Jim Stanard-Color Outside The Lines
  • Home (feat Peter & Bethany Yarrow)
  • Same River
  • Witness Protection
  • One Time In A Row
  • Arkansas (feat Peter & Bethany Yarrow)
  • Fake News
  • Color Outside The Lines
  • When My Truck
  • Each Other's Minds
  • The Opium Wars
  • Soft and Gentle Smile
Press

Jim Stanard’s BUCKET LIST is Out Now on Manatee Records
Jun 01, 2018

Jim Stanard’s BUCKET LIST is Out Now on Manatee Records
Songwriter Covers Everything from Politics to the Thermodynamics of Love

June 1, 2018 (NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE) — Once a powerful leader in the world of finance and insurance, a now-retired Jim Stanard is taking on a new role as a singer / songwriter, fulfilling a dream that has burned for more than four decades. Stanard’s BUCKET LIST is out today on Manatee Records.

On 11 original songs, Stanard lends an authentic voice behind the wisdom of someone who has lived a life trying to learn from his mistakes and grow as a person. "I've always carried around a Dylan line 'he not busy being born is busy dying'," he says. "To accomplish something, one needs to take action. I like to think of weaponizing my mistakes and failures by learning from each."

As a young man, Stanard hung out at the legendary Main Point Coffeehouse in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania watching icons like Tom Rush, Doc Watson, Bruce Springsteen and many others. He saw Bob Dylan in Philadelphia in 1966 and attended Woodstock in 1969. Having started playing guitar as a teenager in the 60's, music meant so much to him that he sold his childhood coin collection to buy his first guitar, a Martin D-28 that he still plays.

Get Your BUCKET LIST Now!

iTunes: https://apple.co/2L6Xm8i
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Drawing from a well of influences that includes such diverse artists as Warren Zevon, The Who, David Bromberg and Robert Earl Keen, Stanard talks about taking ownership of life choices (“Lobster”), gets inside the head of a soldier (“Dogs Of War”), politics (“Can’t Happen Here”) talks philosophy (“It’s All Turtles”), regret (“Meant To Say”) and even love and thermodynamics (“Bucket List,” “Law Of Love”).

Roots Music Report Review of Bucket List
Jul 20, 2018

Roots Music Report Review of Bucket List
Written by Duane Verh

Jim Stanard’s profoundly plainspoken vocals and sentiments address issues both highly personal (“She Wants Him To Change”, “Sparks, Nevada”, “Bucket List”) and grand in scope (“Dogs Of War”), reliably delivering appropriate emotional punch. He spells these moments with sly, wry humor aimed at the opposite sex (“Hard To Please”, “Apex Predator”). End result: a grows-on-you set from a fresh and highly believable voice.

Thanks to Roots Music Report and Duane Verh for a great review of Bucket List!

Bucket List CD Review by Making A Scene
Aug 03, 2018

Bucket List CD Review by Making A Scene
Written by Jim Hynes

Even relatively late in life, it’s not too late to make a singer-songwriter record, no matter what the walk of life. Take Jim Stanard, for example. He sounds as if he’s a contemporary of this writer and the two Richards you seen so prominently on this site. Stanard grew up during the golden age of folk music and spent many an evening listening at the legendary Main Point Coffeehouse in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

Even though he learned guitar at age 12 and had inspirations for a musical career, he chose a different one. He stopped playing and developed a successful career in the world of finance and insurance. Although music was not his career during those years, his early exposure to it remained a guiding force. “I’ve always carried around a Dylan line ‘he not busy being born is busy dying’,” he says. “To accomplish something, one needs to take action. I like to think of weaponizing my mistakes and failures by learning from each.”

As it happens to many of us, there’s a point in a traditional kind of career where one longs to step away to earnestly pursue an interest, and/or get involved in more creative endeavors. Stanard, who never really abandoned his early attraction to folk music, returned to it the early 2000s with the support of his wife of 42 years. A series of introductions to music industry insiders led to guitar lessons and voice lessons with Kip Winger, front man for the platinum-selling rock band, Winger. Kip (who plays on the album) encouraged Jim to begin writing songs and Jim dove in, studying with Kip and other writers, and crystalizing his observations into the songs that went on to comprise this debut album, Bucket List.

