Salt and Richard X. Heyman

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Salt

Salt “The Loneliness of Clouds”

This is a power pop supergroup that skipped under the radar, so you should check it out. Salt is a French-American band born in 2016 during sessions for a Game Theory tribute in Abbey Road Studios. The band was formed around Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, REM, Big Star), Anton Barbeau, and Stéphane Schück, all collaborators and friends of the late Scott Miller, despite never having met. Quickly joined by Fred Quentin and Benoit Lautridou they set about recording an album. Influences range from the Beatles to XTC, REM and Game Theory as it feels like progressive rock filtered through a pop lens.

The swirling guitar chords of “A Song For Jerome” are matched by Barbeau’s strong vocal presence, the instrumentation is highly layered as the chorus sticks with you. Another gem, “Plastic Future Plans” recalls ’80s pop rock, accented by Lautridou’s strong drumming and the angular guitar chords. “Blast With Happy Guru” has more of a Posies influence, with a touch of John Lennon. Some brilliant guitar work is highlighted on “Eastern Colors,” but as we continue forward the complex instrumentation supplants the melodies (“Shiny Leather Sun”) as things sound more like a psychedelic jam session.  Despite this, a majority of this album is catchy and worthy of the label: Highly Recommended.

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Nick Lowe

Richard X. Heyman “Pop Circles”

The venerable Richard X. Heyman delivers his newest solo LP, Pop Circles with an eye on the past, but a focus on the future. RXH is an exemplary solo artist who has been very productive over the past decade with both his solo work and The Doughboys. “Guess You Had To Be There” is an appreciation of pop’s past in the ’60s with richly composted strings (Thanks to Julia Kent and Chris Jenkins) and a steady bass line (Thanks to his wife, Nancy Leigh ).

The vintage jangling sounds throughout the album are well utilized to give his music a timeless quality and Richard’s vocals are strong and steady.  “Action Screams Louder Than Words,” has an urgency and conviction, along with a solid solo guitar break. The romantic mid-tempo songs are also a big highlight, “As Love Would Have It” and the piano-led “Marlena” stand with RXH’s best work.  Some of the more casual pop, like “A New Light” has echoes of Todd Rundgren and the harpsichord rolls and harmonies on “About Time” makes it a pure joy to listen to.  While not every song resonates as well, a majority of them do. Overall, this is a triumph. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Ryan Hamilton & The Harlequin Ghosts and Scott Lavene

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Ryan Hamilton And The Harlequin Ghosts

Ryan Hamilton And The Harlequin Ghosts “This is the Sound”

Ryan Hamilton has bounced around over the past few years as an artist, but he settled in Fort Worth, Texas. And he brings a rowdy party with his band The Harlequin Ghosts. Opening with a song about his whiskey drinkin’ pot smokin’ “Mamacita,” it sets the tone for the loud guitar anthems that follow. What Ryan continues to do is set forth a series of catchy sing-along choruses with heavy rock chords similar to Bowling For Soup, and the most infectious of the bunch “Get Down” takes no prisoners as it rocks away.

Other tracks that keep the party going include “Bottoms Up,” “This Is The Sound” and “Far Cry.” But Ryan knows when to take his foot off the gas a little, and serenades on “Feels Like Falling In Love” and “All Fall Down.” Then “Girl vs. Monster” allows Ryan to explore a more country sound with some slide guitar. The music is both uplifting and heartfelt on “Let You Go,” where loving someone really means letting go. It gets emotional and introspective on the closer “Won’t Stop Now.” I could not find a bad track here, and overall it’s a fine example of modern power pop. Highly Recommended and makes my top ten nominee list for 2019.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Scott Lavene

Scott Lavene “Broke”

Essex UK musician Scott Lavene is very matter of fact in his debut LP Broke.  His spoken narrative style is comparable to Ian Drury, Lou Reed or David Byrne. On the opening track, “My Stereo”  has a slight country vibe, with conversation over a bassline that dovetails nicely into a sung chorus. “Apples And Pears” is a punk-like rant through modern life and the universal struggle of job, marriage, etc. In some ways, the non-narrative “Super Clean” is the highlight here – a little Bowiesque approach goes a long way with its bass lead.

