Once in a while I’m given a hot tip about a band I can’t keep a secret. I just need to share it with you. The band Phenomenal Cat’s new album “Postcards From the British Empire: 12 singles in 12 months” is a project where they are set to release a brand new track each and every month for the whole of 2012. And it’s all free on Bandcamp.
Alright Alright is an unsigned band from Toronto, Canada. They asked themselves “Whatever happened to those classic two-minute-fifty second rock ‘n’ roll songs we used to know and love?” Then they put one together themselves for free download. Not bad, eh?
Sometimes there are just too many good releases and not enough time to review them all. These releases are definitely worth checking out – so I did a few quick reviews here.
Edward Rogers “Porcelain “
Birmingham UK bred Edward Rogers made NYC his home and has put together a great rock and roll album. Part T.Rex and Iggy Pop come across on the opener “The Biba Crowd.” Then on “Nothing Too Clever” we venture into flowery baroque pop, similar to mid 60’s Bowie. Some great slide guitar on the Dylanesque “Love With The World” and back to garage-fuzz greatness on “Separate Walls.” Equally impressive are the rich and poignant ballads like “Tears Left in the Bottle” and the Ian Hunter styled “Link to the Chain” with Rogers grizzled vocal at his most expressive. Highly recommended. My Space | Amazon
Little Barrie “King of The Waves”
Searching for that killer riff? Consider it found here. London-based trio whose garage sound is an exciting blend of hard rock, blues, and they get it right on the very first track “Surf Hell.” The pop influence of indie pop stalwart Edwyn Collins is clear on “How Come.” Fans of The Creation, MC5 and Primal Scream will feel right at home here. Tracks like “I Can’t Wait” and “Money In Paper” have a raw energy that’s hard to deny. And lead singer Barrie Cadogan’s swaggering tone makes those famous Gallager brothers sound like amateurs. A few bluesy stoner tracks are thrown in to fill things out, but overall a delicious sonic assault. Check out the great video too.
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Maxi Dunn “The Neglected Gambit”
Maxi Dunn is a singer/songwriter from Liverpool, England who has appeared one of my favorite artists albums (Lauri Biagini) and did tributes to The Jellyfish and The Posies, and while The Neglected Gambit isn’t straight power pop, it does have it’s own upbeat confessional mix of rock and pop folk. Some of the sound has echoes of the 80’s in “Why Do I Want You?” and the catchy “Make it Better” are highlights in a very diverse and emotional album.
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Taylor McMahon “Memory Music” EP
If you’d like charming acoustic pop, give Taylor McMahon’s debut EP a listen. McMahon is from Lake Charles, Louisiana and his music lies somewhere between Jack Johnson and Ben Kweller with an emphasis on catchy and simple melodies. “Rhyme & Rhythm” starts off with a casual strum and “The Donnie Song (It’s All Alright)” has a bit of local color. Both songs have a catchy sing along quality and I look forward to more from Taylor in the future.
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Oberon Rose “Wunjo”
Connecticut’s Tom Oberon leans heavily on classic sixties influences like The Kinks, Beatles, T.Rex and more on his debut, Wunjo. The sweet melody “Young Goodman Brown” flows nicely and the guitar rhythm reminds me of the Zombies a little. The brilliant jangle on “One Man Show Of Sorrow” showcases this gem which compares well to The Posies. With the title track and “Ballad Of The Taller” it goes in a more roots-driven pop direction with simple acoustic strums leading the way, both recall the simplicity of Big Star.
“Buried Alive” is another compelling song with double-tracked harmonies and minor chords. Other songs evoke the golden age of psyche pop without getting cliche, like “Of Life Divine” and the brilliant Beatlesque ender “So is The Flow.” Each track is compelling and overall this album is a real treat for lovers of classic melodic rock.
