Every year I miss some really good music. These all came out in 2024 and are highly recommended.
Phil Thornalley “Holly Would”
With Phil Thornalley, I was genuinely negligent. Phil’s songs can satisfy your longing for Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, and The Traveling Willburys. His songs are looser and more free-form on this album, and his sound pallet remains diverse. Starting with the suite “Holly Would,” its like bonus song from the Xanadu soundtrack. From the bouncy “The Golden Age” to the catchy “Drive Baby Drive,” each is gem hits the mark. Check it out!
Amazon
Chime School “The Boy Who Ran The Paisley Hotel”
This San Francisco jangle pop reminded me of Mt. Misery, but this its a lot closer to REM and Teenage Fanclub. Just check out the chiming brilliance of “Why Don’t You Come Out Tonight?” and “Another Way Home.” Lead singer Andy Pastalaniec is a great songwriter, and band is very tight. Plenty of highlights here; “Wandering Song,” “(I Hater) The Summer Sun” and “Points of Light.” Another overlooked gem.
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John Davis “JINX”
John Davis never stopped making music long after Superdrag called it quits. And his solo work has been consistently good, from pop, blues, and heavy rock. He has been able to experiment with new styles since leaving the band, but he never loses sight of what makes a great song. Opening with chugging chords of “The Future,” to the gritty “Please Be My Love” its sure to please Superdrag fans. His maturing vocal isn’t as soaring as was ten years ago, but he’s still got the goods – just check out “Already Drowned” and “Indifferent Stars” to see what’s so great. Deserves repeat listens for sure.
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