Category: Top Ten of 2018

Starbelly and Roger J. Manning, Jr.

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Starbelly

Starbelly “Four”

Like many power pop icons from the ‘90s, Starbelly has finally released their long-awaited reunion Four. Anchored by the duo of Cliff Hillis and Dennis Schocket, they are joined by Bryan Ewald (guitar) and Greg Schroeder (drums). And like similar mature artists (Matthew Sweet, David Myhr) they look back on life a little mellower, but the melodies are as sharp as ever.

It opens with a low key “The Boy Who Learned How to Cry” about a father’s passing and moving on from the past on “Lay Low.” Good tunes, but greatness starts out on the subtle ballad “Sleep” with its rich ear-worm chorus and Ewald’s George Harrison-like slide guitar. With “The Stars of Constantine” it sounds like the glorious Starbelly of old, with dense guitars and harmonies. The upbeat “Strange Constellations” and Posies-like “Yes I Love Her Again” are also great songs. But the amazing thing is the music all get progressively better as the album continues.

The five-minute-plus “Danny Opus” is a musical suite similar to Abbey Road, with distinctive melody lines that tell the tale of a rock star’s obsession and it is simply awesome. The songs after this put it over the top as “Emily Says,” “Jesus Freak” and “Don’t Wake Up” are also excellent. No filler and this does make my top ten for 2018. Super Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Tallboy Records | Kool Kat Musik


Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. “Glamping” EP

It’s hard to believe but it’s almost 10 years since we heard any solo work from Roger Joseph Manning, Jr.  Playing within Beck’s touring band with Jason Falkner (another Jellyfish alum) is how he spends his day job. I interviewed Roger recently about why it took this long to get an EP out.

The new 4 song EP called Glamping starts with “Operator,” a catchy Jellyfish styled tune with a telephone theme that has some great hidden references to Steely Dan and Tommy Tutone. This is an excellent start, but “Funhouse” doesn’t quite match it. The dark theme about budding puberty seems mashed into an overly sunny chorus. Next, “Is It All a Dream” is light synth-pop that feels like filler and the six-minute “I’m Not Your Cowboy” is like a slow building  Elton John-styled tune.

While it’s comforting to know that Roger Manning still sounds great and has some Jellyfish magic left in him, I look forward to him really letting loose. As per our interview, Roger will be coming out with new music more regularly and I can’t wait. Fans should pick it up and he’s packaged it with newly re-released versions of his last two solo LPs Catnip Dynamite and Land of Pure Imagination.

Pledgemusic

Astral Drive and Rob Bonfiglio

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Astral Drive

Astral Drive “Astral Drive”

Oh boy, if you ever were a fan of Todd Rundgren’s Utopia then have I got an album for you. I heard a lot of buzz about this album from several people, and in some sense, it does live up to the hype. Astral Drive (aka Phil Thornalley) creates a sonic love letter to all those Todd fans who pine for those late ‘70s early ‘80s grooves. The opener “Love Is Real” uses all those classic synth lines to create a sunny slice of perfect pop. “Wishing I Could Change” is almost Phil Spector-ish in its grand production, but it also reminded me of ’90s one-hit wonders New Radicals and this sound is also quite evident on the catchy “Summer of ‘76” with a soulful pop sound that deserves to be a huge radio hit. If any complaint can be made, it sticks a little too close to its original influences.

The album slowly moves away from catchy singles to longer glossy, cosmically themed indulgences. The blissful harmonies start out on “Walls and Bridges” before it heads into the title track “Astral Drive,” a multi-layered epic that you can get lost in with its extended guitar solo that drifts off. “Child Of The Universe” and “No One Escapes” sounds like they fell of Utopia’s POV album. Overall, no filler tunes here and after several listens, you will find the magic of the melodies below all that studio wizardry. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Rob Bonfiglio

Rob Bonfiglio “Trouble Again”

Rob Bonfiglio (Wanderlust) has been making great music since 2006, and his experience as musical director and guitarist for Wilson Philips has only helped focus his own musical vision. On his fifth LP, he really hits it out of the park, with his rich multi-layered harmonies and catchy radio-friendly melodies. From the opener “Passenger Seat” and title track “Trouble Again” it centers on the big guitar riffs and a style that marries 70’s Southern California rock with 80’s melodic pop.

A big highlight is “Spread This Feeling,” a joyful love song that brims over with “Ooh La La” Beach Boys-styled harmonies and brilliant guitar rhythms. Rob has a soulful lead vocal that’s designed for cranking the volume up and jamming with air guitar. He gets all AOR funky on the breezy “Gone” and then comes “Tears” with its mix of soft pop and a heart-tugging chorus that demands multiple listens.  And it doesn’t let up, without a hint of filler. Music Critic Bob Leggett mentioned that this is a “must-get” album and I wholeheartedly agree.  In fact, it’s an easy pick for my top ten album list of 2018.

Amazon | CD Baby

Dave Sheinin and The Supahip

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Dave Sheinin

Dave Sheinin “First Thing Tomorrow”

Noted author and Washington Post sportswriter Dave Sheinin has a not so secret life as a musician. His debut album First Thing Tomorrow has earned kudos from his fellow writer and podcaster Matt Nordlander. Oh, it also doesn’t hurt that he’s got a crew of great musicians assisting him (notably Andy Bopp).  Sheinin has a fondness for Jellyfish in his opener “Lies,” however most of the music sticks to an easy-going pop jangle like on “Oh Amelia.”

“Little California” has pleasing Beach Boys influence, but he hits it out of the park on the power-pop gem “Talking To Myself” which is a well written Carpe Diem message with a solid guitar melody. The ballads don’t resonate as well, and Sheinin’s vocals aren’t remarkable, but the honest lyrics often elevate the production. “City You Left Behind”  and “Goodbye City” are additional highlights. Check it out!

