Singles: Kurt Baker, Danny McDonald, Suspect Parts, Willie Wisely, Richard Turgeon, Francis Lung, Nick Bertling

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The Kurt Baker Combo has been putting out a few tracks over the last few months, including (I Can’t Help) Falling In Love. It’s good to hear the classic Kurt Baker sound after a few punkier projects. Look for a new LP soon I think.

A truly excellent power-pop single by Danny McDonald but it’s so short (1:10) — is it too much to ask for another chorus? Hear more for FREE on the Shake Yer Popboomerang Vol. 3 compilation.

Suspect Parts are a German band with influences coming from 60s pop and the 70s California beach sound, all the way through to 77-punk. Nice three-song EP here.

As previously noted, Willie Wisely does country music as well as power pop. The ballad “No Suprise” has four mixes here, all with steel pedal and soulful vocal performance.

Richard Turgeon just keeps putting out cool tunes, this single has plenty of guitar muscle. He also recently added “Jolene” which is a FREE download. I liked this song better, like a hybrid of The Who and Oasis.

The holidays are fast approaching. This sweet pop treat by Francis Lung is most welcome! Beautiful vocal harmonies join clarinet, tenor sax, flute, bass clarinet, and baritone sax to create this bittersweet seasonal gem. It’s a FREE download too.

Last week we featured Nick Bertling‘s Monkee covers, now he’s doing a faithful instrumental overture from The Who’s “Tommy.” A FREE download, and a fine job, Nick!

Dan Israel and Fastball

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Dan Israel

Dan Israel “Social Media Anxiety Disorder”

Minneapolis singer-songwriter Dan Israel is back with his 15th studio LP, and he’s better than ever. While always a reliable roots rocker in the tradition of Tom Petty or Steve Earle, on Social Media Anxiety Disorder he hits it outta the park. “Be My Girl” is a gem that blasts out the horns and guitar riffs with abandon and a solid hook that will stick in your head quickly.

Next “125” is a mellow psych-pop tune that comfortably grooves, and “Just Can’t Take It” is a catchy gem that sounds like Bob Dylan playing with Mark Knopfler. “I’m Still Lost” is a soulful examination of anxiety and facing it head-on. “Another Day” and “Alright” are uptempo rockers that resonate, and he revisits the earlier theme on “Just Can’t Take It Revisited,” and its a clever deconstruction. No filler here, each song brilliantly captures Dan’s emotions and insecurities. This LP is built for multiple listens and highly recommended.

Amazon


Fastball

Fastball “The Help Machine”

Platinum-selling band Fastball is known for smart catchy power-pop and its latest LP is another strong effort that leans heavily on the great songwriting from Miles Zuniga and Tony Scalzo. However, the musical hooks so prominent on past albums are in shorter supply here. While the quality of the music remains excellent, the mood is mainly dispirited.

The world-weary “Friend or Foe” projects a sense of angst with all the uncertainties of life. Scalzo’s “White Collar” is an early highlight, with some terrific shifting chords and tight harmonies, along with its organ melody. “Redeemed” is a bluesy mid-tempo gem that plays like a sermon with a jazzy guitar solo. One of the few uptempo tunes “The Girl You Pretended To Be” is like a bouncy early Elvis Costello song with a steel pedal country vibe. But most of the songs are lovely ballads like “I Go South” or “The Help Machine,” which focuses on that empty existential feeling as Zuniga croons “I don’t want to spend my life chasing money.” A downer, but so well done. Highly Recommended.

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EP Reviews: The Seven and Six, Vista Blue, Dogmatics, Nick Bertling, The Martial Arts

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The Seven and Six is a new band with the ever-talented Lisa Mychols and Tom Richards. This is great power pop with a beat you can dance to. This is Mychols in her natural habitat, each song hits the right notes, kicks ass and with its upbeat tempos, it’s super highly recommended.

Vista Blue dials back its natural punk influences and turns up the Beach Boys-inspired power-pop tendencies. “Summer Wonderland” is a sweet single with some great harmonies and the other tracks are a cut above the usual seasonal music. Get this one now! Available at Amazon


The Dogmatics is a more traditional garage rock and roll band from Boston thanks to our buddies at Rum Bar Records. Fans of The Replacements or The Johnny Thunders will dig this one. And who else will write a song about the current United States Secretary of Commerce? Also available at Amazon.


Nick Bertling made this faithful group of Monkee cover tunes in honor of the late Peter Tork. It even has a cover of a Kellog’s jingle! Not an EP, but a labor of love and it’s a great FREE download.


The new EP from The Martial Arts (aka Paul Kelly) is a quirky pop romp that is both catchy and idiosyncratic. The other songs are just as infectious and melodic. Get it on Amazon.

