Valley Lodge "Semester at Sea"

Valley Lodge is the rock machine comprised of singer/guitar player, and world-class entertainer Dave Hill (Sons of Elvis, Uptown Sinclair, Cobra Verde); guitar player/singer John Kimbrough (Walt Mink), bass player/singer Phil Costello (Tragedy, Satanicide, Stynx, Children of the Unicorn), and drummer Rob Pfeiffer (Sense Field). In 2005, the debut album was one of the best power pop albums ever (in most critics top ten that year). Well the wait for a follow up is over and it kicks major butt. A sonic guitar attack worthy of Matthew Sweet opens up the album with “Break Your Heart” and the singalong chorus is instant ear candy. The album takes lots of late 70’s music cues, like “The Door” is a strutting combination of Slade, Sweet and Gary Glitter. The album gives no quarter as the sound gets smarter and the guitar work is just miles above other bands on tracks like “Baby, It’s A Shame” and “Barricade”. The energy here is similar to Sloan and Supergrass, and the Gene Simmons-like cocky attitude translates well to tracks like “If You Love Me” – where he tells his woman “if you love me come on down…” And the cover of Bob Welch’s hit “Sentimental Lady” is the only time the band slows down a bit, if you don’t count the acoustic ender “Lose Your Man” which sounds tacked on. But this does not take away from the amazing performances through most of the album. Although I’ve gushed on about Kimbrough and Hills’ guitar godliness, it’s also the strong songwriting and arrangements on every single tune that deserve equal tribute. Yes, power pop fans — this is a “must get” album.