The Davenports “Don’t Be Mad At Me”
Brooklyn’s The Davenports (aka Scott Klass) are back with a concept album that gives us stories that feel timeless and personal. The simple piano ballad “Where Shall We Hang Elena?” evokes memories past, but it soon pounds to life with the heavy rhythm rocker “I Don’t Know What To Do,” with its ascending bass notes and harmony-filled chorus. It’s an early favorite here co-written with David Myhr, as the strings and piano come back for the hummable title track. There is a melancholy that sticks with you throughout most of the album, the country-waltz “Miranda in Her Room” a duet with vocalist Shirley Simms (The Magnetic Fields) is a good example.
The catchy guitar composition “Leanne” has that classic Davenports sound and “With Me Or Against Me” does a great job with a subtle minor chord change. Another big surprise here is a bouncy power pop version of George Michael’s “Freedom.” Fans of Fountains of Wayne and McCartney will find a lot to like here. Overall a very good album that grows on your after repeated listens. Highly Recommended.
Joel Sarakula “Love Club”
Joel Sarakula relives the golden age of 70s soul on his latest LP. There is this period in music right before disco took over, and Marvin Gaye and The Doobie Brothers ruled the airwaves. Sarakula hits that mark. The slow funk of “Understanding” gives you the albums romantic vibe. “In Trouble” brings the horns and tempo up, its perfect Philly soul music for a hot tub.
My favorite here is “Baltic Jam,” that sounds like a lost track from Todd Rundgren’s Something, Anything. It just gets better from there, with the sexy “We Used To Connect” and on the sax funk of “Coldharbour Man” I can almost smell the musk of Isaac Hayes. It experiments with some sitar, synth, and guitar on “Cinnamon Surprise.” Not power pop, but if you feel yourself in the mood for this style of retro-reflection, give it a spin.
