Over the years Bleu McAuley has become a touchstone for several high profile collaborations with pop’s brightest stars. He’s also been a songwriter and producer for tons of pop artists (Rooney, Ryan Adams and John Mayer). As a driving force behind L.E.O. and The Major Labels, it’s about time we heard a solo – after all Redhead was released in 2003 and due to label problems, only now we get to A Watched Pot. All this pent up creativity can frustrate many artists, just look at what happened to The Smashing Pumpkins or Axl Rose. Fortunately this is worth the wait as this watched pot boils over with passionate melodies and dramatic energy. Opening with the expansive epic “Save Me,” Bleu chronicles his journey through disappointments, it’s a signature tune with a great big sticky hook in the chorus. The production is flawless and is full of uplifting crescendos like in “Come N’ Go” and for you L.E.O. fans a very lovely Lynne-ish “No Such Thing As Love” is as strong as anything The Secret Powers did earlier this year. Bleu’s approaches are very commercial and “Kiss Me” takes a note from vintage George Michael. The demons of a bad relationship, and blues pop take over “I Won’t F**k You Over” and make it another catchy must-listen, as well as the reason it’s got an advisory sticker. Another highlight is the inspirational “One Day” with a soaring melody. It’s not perfect, as the weariness of “What Now?” and “What Kind of Man Am I?”gets a bit overwrought. It doesn’t stay that way as “The Penguin Song” gets so sweet it would make Paul McCartney pucker. For the most part, this album is a strong contender for top ten of 2009 consideration. It comes out July 14th everywhere. Listen below for a sample!
Category: Top Ten of 2009 Candidate
Roger Klug "More Help For Your Nerves"
The new, and greatest release from Roger Klug— ten years in the making, is everything power pop fans have been waiting for. Fans of Roger Manning, Steve Eggers, Bleu, Mike Viola, will find everything to love about this album. Full of variety and complex melodies, it will take many listens to really appreciate everything here. Opening with the ringing guitars of “Tinnitus” it establishes Klug’s early volley of guitar heavy brilliance. It’s followed by the aggressive “Dump Me Hard” which end in a screaming eenie-meeny-miney-moe! The Partridge-styled “An Artist in the Field” is followed by the jangling highlight “Girl After My Own Heart.” Other songs have incredible guitar breaks (“About Time”) or turn out a perfect musical bridge (“A Girl Like That”) similar to The Wondermints. Other gems include “The Day I Had My Brain Removed” and the stunning “Hi-Hat” and “Bi-Curious” are full of dense riffs that give Greg Pope a run for his money. Even “Man’s Man” will recall Joe Jackson’s early spirit and energy. The eight minute ending song “Your Diary” didn’t drag at all and reprises a few of the album’s earlier melodies, like a grand finale should. A few don’t float my boat, like the show piano ditties “Witch From Hell” and “Bogeyman,” but that’s me being picky. There are more highlights here that I can mention, and Klug really mixes his tuneful melodies with a deft touch I’ve not heard since Andy Partridge himself. Like manna from heaven, it should be savored again and again.
Michael Carpenter "Redemption #39"
In his first solo album of new material since 2004’s “Rolling Ball,” it’s refreshing to hear from Michael again in vintage form. As one of the top power pop talents on the globe, Carpenter here gives a clinic on how to write, perform and record a great album. Starting with the highly catchy “Can’t Go Back,” the song showcases his Beatlesque percussion and strong melody. Written between 2006 and 2008 at his studio in Sydney, Australia, the lyrics reflects the dark mood and somber themes of creative despair, lost love and failure that contrast with the familiar upbeat rhythms. For example on the title track, he intones “Heaven help the fool who falls a victim to desire…” Being a one man band, the guitar work on each track is strummed to perfection. The honky tonk flavor on “Workin’ For A Livin” makes for perfect toe tapping theme to the drudgery of employment. Michael then combines elements of Jellyfish and Queen to create the creative “The King Of The Scene.” After such a stellar first half, we slow down with a ballad (“Don’t Let Me Down Again”) before he boils down his life to the “Middle of Nowhere” where his soul just pours out. This track is the pinnacle of the album and a personal highlight for me. The remaining tracks are almost as strong lyrically as well as melodically. “Falling Down” is an uplifting confessional gem with a clean multitrack vocal chorus. Clearly, this is the strongest Carpenter album since his debut “Baby.” For a limited time, a bonus disc version of the album will be available. Entitled “The Stripped Redemption #39”, it presents the whole album with minimal accompaniment, highlighting the vocal arrangements of the material. If you aren’t that familiar with Carpenter’s work (what rock have you been hiding under?) this is a fine place to start, as well as last year’s compilation “Up Close.”
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J.P. Cregan "Man Overboard"
ESPN basketball writer John Cregan’s alter ego, J.P. Cregan has put together a stellar collection of pop songs. And he’s no rookie either, having been guitarist for alt. country band Parklane Twin. With the help of Highland Park-based wunderkind-ace producer Nik Freitas, J.P. opens with “Carolyn (The Pledge Drive)” a very Nick Lowe-ish styled pub rock with a hint of country. The smooth “Count to Three” is like Glen Tilbrook at his catchiest, with a jaunty piano and guitar melody. The Elvis Costello/Marshall Crenshaw influence is all over the album (and J.P.’s vocals are very similar) but it works best on “Barbara is Strange” and I wonder out loud why those rock “legends” don’t write like this anymore. The jangle guitar and chorus makes “Atmosphere” a real pop delight. More gems here are the chiming “Jeni” and “Miss Highland Park” with hand claps and minor chords that will have you playing air guitar in no time. A few ballads here don’t spoil the party either, as “Searched For Me” and the title track aren’t as memorable, but still highly listenable without a filler in sight. This is high quality pop that really rocks and deserves a top ten for 2009 nod. What else can I say but “Man Overboard” is a Slam Dunk (pun intended – ouch).
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The Simple Carnival "Girls Aliens Food"
The Simple Carnival does not rock. Pittsburgh based singer/songwriter Jeff Boller couldn’t agree more. After all “there are a million musicians who play rock better” he says. Instead Boller excels at sunny pop melody so sweet and bubbly, you may even think you’re listening to a kids album. But you’re not, and like Mitch Friedman’s “Game Show Teeth,” it’s good natured and inventive pop melodies that are a joy to listen to. Try to imagine if Harry Nilsson and Brian Wilson collaborated on Sesame Street and you get the idea. Opening with the gentle harmonies on “Really, Really Weird” it sparkles with it’s catchy chorus. The impressive “Caitlin’s On The Beach” shows off for you Beach Boy fans out there. “Flirt” has a ’70s styled piano pop bounce similar to Seals & Crofts that is just infectious. The angelic a cappella overdubs on “Nothing Will Ever Be As Good” are so crisp, that it’s comparable to Jeffery Foskett. The mid tempo “Misery” is another story-styled song that reminds me lyrically of Andrew Gold or Henry Gross. Even the last track, “Hey Lancaster” builds to a shimmering crescendo of vocals and keyboard overdubs. Boller plays all thirty or so featured instruments himself, layering their sounds one at a time in his basement studio. Every track is solid throughout and “Girls Aliens Food” should rightfully be called a soft pop masterpiece. It’s a precise musical craftsmanship that shouldn’t be missed.
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