Phil Yates & The Affiliates “Party Music!”
Burlington, Vermont’s Phil Yates has released three albums and has been a fixture in the local clubs for years. But he’s packed up and moved to a bigger music scene in Chicago. In this final Vermont hurrah, he lets his power-pop freak flag really fly on the opener “My Favorite Bag,” a solid catchy melody with a speedy tempo. Yates also knows how to get a powerful narrative out about domestic violence on the impressive “Nothing Happened.” The production is dense and at times threatens to overwhelm the vocals, but the music is what ultimately wins you over. Yates vocals sound like a cross between Anton Barbeau and Tom Petty.
Yates also airs some dirty laundry with “Fixin To Die” and “One Man’s Trash (Sour Grapes)” about his struggles as a working musician. Frustrations with insomnia are the focus of the forceful “Peter Francis Geraci” and the state of our politics is accurately summed up on “Bite Your Tongue.” Definitely, music that deserves to be heard.
Amazon | Kool Kat Musik
Super 8 “T – T – T – Technicolour Melodies! ”
UK musician Paul Ryan, aka Super 8 is a laid back troubadour as he opens with “Tomorrows’ Just Another Day,” with its Spanish styled horn flourishes over a strumming melody. Ryan excels at acoustic compositions; you’ll hear varied influences from Wilco, Lou Reed, and Bob Dylan. “Catsuit” is a good highlight, with Ryan’s harmonized vocals and harmonica building a richly layered gem. Equally fun is the soulful mid-tempo “Last Final Cigarette” where you contemplate life; as he intones “Guess we’re all looking for something.”
Another notable highlight is the rhyming mantra of the title track and the deep melodies on “Traveling Light” with its impressive chorus.”Hey! Non-Believer” is like a lost Beck tune from his early period. For some, this may be a bit too laid back and sparse – for others it’s a soulful potpourri stew. The songwriting is thought-provoking, and the styles shift enough to prevent any predictability. So if you are so inclined, pick it up and let it sink in.