While the melodies are okay, and some of the lyrical stories are funny,  the next few songs are really strung out. The spacey “Modern World” with its sullen strings or the slow funk on “Moonbeams” made this listener lose momentum. “Light Of The Moon” has some nice Keith Moon styled drumming in the intro before it settles into another conversation with Scott, doing his best “scratching out a living” with his band. Overall an interesting album that needs a few more melodies and less narration. But it’s still worth exploring, so check it out!

Bandcamp | Amazon

The Lunar Laugh and Tony Low

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The Lunar Laugh

The Lunar Laugh “Goodnight Noises Everywhere”

The Lunar Laugh is an experienced pop band with mates Connor Anderson, Jared Lekites, Campbell Young and Jimmy Jackson back for their third album.  The brilliant opening single by Lekites “Welcome To The World” is a showcase for the band’s eclectic brand of power pop. Drawing from classic pop influences and rich harmonies it moves in more varied directions as “Old New Kid In Town” bounces along. The ballads are more present and are more modern sounding, with “Another Casualty,” sounding like a lost Lindsey Buckingham classic.

“Tell Me Story” is another highlight here, with its shuffling country rhythm and catchy chorus. While the 80’s influences are felt on “Waiting For A Sign,” the power pop slide guitar comes back on the amazing “By The Light of The Living Room” and the sweet “Saying Goodbye” with its Brian Wilson meets Beatles ending. Overall a great album with brilliant moments. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Nick Lowe

Tony Low “TO New York”

Tony Low, a founding member of New York band The Cheepskates, now resides in Greensboro, North Carolina. But as his newest solo album reveals, he’s still got a New York state of mind.

However, we start with the jangling gem “Murder Beach,” which is actually about shootings that took place in Myrtle Beach, SC. Ironically even the locals started referring to their hometown by that name. “Hum of the Neighborhood” is a gentle story about living away from home. Another highlight “The Abomination” is a political rant with just a hint of sarcasm and dismay. Soul searching takes place on “The Plan,” as it follows looking for someone and some hope. Musically its got nice string flourishes and a spacey feel. The songs are filled with anxiety but “This Old World” ends on a positive note. A good LP that deserves to be heard.

Bandcamp

Monday Night Singles: Richard Turgeon, Ken Sharp, Ballard, Shake Some Action, and Butch Young

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Yes, Keanu is a popular meme now with his John Wick movies and Richard Turgeon is riding that popularity with his new single “Keanu Reeves.” And a FREEBIE too!

Ken Sharp‘s newest single “Rock & Roll Supershow” is a love letter to Glam Rock with the help of Fernando Perdomo. For fans of T-Rex, Slade, and Sweet this is a “must-buy.”

While I expected something funny from Ballard, “I’ll Drop My Trousers To The Ground” is the bleakest, darkest, and most depressing song I’ve heard all year. You’ve been warned.

Shake Some Action has a new release coming very soon, and here is one of several good singles: “Stanger In The House” has this awesome echoing surf guitar. Check it out.

I have to say that Big Stir Records is doing a tremendous job. They have monthly singles out (currently at #32) and the artists keep getting better.
My favorite of the new bunch is Butch Young‘s “Captain Serious” b/w “Beautiful Dreamer”, the first new music from him in three years since Mercury Man. I don’t have a sample to post, but trust me this is good! Visit The Big Stir Digital Singles Page to hear it.

Nick Lowe, The Morning Line and Sofa City Sweetheart

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Nick Lowe

Nick Lowe “Love Starvation” EP

Nick Lowe is like a fine wine — and his ability to craft catchy melodies with meaningful lyrics get better with age.  Supported by masked guitar greats Los Straitjackets, Lowe has penned three original tracks: “Love Starvation,” “Trombone,” and “Blue on Blue.”  The A/B sides have a Spanish flavor similar to Richie Valens. However, the real classic here is the tender ballad “Blue On Blue.” Highly Recommended.

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The Morning Line

The Morning Line “North”

San Francisco, CA-based The Morning Line delivers a follow up to 2017’s Smoke. They start with the slow building “Antennas,” a droning guitar melody with reverbed basslines. “Given Up” has a good guitar riff, with a 90’s style very much like Collective Soul.

The band picks up the speed a bit on “1982” and lead vocalist Stephen Smith is like a mellowed Elvis Costello at times. