for the album, it ended up being one of our favorites:
Producer Terry Brown: "During the recording process 'Pretending 2 Run' gradually morphed into an epic! Adding "Weightless"' towards the end of the production was a coup and it quickly became my favourite track on an album of favourites!"Check out the video here.
Chris also "weighs" in: "'Weightless' was lingering on the backburner since the beginning of the project. But it wasn't until we decided to make Pretending 2 Run a double album that we circled back around to it. It's just one of those situations where a song inexplicably drops off the radar then turns out to be a hidden gem. 'Weightless' may actually be the most upbeat song on the entire album and features the first soprano saxophone solo (courtesy of Keith Kaminski (Bob Seger)) ever to appear on a Tiles album!"
