Garfields Birthday “More Sense Than Money”
Brothers Shane and Simon Felton have returned since 2008’s “Let Them Eat Cake.” The Weymouth UK band has quietly been doing it’s thing on the small Pink Hedgehog label. This album is chockfull of smart tunes with combinations of crunchy guitars and soft harmonies. “Cool Your Jets” is a great opening single and “I See Shadows” is a dreamy smooth pop song with Simon’s vocal floating above the melody. “Cambridge” is another soft pop gem that stands alongside Chad and Jeremy’s classics. These ballads are where the brothers shine, but the lyrical story and melody works perfect on the excellent mid-tempo “Carry On Karaoke.” This is so much stronger than anything they’ve done before, and the harmonies go into overdrive on “Future Song.” Like a softer version of Teenage Fanclub, this is one album sure to warm your heart over the holidays.
Michael Carpenter & The Cuban Heels “The Incomplete Cuban Heels”
This album gathers tracks from “Give The Dog A Bone” and “New Dog Old Tricks” (both are sold out EPs) and represents a “greatest hits” of Carpenter’s alt-country styled bar band. The Cuban Heels consist of Casey Atkins on guitar (Perry Keyes, James Cooper), Russell Crawford on drums (solo artist), Charlie Lee on bass (Too Many Guitars) & Jadey O’Regan on piano (Big Radio). Carpenter and the band had many sessions during 2008-2010 period, and if you like The Black Crows, Dylan, Wilco, or Tom Petty this collection is for you.