Stanard, clearly not an industry veteran or insider, has a tough road ahead, putting even more pressure on these songs to speak for themselves. He has some gems here. Drawing on influences that range from Warren Zeon to David Bromberg to Robert Earl Keen, Stanard has both a gift for poetry and narrative. He covers a wide range of subjects from politics to the thermodynamics of love. He gets into the head of a soldier in “Dogs of War,” and poses some interesting questions in “Lobster.” These lyrics attest to his insights, “Ain’t got nothing ‘gainst some guy in Vietnam/stamping bumpers and grills almost or free/Though our daddies fought/maybe his was killed by mine/Is there Karma at work directed at me?”

His take on current political climate is expressed rather directly in “Can’t Happen Here.” Here is a sample – “Ask the ghosts of Sarajevo/Mosul and Kandahar/they thought it couldn’t happen there/they’ll tell the cause of war/their leaders were little men/who bickered and debated/for their own gain and glory/fed sectarian hatred.” His take on philosophy is facetiously captured in “Turtles.” He talks about relationships growing apart in “Bucket List’ and “Meant To Say.” Throughout, it’s hard to argue with Stanard’s observations. We’ve all lived though and continue to experience many of them.

Although the album is uneven and Stanard doesn’t have a distinctive voice, the effort, combined with his insights on some of outstanding songs highlighted make for a promising start.


CD Baby Review
Sep 28, 2018

CD Baby Review: Best Independent Album of 2018 thus far!!!!
Jim Stanard - BUCKET LIST

Jim Stanard is NOT your standard run-of-the-mill singer/songwriter. He recently retired from his job as a prominent leader in the finance and insurance world. As such, he is now honing his craft as performer. His new CD, entitled BUCKET LIST (Manatee Records) is an inspiring collection of songs. He waited some 40 years to begin his singing and song writing career. Simply put, it was worth the wait. Full Disclosure — Jim started preparing for his music debut in the early 2000s, but didn’t start his career until earlier this year.

There are 11 tracks (all original compositions). His singing and lyrics are unique. Although quite contemporary, he is undoubtedly influenced by Bob Dylan. He recently said that he has always carried around a Dylan line "he not busy being born is busy dying” or so he says! His tunes are quite infectious and wide ranging in terms of influences that includes such diverse artists as Warren Zevon, John Renbourn, Stefan Grossman and David Bromberg. There are hints of classic rock, which he is no doubt also influenced by. Stanard talks about taking responsibility of some of his life choices ("Lobster"), intuitively gets inside the thought pattern of a soldier ("Dogs of War"), and a mild dose of politics ("Can't Happen Here"). He even tackles philosophy ("It's All Turtles"), regret ("Meant to Say") and, you guessed it — the game of love ("Bucket List") and thermodynamics ("Law of Love").

His songs are lyrical, witty and intelligently conceived — some are delightfully constructed ballad. He was an aficionado of great folk singers, growing up. Back then Stanard hung out at the legendary Main Point Coffeehouse in Bryn Mar, Pennsylvania watching legends perform — like Tom Rush, Doc Watson, even early Bruce Springsteen, among others. He saw Bob Dylan in Philadelphia. A series of introductions to music industry insiders led to guitar lessons with Jon Skibic of the Afghan Whigs, and voice lessons with Kip Winger, leader of the platinum-selling rock band Winger. Kip encouraged Jim to begin writing songs and Jim dove in head first, studying with Kip and others and crystallizing his observations into the songs that went on to comprise — but never compromise — BUCKET LIST.

This album is refreshing, and most probably more interesting than what you have been listening to this year. Give Jim Stanard a try. You won’t be sorry you did. It is my sleeper pick for best independent label album thus far in 2018.

