Chris Von Sneidern and The Doughboys

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Chris Von Sneidern

Chris Von Sneidern “Emerge”

Once part of the 90’s wave of great power pop artists, Chris Von Sneidern had virtually vanished by the beginning of the new century. His first three LPs are power-pop classics, but Chris changed musical direction with The Sportsman in 1999, and he’s self-released in small spurts since then. A cult favorite, he’s been the subject of a documentary and endless speculation. But that exile is coming to an end.

Emerge is very much a therapeutic type of album. The gentle “Madrigal” is an acapella prayer, which leads to the title track. Chris explains where he’s been, “Imagine feeling drowned/oppressed, confused, and bound” with some beautiful piano and horn flourishes. “Fight” is a brutal depiction of childhood, sounding like a Mark Knopfler narrative. Chris still has melodic gifts and “Tree Fort” is a great example with its layered chorus and marching rhythm. The big highlight “Hey Ron” is pure power pop; catchy and infectious – it’s what fans have been waiting for. While he doesn’t stay in that lane, Chris does have some really great soaring AOR songs like “Leaving Here” and “It’s Gonna Be Alright.” The dramatic requiem ballad “It’s Time To Go” and the acoustic folk “Why Didn’t You Save Me?” are also highlights. Not so immediate, it is one that needs to grow on you. I’m just glad he’s back, and you should check it out.

Bandcamp | Kool Kat Musik


The Doughboys

The Doughboys “Running For The Covers”

The Doughboys are veterans of rock and roll, so anything they play will sound good. The team of Gar Francis, Mike Caruso, Myke Scavone, and Richard X Heyman are a tight unit and they truly make these covers sound like their own. The band’s sound is very much in the mold of The Rolling Stones, The Who, and The Animals.

The band picks songs that you don’t often see on cover albums. They totally own the opener “96 Tears,” and it sounds much better than the original. The Kinks “The Hard Way” and Neil Diamond’s “Solitary Man” stick to the Doughboys formula, as well as rarities by Tony Bruno, David Essex and even Mose Allison (!) Overall a really fun LP that will keep you entertained the whole way through. Go boys, go!

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Rob Laufer and Scott Gagner

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Rob Laufer

Rob Laufer “The Floating World”

LA producer, sideman, and songwriter-for-hire Rob Laufer is back with a well-rounded set of AOR songs on The Floating World. Rob was motivated to create the LP after the death of Tom Petty, where he follows a simple rule; keep your songs melodies uncluttered and direct.

“Avalanche” is a near-perfect opener, with his weary and soulful vocals over a slide guitar and piano melody that’s guaranteed to stick in your head. The songs are built out of snapshots of life, and beautifully composed; “Highway Machine” has an ominous sense of the future mixed with the joy of the open road. The album settles into a nice groove, with the psyche-lite gems “Space and Time” and “As Long As You Belong.” Petty’s influence is heard on “Hippie Love” and you hear a bit of Cat Stevens on “This River.” You’ll also hear some Beatlesque hints throughout. Highly Recommended.

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Scott Gagner

Scott Gagner “Hummingbird Heart”

Following Scott Gagner’s highly acclaimed Pins & Needles, he went through several life changes, including a move to San Francisco. Joined by Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, Big Star) and newcomer Jesse Chandler (Mercury Rev) he touches on universal themes like childhood, fatherhood, mid-life crises, and more. 

“Bella” is a catchy gem that captures the joyful feelings about his baby girl. The bouncy “Baby Gets What Baby Wants” continues the story as the family travels to their new home, but Scott tones down his approach on “End of The Beginning,” with a serious lyric about the state of his life. The serious soul searching continues until things pick up with the jaunty “You Can’t Break a Broken Heart” and its jangling rhythm. “Two Guitars, Bass & Drums” is another highlight, with a terrific guitar solo midway through. The subtle touches on the Neil Young cover “Philadelphia” and the brilliant composition of “Just A Boy,” with its sweet backing vocals are also big highlights. While the heavy ballads seem to dominate here, Scott’s approach is earnest as he tries to “Put a Little Beauty” into this world. Highly Recommended. 

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

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.

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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.

