Category: video

Erk and a new Kai Danzberg video

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Rob Laufer

Erk “When Night Meets Day”

German singer-songwriter Erk Wiemer is one of those great finds, who has quietly developed his talent and songwriting over the years. Hopefully, this album will let others in on his joyful love of classic pop and rock and roll melodies. He starts with the Motown styled “Living My Life Without You” and its infectious emotion and horns bathe the listener. His songwriting style is tightly crisp, and on “Taking My Time” he makes the duet with Diane Weigmann as sweet as sugar. His love of soft pop sounds come through on the Left Banke-styled “Malibu Beaches In Berlin” and the Wilsonesque “Rhapsody of You.”

Erk does not stick to a single style, so you get a little ska, a little jazz and even some doo-wop (on the title track). But when he hits that hook right, it’s amazingly catchy. “Chilly Winds Ahead” and “Better Sad Than Dead” are wonderful amalgams of The Beatles and Gilbert O’Sullivan. Highly Recommended.

Amazon

Kai Danzberg is releasing his digital single “The Day” a duet with Lisa Mychols. This is in advance on his new EP “Euphoria” which will be released in late September.

Note: I apologize for the slow down in content this summer due to personal issues. I will ramp up more reviews soon.

Deluxe Editions and Kickstarter News update!

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One of our recommended go-to power pop artists is Chris Richards & The Subtractions. In addition to this year’s Peaks & Valleys – the band has added new and updated deluxe editions of three earlier LPs. Loaded with demos and alternate takes, check it out:




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Paul Melancon, a critical-darling indie-pop rocker from Atlanta, GA is debuting “Hyperventilate” along with a very Scooby-Doo/Archies like animated video from his forthcoming album. Melancon’s first new music in 13 years tells the story of his struggle with depression.

“Anyone can relate to this feeling of being completely trapped by ongoing discouragement. When under the thumb of depression, my discouragement verged on hopelessness that I couldn’t shake, but couldn’t give into,” Melancon said. “In Hyperventilate, I try to capture that dual sense of both feeling like I’ll have to give up and needing not to give up no matter what.”

Order the album through Kickstarter and help spread the word!

Saturday Night EPs: Wilkerson, Brad Marino, Lia Pamina & Dario Persi

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The first single from Danny Wilkerson‘s forthcoming album Wilkerson.  The album produced by Bleu and featuring Roger Joseph Manning Jr. will be released July 20, 2018. I like this one a lot, its got the goods!  Get it on Amazon

We saw this coming from Brad Marino (The Connection) last month and now his solo EP is here! Brad plays all the instruments and sings all the vocals. Fans of The Connection will not be disappointed.”Hey Girl” has got a little Stones-like R&B guitar lead, and “Special Friend” is also charged up (and also has a Stones reference!) His first Ramones styled single “C’mon C’mon C’mon” is also available. Get it on Bandcamp or Amazon.

A perfect European combination! Spain’s Lia Pamina and Italy’s Dario Persi (Radio Days) recreate a sweet sixties sounds on So Far Tonight. They shared the songwriting, and the result of this joint effort is pure magic. “So Far Tonight” and “Time’s Passing By” are real Beatlesque gems and “Midnight Walk” is a catchy tune that takes advantage of Lia’s hushed vocals.

Get it on Bandcamp or Amazon

Videos and freebies: The Weeklings, Spygenius, Dominique Leone, Ancient Babies

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The Weeklings are back! It’s a new single that was recorded during the Abbey Road sessions for Studio 2 last year and has never been released. Look for it now on Amazon.
Dominique Leone sends us some wonderful piano songs with complex arrangements and solid melody. Check out “Domestic Bliss” and the rich multitracking on “I’ll Always Be Right Here.” And yes it’s a FREE download on Bandcamp.

Ben from the band Onward Chariots, has a new project called Ancient Babies with a mix of melodic rock, disco and electro dance pop. Yeah, this isn’t what I usually feature here but definitely check out the last track “Rolling Like A River” a rocking garage styled theme.

Spygenius of Canterbury, England, last album Pacéphale (pah-say-fahl) is being re-released in the USA. The band plays pop in the jangly, hooky, mold of XTC or Robyn Hitchcock and it’s accompanied by an illustrated storybook — check it on Big Stir Records or Amazon.