— Tony Mastrianni, CD Baby Syndicated Writer

Americana Rhythm Music Magazine Interview
Oct 12, 2018

"It’s Never Too Late" - Americana Rhythm Music Magazine Interview

Beaver Creek, CO resident Jim Stanard grew up listening to, loving, and absorbing the music of all the greats. He grew up in an era when he could watch first hand entertainers like Tom Rush, Doc Watson, Bruce Springsteen, hanging out at the legendary Main Point Coffeehouse in Bryn Mawr, PA. He even attended Woodstock in 1969 although his perspective is less than glorious. “We basically escaped,” he mused. “It was raining, there was no food.” But the heart for music came to mean so much to him that he sold his childhood coin collection to buy his first guitar, a Martin D-28, one he still plays today.

As the story goes for many young performers, life gets in the way, things don’t add up like you hoped, and you’re faced with the decision to back burner your music career. Such is the story for Jim too. He stopped playing to pursue a career in the world of finance and insurance. But the music never left his heart. His early exposure to it remained a guiding force all through his professional career. “I’ve always carried around a Dylan line, ‘he not busy being born is busy dying’,” he said.

And so in the early 2000s, his wife of 42 years encouraged him to brush off the music chops and return to his first passion. With an opportunity to take guitar lessons noted guitarist Jon Skibic, and voice lessons from front man Kip Winger of the band Winger, Jim began to deepen his understanding of writing, and singing songs too. It became the foundation for his debut CD, Bucket List. “For me, this album is already a roaring success,” he adds, acknowledging the teamwork effort that went into his debut CD, and the good luck of finding that team, “because the great musicians and songwriters who have participated and mentored me have made it sound great, in my opinion.”

Jim abides by a philosophy of, “Most people overestimate what they can do in six months and underestimate what they can do in six years,” he said. “I’ve learned to set attainable short term goals, but shoot high on long term goals. Be stubborn as gravity.”
Read Full Interview


Swedish Review
Dec 09, 2018

Songs on a Beautiful Disc - Swedish Review
by Roger Bengtsson

Now that Jim's Bucket List is expanding its influence into Europe, we are starting to get some activity from across the pond.

Here's a translated excerpt of a Swedish review of the album:

"...I like this disc. Jim sings really well with the experience that only a long life - and maybe some songwriting lessons from Kip Winger http://www.kipwinger.com - can give. Above all, these are really funky songs with a rocky feel and fun lyrics. The favorite song 'Apex Predator' has already been mentioned, but 'Can't Happen Here' and 'Lobster' also show that little extra."


Rootsville
Jan 18, 2019

Jim Stanard - Bucket List - European Review by Rootsville
Translated from Belgian Review

"...Through his life experiences and also tips from some colleagues, he produced 11 songs for his debut album "Bucket List". A mix of stories with themes about deception such as the merry-sounding 'Sparks, Nevada', or a piece of history with 'Dogs of War'. Musically, "Bucket List" list adds a touch of country with the perhaps biographical 'She Wants Him to Change', but also a bit of rock 'n roll on 'It's All Turtles'. An album with pleasantly sounding Americana in a sometimes folky jacket, but also with the necessary reflection on 'Meant To Say'."

AltCountry
Jan 21, 2019 Jim Stanard - Bucket List Review on AltCountry.nl
Translated from Dutch Review

"...Stanard is agile with words, so his work evokes comparisons with the songs of Fred Koller, who worked a lot with Shel Silverstein. His wife is off to "Sparks, Nevada". So there's nothing else for Stanard to travel to Sparks, a place that nobody goes to without a good reason. "Meant To Say" is about his father, who struggled to express his feelings. If Stanard wants to talk to him about it after some years, he turns out to have just as much trouble. So they talk about the weather."

Zero Magazine
Jim Stanard - Bucket List Review in Zero Magazine
By Robert Ryttman

Excerpt translated from Swedish review in Zero Magazine:

"...Bucket List is definitely a solid, well-performed and good record with songs like rocky "Apex Predator", "Dogs Of War", "She Wants Him To Change", "Can't Happen Here" and "Sparks, Nevada" as highlights. Give the guy a chance, even though he is not a teenager."

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