"I'm obsessed with writing and recording songs that reflect my love and appreciation for the bands that inspired me the most: The Beatles, Byrds, Kinks and Tom Petty. I'm not trying to re-invent the wheel. I just try to write songs that convey some sense of emotion, tell a tale and present it all in a musical offering filled with hooks and melodies."

That's what singer/songwriter/guitarist Charley dush wants you to know. Dush, a life-long resident of St. Paul, Minn,. has spent the past 10 years paying his dues and honing his musical skills in everything from classic rock cover bands to coffee shop open mic nights to original bands that motivated Charley to start writing his own songs and pursuing his own musical vision. And the result is here in your hands, Charley's debut recording simply titled "Charley Dush". Humble as it is in its appearance and title, this recording contains some of the most brilliant, soul-licious pop/rock to come out of the Twin Cities since the heyday of some of Charley's local heroes: The Replacements, Gear Daddies and Soul Asylum.

The songs are a heady mix of highly entertaining nostalgia ("Wellington Lane", "Gotta Get Back", "Wilson Avenue"), modern observations ("How I Feel", "Sorry Someday", "Marjorie Melancholy") and witty nods ["Sweet Sunny Nothings (Buffy's Theme)", "On the Bus"] all of which combine to form one of those rare albums you just HAVE to hear one more time. And then once more.

Currently Charley is playing solo acoustic sets to showcase songs from the CD as well as introducing brand new songs.

If you have half an ear and even a modicum of respect for timeless pop songwriting, you'll become as big a fan as I am.

Tom Hallett Pulse of the Twin Cities/Freelance Writer October 2002