The Dollyrots and The Armoires

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The Dollyrots

The Dollyrots “Daydream Explosion”

The Dollyrots are one of the best sounding punk-pop bands and have been going strong since 2004. Versatile singer/bassist Kelly Ogden and guitarist Luis Cabezas deliver a joyous mix of vocal sass and fast guitar riffs starting with “Animal.” Ogden’s vocals have a distinctive range that goes from a dreamy coo to an aggressive snarl in the standout “In Your Face.” It’s like a perfect blend of The Go Gos and Blink 182, as Kelly sings “I’ve got friends who’ve got my back, I got things I wanna say, I will do what I can, right in your face!” Fans of Bowling For Soup, Weezer and Joan Jett will just eat this up.

“Naked,” “Talk Too Much” and “I Love You Instead” are catchy standouts with choruses that stick fast in your head, and stay with you. Stylistically the band moves around with slower pop tempos like “Watching The Storm Go By” and “Flippy in My Red Dress” which transforms from smokey jazz to aggressive pop. The songs are all relatable while shining a light on female independence, especially on “No Princess.” Not a single weak song and loaded with energy makes this an excellent party album and super highly recommended.

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The Armoires “Zibaldone”

Eclectic pop combo, The Armoires are an amalgam of folk, world, rock and pop lead by the duo of Christina Bulbenko and Rex Broome. The sound draws from many different places and recalls The Go-Betweens, Byrds, and Fleetwood Mac. The violin played by Christina’s daughter Larysa is a prominent fixture, along with Rex’s jangling guitar on the opener “Appalachukrainia.” The band sounds inspired by Camper Van Beethoven on “Pushing Forty,” almost daring father time with the lyrics “I hope I live before I get old.” The band’s fluid harmonies are present on “McCadden” and the catchy “(How Did You) A Mistake Like Me)” is a big highlight with it’s Rickenbacker melody.

The band moves around stylistically, from steel pedal mid-tempo “Satellite Business” to the off-Broadway quirk of “Is Drama Sue Here?” The band is assisted by producer Steven Wilson (Plasticsoul) and a bevy of artists from the Big Stir Record label. And when it comes musicianship, they all have the goods. The band spreads around the vocal duties often having multiple leads, which doesn’t always work. But when it flows right, the musical stories of the band’s travels are warm and inviting. Check it out.

Big Stir Records | Kool Kat Musik

Willie Wisely and The Vapour Trails

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Willie Wisely

Willie Wisely “Face The Sun”

Veteran musician Willie Wisely releases his eighth studio album this week, since 2012’s True, after a pause from making albums. Wisely has long moved beyond his early Beatlesque power pop in the late ’90s and he’s drifted toward other genres effortlessly. But he still acknowledges the influences with the playful melody of “Sutures Loose” as he sings about rising above pain. And “Cut Your Groove” is another catchy pop gem with layered harmonies, organ, and horns in the chorus. Much of the music was tested “live” in Laurel Canyon Sun Sessions and sounds great with the full studio treatment.

Wisely doesn’t sit still either. He dons a gentle pop-psyche persona in “Illumination” and delivers a fine slide guitar ballad “I Can’t Sleep,” but also he plays a few more country-styled songs that literally offer “No Suprise.” He does better with an impressive vocal performance with on the R&B styled “It’s Better Not to Care” and the soulful gem “Invisible In Love” co-written with Cliff Hillis. Other power-pop faves can be spotted in the credits like Karla Kane & Khoi Huynh (The Corner Laughers) and Kelly Jones. But the music is pure Wisely and it suits him perfectly. It’s great to hear a master back at work. Highly Recommended.

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The Vapour Trails

The Vapour Trails “See You in the Next World”

From the green hills of Aberdeen, Scotland comes a jangle pop band to scratch your Brydsian itch. The band is Scott Robertson (lead guitar, vocals), Kevin Robertson (rhythm guitar, vocals), Nicholas Mackie (rhythm guitar, vocals), Andrew Crossan (bass), and Kenny Munro (drums). Starting with the impressive “Sonic Wave” it’s chiming chords and psychedelic rhythms re-create the California coast circa 1969. Another brilliant gem is the melodic “The Inner Truth” which recalls both CSNY and The La’s combined.

On occasion, the band creates an atmosphere with the instrumental “Indian Reserve,” but other songs are a little too light vocally to make an impact. Fortunately, there are plenty of other highlights including “You, With Love,” “Godspeed It” and “See You In The Next World.” Check it out.

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