Kate Clover “The Apocalypse Dream”
Kate Clover is a force of nature that can not be denied. This L.A. based singer-songwriter is a solid powerpop-punk with influences ranging from Blondie and The Buzzcocks to The Runaways and Ramones, and her latest album has the makings of a smash hit because of how confidently and catchily she performs each song. She and her band get off to a flying start with the title track, but they let loose on “Like A Domino” and don’t let go of you. The big single “No More Romance” is an infectious gem loaded with jubilant guitar bombast. Her vulnerable side is evident throughout “Damage Control,” a tight guitar-rock arrangement that opens with a conventional pop vocal solo.
After that breather, it goes back to the fast-tempo rock of “Disconnected,” and “Here Comes The Love Bomb.” No duds here, and solid punk energy throughout. This is an album to play loudly with the windows down. Clover accomplishes the remarkable feat of evoking old punk and new wave in a manner that feels utterly modern. Highly Recommended!
Ken Sharp “Welcome to Toytown”
Ken Sharp continues his exploration with short baroque pop melodies. He focused this effort on Miniatures in 2021, and he’s got a new crop of 41 songs with Welcome to Toytown. With this much, let’s concentrate on a few representative favorites, as songs are mostly under 2 minutes. “Great Big Beautiful World” is an anthemic pop confection, akin to The Free Design, with layered harmonies everywhere. “Beach Boys on My Stereo” also does the same. “Friend In You” boasts a sweet guitar part, and “I am Your Spaceman” has a lovely hook. I also liked “Listen,” “Daisy Jane,” and “Broken Down Heart.”
Some of these simple musical phrases, like “We Are Timeless,” could have been stitched to another melody to make a proper 3-minute tune, but Ken decided to leave the parts separate and see what sticks. The exception here is the 9-minute+ “Toytown Suite,” a musical fairytale about the king of Toytown, done with almost childlike eagerness. You’ll be able to pull an album’s worth of quality tracks if you are willing to do the weeding. Sharp offers a lot to take in, and there are moments when the sheer volume of music makes it hard to concentrate on a single track. Others may want less work to do, in that case so check out New Mourning. If you are familiar with Ken’s work it’s music that deserves to be heard.
