Rooftop Screamers “Next Level”
Musician/drummer Mike Collins (Throwback Suburbia) was very busy during the pandemic, as he’s written a lot of songs and set out to release them. He collaborated with a huge contingent of prominent guest artists, who provided the vocals to make Rooftop Screamers feel a little like a mixtape with a variety of pop, hard rock, etc.
We start with the fine “Buckle Up” sung by Tim Smith (Jellyfish) and it really soars during the chorus. The piano mid-tempo “Our Lucky Night” sung by Keith Slettedahl is a bit more Russian folk styled than I’m used to hearing from him, but it remains a good song. Ken Stringfellow (The Posies) nearly disappears into the rocker “One Wish” and “The Ladder” featuring Rob Daiker sounds like a lost hit from the 1980s.
Cy Curnin (The Fixx) does a great job with “Shifting Tides” and it’s a big highlight. Another winner “After The Fire” sung by Stephanie Schneiderman is a wonderful collaboration. Collins actually does a great job singing “Couldn’t Ask For More,” but it’s his only vocal performance here. I understand that bringing in big “name brand” musicians will often get your album press attention, but Collins’s songwriting is really good, and sometimes the singer doesn’t do the song justice. Overall a good album with some great highlights.
Bill Lloyd “A Selection of Power Pop 1985-2020”
This is a great primer to the uninitiated on the greatness of Bill Lloyd. Many songs go back to his solo recordings over the past 40 years, remastered and still sounding pretty fresh. From his debut Feeling the Elephant (1987) we start with “This Very Second,” “Nothing Comes Close,” and “Lisa Anne.” These songs established Lloyd as a power-pop force alongside Crowded House and The Smithereens at the time. The rising guitar leads continued with “The Man Who Knew Too Much” and the under-rated “Alright” which subconsciously seems to be a comment on his music (“it came out alright this time.”) from Set to Pop (1994).
His lighter pop ranges from the fun “Kissed Your Sister” to the easy-going gem “Better Left Alone,” he penned with Jamie Hoover (of The Spongetones.) The few tracks are remakes of “I Went Electric” and “Out of The Picture” which are much improved, with the latter tune evoking The Smithereens even more. “Mistakes Were Made” is another great song that delivers Lloyd’s philosophy with style. If this is the gateway drug to all things Lloyd, it’s a sweet start. Hopefully, a newbie will be encouraged to indulge in Bill’s past catalog. Great stuff that deserves to be heard and Highly Recommended.
