Buddy Love and Trent Dabbs

Buddy Love “s/t”
When we last left Buddy Love, they had a gem of a single “Crying Town” which combined lead singer Joey Kelly’s rich baritone and Doug Khazzam’s jangle pop mastery. This brilliant song took the band to the next level, and the follow up tune “Almost In Tears” nearly matches it, with solid guitar work and sax touches. You’ll still hear the tint of 80’s style pop, but it’s got more sophistication, and this is evidenced in the terrific “Tearing You Down”  with Beatlesque guitar licks and musical key shifts after the chorus. “Intersection” seems to borrow a bit from “Sweet Child O Mine,” but its still impressive. Other highlights here are “Hard To Get” and “Idle Hands.” Both songs are catchy and have been an essential part of  Buddy Love’s live show. Add to this a few odds (“Set You Free”) and ends (“Waiting”) – and you have a great introduction to Buddy Love. Highly recommended.

Trent Dabbs “Southerner”
Dabbs is an accomplished indie singer-songwriter from Tennessee. His sound is a mix of romantic dream pop with steady rhythms and folk styled melodies. Although pleasant, it didn’t impress me until the bouncy “Don’t Blame Love,” where Dabbs ethereal vocal floats above a twanging guitar and toe-tapping beat. Like a southern version of Elliot Smith on “Catch Me Up To Speed,” it’s subtle horns, catchy chorus and detailed composition win you over. A nice tribute song “Neil Young” basically lets you know “it won’t reach the heart unless its in the blood.” The gentle ballads like “Me & God” and the title track have a wonderful spiritual quality and slightly countrified “Can I Cross Your Mind?” linger in your head and make up for the rare misstep (“Paper Trails”) here. Fans of Lindsey Buckingham, Elliot Smith and most acoustic indie pop will find a new favorite in Trent Dabbs.