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik


The Supahip

The Supahip “The Two Sided Face”

Sydney power pop musician Michael Carpenter may have “retired” from solo records, but he’s been extremely busy these days. He’s done a Tom Petty tribute, and he dusted off one of his older projects with musician Mark Moldre, called The Supahip. Last heard back in 2007, Carpenter makes it sound like little has changed, and he plays with a relaxed confidence here. The timeless Beatlesque qualities are evident from the very start of “Running Blind,” with its swirling guitar chords.

The winning rumble of “Motor” is a layered guitar gem, with some great reverb-heavy rhythm. “When I Started Falling Apart” sounds like a lost Travelling Wilburys tune. The heavy country guitar riffs on “Let It Go, Brother” suit Carpenter well, and the growing catchy bluegrass like stomper “Got To Keep On Moving” is another toe-tapper. The weary ballad “You Can’t See Me” and the Kinks-like “The Only Living Boy In New York” have just as much care and heart as anything The Honeydogs have ever done. Not a single note of filler here, and considering the quality of the tunes it makes my top ten list for 2018. Super Highly Recommended.

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David Myhr and Dropkick

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David Myhr

David Myhr “Lucky Day”

David Myhr (The Merrymakers) returns after six years and like many power pop legends of the last century, his quest for musical satisfaction continues on a more mature path. He has gathered an all-star group of songwriters to collaborate with him; Bleu, Linus Of Hollywood and Bill DeMain to name a few. He also enlisted producer Brad Jones in Nashville who explains: “My goal was to show David branching out from his youthful power-pop to a more reflective sound.”

David’s harmony-filled opening number “Jealous Sun’” a gem is buoyed by its simple acoustic melody and its sing-along catchiness. This is typical Myhr, and it just keeps coming. “Negative Friend” is full of McCartney-like piano and layered effects (kazoos, even!) “Room To Grow” starts out subtly and then picks up a breezy casual melody with minor keys, it literally grows on you. But the real showpiece here is the catchy and inspirational “The Perfect Place” with swelling strings it is simply brilliant. After this David shows his romantic side, with the soft pop of “Every Day It Rains,” “Lucky Day” and “Lovebug.” Every song hits the mark, no filler and it is on my short list for 2018’s top ten list. The CD version of the album has four additional singles including the sweet ELO-inspired “Spellbound.” Don’t miss it.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Dropkick

Dropkick “Longwave”

Dropkick knows how to jangle – they’ve been at it for 14 albums. The band, based on Scotland’s east coast, are Andrew Taylor, Ian Grier Mike Foy, and Alan Shields. Like a mix of Teenage Fanclub, Big Star and The Jayhawks the opener “Out Of Tune” is undeniably catchy and instrumentally precise.  “It’s Still Raining” is another big highlight, with frontman Andrew Taylor’s soft lead cruising on top of a jangling rhythm. Even the sparse ballad “Faraway Places,” showcases Taylor’s soul with the lyrics; “There are ways to grow up without getting older.” 

More highlights include “Come Around,” the warm fuzzy riffs of “Giving Way,” “Fed Up Thinking About You.” Dropkick’s chiming guitar chords and great harmonies make this a highly recommended album.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Chris Richards & The Subtractions and Vamos

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Chris Richards & The Subtractions

Chris Richards & The Subtractions “Peaks and Valleys”

Chris Richards and The Subtractions take the next step in musical evolution. Newly added guitarist Andy Reed, who also works with Richards in their other band The Legal Matters adds his formidable skills. Regulars Todd Holmes(bass) and Larry Grodsky(drums and percussion) round out The Subtractions. And the band’s sound has shifted to be more in line with The Legal Matters crisp melodic style.

Opening with “Half Asleep” it balances the call-and-response guitars with a layer of harmonies and rich chord shifts that puts the band on a new level. “Just Another Season” is a mellower melody with some nice guitar subtleties, but it kicks back in gear with “The Coast Is Clear,” a west coast feel is all over those jangling guitar rhythms. The “hits” keep coming, with the music flowing in high energy peaks (“In A Sense”) and slower tempo valleys (“Wrapped In A Riddle”) throughout. After the album’s midpoint, it settles in a bit with some nicely written songs like “The End of Me” and “Maybe That’s All.” Fans of Big Star, Teenage Fanclub, and Matthew Sweet will enjoy the entire album and the cover of Big Star’s “Thirteen” and Sweet’s “Someone To Pull The Trigger” fit well here too. It’s all highly recommended and fits into my yearly top ten list for 2018.


Amazon | Kool Kat Musik


Vamos

Vamos “1-2-3”

Chicago garage-punks Vamos is different from what I usually review but they have a raw sound that is impossible to ignore. Vamos (Ryan Murphy-guitar/vocals, Will Wood-bass, Josh Lambert-drums) formed during Chicago’s epic blizzard of 2011 and began playing the city’s thriving DIY scene.  It took a while but the band finally delivers. Murphy describes 1-2-3 as “a controlled descent into madness and mayhem [where] ghostly echoes and reverberations chase edgy, unforgettable melodies.”

I have to agree with that on the big opener “Force of Nature.” The punk buzzsaw anthems “2Ded4Lyfe” and “Do Wanna” both have Ramones-like energy. “Outsiders” is a damn catchy power pop gem. There is a little bit of filler here, but the good stuff definitely makes up for it. Other great cuts include “I Don’t Care,” “Creeper,” and “I Feel Righteous” which reminded me of early Sweet mixed with Love and Rockets. Highly Recommended.

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