 

Tor Guides and The Zags

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The Tor Guides

The Tor Guides “Backwards In Reverse”

Swedish musician Torbjorn Pettersson has once again delivered a collection of compelling songs with a melodic sensibility rooted in the McCartney and Brian Wilson school of pop. Torbjorn has eased up on the obvious homage to his heroes, and the production techniques are much more subtle than his past work. In fact, you could label this as “mellow pop.”

“To Be” opens up the set with an uplifting AOR melody that gently flows from its minor chords and Torbjorn’s understated vocal. “In A Good Place” is a slow shimmering ballad that evokes The Beach Boys, with its layered guitars and piano rhythm. Fans of the recent Pearlfishers will find that this Tor Guides album has a similar vibe.

The tempo and energy jump with a cover of Pilot’s “Just A Smile” and on “My Hippie Mess,” the song speaks to all fans of late ‘60s pop. Overall a very pleasant melodic oasis in today’s chaotic world. It’s a great place to stay for a while, so check it out.

Bandcamp only


The Laissez Fairs

The Zags “The Cliff”

The Zags lead singer David Ricardo’s songwriting approach is straight power pop with some ‘80s and ‘90s stylistic techniques. “No Go” is a good start with its catchy rhythm and bouncy verses. From there we go to “A World Away,”  a previously released tune that remains a most impressive and memorable single.

“Neither/Nor” adds woodwinds to the hook and “Put A Record On” speaks to the current state of music where he pretends he’s Billy Shears, but “no one’s listening anymore.” Another stand out here is “(We Will Be) Awesome.” The song perfectly expresses the frustration and hope of a new band where we “keep at this thing until we graduate.” The theatrical “Catalina Serafina” is another gem, with a some nice “ba ba ba” harmonies. As a whole, the album is a little inconsistent, but there are enough good tracks here to make it music that deserves to be heard.

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Richard and The Young Lions, Laissez Fairs, Paul Bertolino

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Nick Frater  Nick Frater

Richard and The Young Lions “Vol 1 & 2”

This cult garage rock combo out of Newark, NJ has long been a hidden gem amongst those late 1960’s bands and in 1998, it was included on the box set version of the definitive ’60s garage-rock compilation Nuggets. In 1966, lead singer Richard Tepp had a chance encounter with producer Bob Crewe (The Four Seasons) who’s studio helped create the hit “Open Up Your Door.” Unfortunately, the band disappeared after a few singles. They had a reunion in 2000, a fan in Steven Van Zandt, and he helped create this definitive collection with Wicked Cool Records.

What we have is a great collection of garage music in the mold of The Animals and Paul Revere and The Raiders. Highlights include “Hurt By Love,” “Nasty,” “You Can Make It,” “You Make Me Lonely,” and “Sick And Tired.” The remastered sound is crisp and the recent cuts blend in seamlessly with the ’60s originals. Not everything sticks, but between both volumes, there is plenty of great music to enjoy.

Amazon (Vol. 1) | Amazon Vol.2 | Kool Kat Musik (Vol.1) | Kool Kat Musik (Vol.2)


The Laissez Fairs

The Laissez Fairs “Marigold”

Las Vegas Psych poppers The Laissez Fairs return with this new LP on Rum Bar Records, and they perfectly recreate the shimmering apex of ’60s psychedelia. The opener “Long Grow The Marigolds” is flush with layered fuzz guitars and Farfisa organ, and it sets the tone. The standout “Phantom Stranger” has a sweet catchy rhythm as it jangles along, and the ballad “My Thursday” Girl” is like early Bowie meets Brian Jones.

The band’s general approach reminds me more of The Stones (especially on “Redundant Beach”) than The Lemon Pipers. Although some modern techniques filter through the rose-colored lenses, the music is consistently good across 16 trip inducing tracks. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik


Paul Bertolino

Paul Bertolino “Poseur”

Bertolino has a distinct love for the early 1970s sound and production technique. The opener “On The Downslide” emulates Terry Kath-era Chicago with its horn blasts and bass funky beat. “Parade” is another strong vocal by Paul and great use of harmonies. He impresses for the piano ballad “Ghosted” using a falsetto almost like Barry Gibb, and it grows to a neat guitar solo at the coda.

While the melodies miss out on those hooks occasionally, Paul’s use of saxophone, flute, and R&B elements make “All The Way To Chicago” another winner, and “Tap Out” boasts a spirited guitar floating alongside the Matthew Sweet-like vocal approach. The last track “The Antidote” is another gem where he weaves together flowing vocals, rhythms, and instrumentals beautifully. Overall its the most sophisticated and polished set of music Paul’s done. Highly Recommended.

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