Rob Martinez “Maybe Miss America”
Rob Martinez is a first-rate pop singer with a vocal that reminds me of the late Davey Jones without the English accent. His style will please fans of Paul McCartney or Neil Finn looking for similar melodic pop. His 3rd LP is produced by Adam Marsland (Standells/Cockeyed Ghost) and mastered by Earle Mankey.
The music is similar to previous albums, but with even more polish. Opening with “The Letter” it’s a got a confessional feeling with guitar flourishes. But the big highlight comes next, as “Summer of Love” has lush harmonies that Adam has lots of experience doing as part of a Beach Boy David Marks work. Rob’s strong vocal carries the melody and it sticks in your head quickly. Another highlight, “Free” is a bluesy pop gem that recalls George Harrison with its loose guitar noodling alongside the chorus. Other tunes that stand out are “All I Ever Wanted” and “Seems Like Only Yesterday” with its wistful look back in time. Overall a great effort and classic pop fans will love it. It’s music that deserves to be heard.
The Lolas “Bulletproof”
Tim Boykin is a back, quickly after last year’s highly-rated A Dozen Or Seven Tapestries and he’s joined this time by Jacob Walcher on bass and Valis Procházka on keys and drums. The band’s sound is tweaked to more rock than power pop slightly, but Boykin’s solid command of melodies remains a constant.
“Deestroy” has an ELO-like sound, fast tempo, and a socialist message (“I wanna destroy capitalism, take away your desolate vision”) but it’s so darn catchy. The follow up “Fall Away” sounds a bit mechanical, but “Oceans of The Moon” is very compelling with its terrific chord shifts and the crisp vocal. The band uses heavier riffs on “Stand Up and Fight” and “Stop The War,” and while the songs are good, the continuous fast tempos can wear a listener thin. The slower “When The Cold Winds Blow” is a welcome relief and it shifts the mood nicely. I also liked the feminist theme “She Will Shake The World” with its dense guitar riffs, you almost expect this to show up in the next Captain Marvel movie. The solid “L’Internationale” ends with a fine Beatlesque touch. Overall a highly recommended album.