The Backpeddlers “Songs of Guilt & Revenge”
Originally known as Mark Norris and The Backpeddlers, this Buffalo band plays foot stompin’ rock and blues done with plenty of gusto. “Turn The Tables” is kinda like Bob Dylan jamming with The Offspring, then the bar room blues “It’s All True” plays out like classic Stones. The band goes into full Kinks meets Who mode on “We Know (Who We Are)” with drummer Jeff Pietrzak doing his best Keith Moon. It also get downright punk pop on “(DoThe) Crying Shame” with Mark almost losing his vocals. “Doctor Friend” is another Kinks-styled tune along the lines of “Dandy.” There is plenty of musical variety here and if you like gritty raw emotion with your tunes… you will feel guilty if you miss this and revenge isn’t even a factor here.
Dark Ocean Colors “Dark Ocean Colors” The duo of Scott Hunt and Mark Mikel have worked on many projects together (including The Pillbugs and The Sprags) to create a rich tapestry of psychedelic textures and looping melodies using numerous instruments (guitars, Mellotrons, violins, etc.) and old analog gear to give it an authentic vintage sound. “My Barbara Closed The Doors” gets started right where the Pillbugs left off and it sounds great. “Crashing The Sky” sports a marching beat to the swirling guitars and vocal harmonies. Fans of progressive rock will also love this, as it’s a got a strong instrumentation on “The Other Line” and sunshine pop fans will swoon over “Lazy Lighthouse Jupiter Band” and the baroque “Same Old Mistake.”
This is an album is a real grower for audiophiles that reveals gorgeous musical tidbits with each listen. It did appear on a few “best of” lists for last year for that reason — as even weaker tracks, like “She’s A Cornucopia” are performed so beautifully, despite the lack of a hook. Best comparison I have is The Olivia Tremor Control’s Dusk At Cubist Castlebut with better harmonies. Just listen to the vocals on “Dream Away” and try not to be impressed. This is one great headphones album.
Jenny O. “Home” EP
Jenny O. reminds me a bit of Anya Marina mixed with Janis Ian, it’s got hints of folk, blues and a very sparse production. Honestly the bass hook and brazen lyrics on “Well OK Honey” just drew me in here and its cool beyond words. “All My Wishes” is a great showcase for Jenny’s melodic vocal and the gentle folk acoustic guitar and steady beat makes “Won’t Let You Leave” another winner.
Another solid melody is on the old piano ballad “I Do I Do” where it builds with double tracked harmonies and tambourines to a complex weave of melodies that would make Brian Wilson proud. I can’t wait till the full length – this EP is highly recommended for sure – also check out the video. Amazon | Facebook
The Cry “The Cry” The CRY! is not fu**ing around! We ARE simply the BEST new POWER POP band in the World! – such is the hyperbole mentioned in my initial introduction to this youthful band from Portland, OR. Opening with the bouncing riffs of “I Think I’m In Love With You” it’s kinda like a mix of Thin Lizzy and The Rubinoos, where the guitar melody is supported by the punky vocals of Brian Crace. The influence of The Ramones is all over “Such A Bore,” as they kick the energy level up a few notches. The music merges the do-wop vocal arrangements of the 50’s and jangling hooks of the 60’s quite well on “Sleeping Alone” and “Be True.”
The band’s perfect blend of styles also works on the melodic “Forget It,” and its my favorite track here. Each song is quick and many are under 2 minutes long. But no misfires here and the band blew the doors off during an impressive live performances at this years IPO festival, so I’d say they are well on the way to living up to their motto.
Laurie Biagini “A Go-Go Girl in a Modern World”
The Vancouver singer is on her third album at this point, and once again she is a one woman version of The Honeys. Laurie stays retro here, with a clear 60’s Beach Boys influence, multi-tracked vocals and Phil Spector production values.
The songs are well composed, as standouts are the descriptive “A Ride on the Train” and the surfin’ car tune, “My Little SUV” with just the right guitar by Richard Snow. She also gets some help from guitarist Fabrizio Serrecchia (from the Italian group Soundserif) on the faux-Bond theme “The Invisible Guy.” But for the most part Laurie’s vocals are center stage, and just when it starts to get monotonous, the best song emerges. “In The Eyes Of A Little Girl” is a thrilling mid-tempo look back at childhood co-written and performed with the brilliant Maxi Dunn. So if you want to return to those innocent days of AM radio pop, close your eyes and let Laurie take you back.
