The Spindles “Past and Present”
Chicago band The Spindles have everything you look for in a power pop band. The debut album has a distinct sound that marries the British Invasion and ’70s power pop bands together. Fans of The Raspberries, Hollies, and The Records will really enjoy it. They starts with the catchy “Prisoner of War,” driven by the steady percussion and jangling guitars. Next, a sweet cover of The Hollies “Look Through Any Window” lets us know where the band’s heart lies, and the excellent “Whenever We’re Together” is a big highlight with its rich harmonies and tight composition.
It evens out towards the middle, and the music is consistently good. The title track “Peace With The Past” teases us with the world’s most famous opening chord, before it goes into its compelling case for nostalgia. More highlights include “Annette,” “If I Fall In Love” and the Elvis Brothers cover “Santa Fe.” Highly Recommended.
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Talkie “Fundamental Things”
San Francisco pop band Talkie is back. It starts out on a low key, piano version of the old pop standard “As Time Goes By.” Then it shifts into the funk-pop “Fuzzy Disco,” a catchy track with a thick bass line that leads everything. The easy-going “Marcy” has a sun-soaked melody line, with a neat fuzz solo.
“Sorry, Shy” is another bright shimmering tune, but things slow considerably with “Costa Rica,” that plods along with its aimless rhythm guitar. It devolves from that point. You’ll hear influences like Air and Maroon Five as it wades into this ambient territory. None of the stellar harmonies that marked the band’s debut are present. Hopefully, we’ll hear some on the next LP.
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