"Kroeker proves his range on Melodrama -- his major-label debut -- by blending pop, jazz, folk and rock. The album, more fine-tuned than most rookie releases, is a product of Kroeker's master's in ethnomusicology and popular music studies from the University of Alberta, and his work during the last several years writing film scores and co-writing songs for other artists."
- MACLEANS MAGAZINE (John Intini)

"Melodrama is a poised, pop-folk gem of a disc. Kroeker lures listeners with his voice, which somehow rides the fence between joy and melancholy, happiness and the fear of rejection. The opening track, "Endings", is a beautiful, mid-tempo rocker with an aching guitar intro, capturing the bittersweet moments before two friends or lovers say farewell. As for the rest of Melodrama, you'll want to buy copies for all your friends. This album has so many wonderful melodies and vivid images, you'll fall in love with a different song each time you listen to it."
- THE EDMONTON JOURNAL (Sandra Sperounes)

"He can play guitar, trumpet, the Lebanese oud and Indian sitar and tabla like a seasoned pro. He can sing four-part harmony with hardly any effort, and he's a schooled composer for string quartets and chamber orchestras."
- CANADIAN PRESS (Angela Pacienza)

"If there's a story so far this year in the Canadian music industry, it's Joel Kroeker. Since dropping his major label debut Melodrama late last month, the singer-songwriter has been drawing raves across the 20 country and getting profiled in national newspapers and magazines and his lilting Goodbye Jane should become a smash AC single at radio!"
- THE CALGARY SUN (Mike Bell)

"Kroeker's a true Canadian Idol"
- HEADLINE FROM THE TORONTO SUN (March 7, 2004)

"The rootsy singer-songwriter is also a Master of Dynamics with a natural feel for drama, able to develop a musical climax in a song that both defies formula and fits into one's expectations as to where a song should go. This might be the record to put another former Edmonton artist into the realm of sensitive superstar." (4.5 stars out of 5)
- EDMONTON SUN (Mike Ross)

"Joel Kroeker's on the cusp of commercial success."
- CANADIAN PRESS (Angela Pacienza)

"Evocative, atmospheric songs filled with imagery, sadness, and honesty. This is a CD we will be listening to for a long while, and from which we will find new ideas and concepts."
- FURNITURE FOR THE PEOPLE (editor)

"a must for one's collection of tortured poet rockers...Kroeker produces an eclectic powerful sound...Beautiful melodies and some rocking guitars carry these lyrics meant for close attention...This is melodramatic emotive rock at its best!"
- ORCA SOUND (Montreal)

"Kroeker's big label debut has 12 folk-flavoured pops...but this tunesmith has tricks up his sleeve...the razor-sharp cabaret swing of 'Naked Beauty' stylishly smoulders, 'Your Painted Face' lilts with soulful grit, and 'Blue Moon Lounge' moans like a long-lost Harlan Howard nugget. A solid first effort."
- OTTAWA CITIZEN (Steve Baylin)

"Kroeker layers emotionally heavy lyrics over tender, pretty melodies, an arrangement that reflects the two sides of his life"
- THE WINNIPEG SUN (Rob Williams)

"Melodrama is an accomplished, mature package of songs and stories that will have you following along even as you marvel at Kroeker's guitar-playing...a warm vibe. Kroeker's not just full of promise, he's the real deal."
- UPTOWN MAGAZINE (John Kendle)

"MELODRAMA meshes acoustic intricacy with shiny radio-friendly hooks...starts strong with catchy, singable ballads and ends even stronger, wtih genre-challenging experimentation like the Threepenny cabaret swagger of Naked Beauty and the soulful Blue Moon Lounge...a solid effort." -
- NOW MAGAZINE (Sarah Liss)

"MELODRAMA is a thoughtful, big production pop album with lyrical weight...Melodrama is a solid shot at commercial and critical success."
- EYE WEEKLY (Howard Druckman)

"Sweet, delicate vocals reminiscent of Jack Johnson...crystal-clear guitar parts and catchy choruses"
- CANADIAN NETWORK MAGAZINE

"Joel rocks harder than John Mayer and his lyrics are a little less literal, but the soft, welcoming voice and heart-tugging songs put Kroeker in the same league. Joel's a Master of Dynamics with a natural feel for drama, able to develop a musical climax in a song that both defies formula and fits into one's expectations as to where the song should go. A real "cinematic" approach. Then there's "Naked Beauty", an accordion-driven Euro-folk romp that sounds like Tom Waits and is so good that singer Patricia O'Callaghan named her new album after it. This record very well might put Joel into the realm of the sensitive superstar."
- THE EDMONTON SUN (Mike Ross)

"Kroeker is joining a growing list of promin ent male singer-songwriters like Ron Sexsmith and Hawksley Workman"
- THE STAR PHOENIX (Cam Fuller)

"Perhaps MELODRAMA's crowning achievement came with Kroeker's ability to challenge and please himself while creating something that has also turned the Canadian music collective on its ear"
- REGINA LEADER POST (Gerry Krochak)

"Kroeker's higher musical education is put to good use on MELODRAMA, a glossy pop-folk album with crafted lyrics, sturdy melodies...and diverse instrumentation and sounds casually scattered throughout the album, from loops and accordians to guitar effects and blue-eyed soul."
- THE EDMONTON SUN (Tom Murray)

"Joel Kroeker's bio should begin with, "Once upon a time..." This singer/songwriter is living a bit of a storybook life these days."
- SEE MAGAZINE

"With a sheaf of positive press clippings under his arm, if there ever was a poster child for Winnipeg's 'show me' attitude, Joel Kroeker would probably be it. Well, consider yourselves shown. Melodrama is an accomplished, mature package of songs and stories that will have you following along even as you marvel at Kroeker's guitar-playing...and when he's rolling with a full band, as on 'With Me' or 'Blue Moon Lounge', Kroeker is not just full of promise. He's the real deal."
- UPTOWN MAGAZINE (John Kendle)

"Kroeker is one of the busiest musicians in Canada right now. In a live setting Kroeker can strike a Billy Bragg-like pose when he attacks his acoustic guitar. On disc, he's much more subtle and moody - MELODRAMA is full of tales about breakups and regret set to a soundtrack of Daniel Lanois-ish guitar textures created by Kroeker and sideman Kevin Breit."
- THE WINNIPEG FREE PRESS (Bartley Kives)

"When the nominees for next year's Juno Awards are announced, I strongly believe singer-songwriter Joel Kroeker will see his name on the ballot. Kroeker is a skilled tunesmith, weaving interesting stories about life's ups and downs and the lessons he's learned along life's often bumpy highway around melodies of varying complexity"
- THE GUARDIAN (PEI) (Doug Gallant)

"Mature Pop"
- THE NATIONAL POST (Aaron Wherry)

"For every great musician how walks this earth, there are, relatively speaking, very few truly great songs. Joel Kroeker has a few of them."
- REGINA LEADER POST (Gerry Krochak)

"Kroeker's songwriting abilities speak for themselves. MELODRAMA is an impressive album of well-crafted, wistful pop-folk songs about losing faith, searching for inner peace, hiding from the rest of the world and the beauty of farewells."
- THE EDMONTON JOURNAL (Sandra Sperounes)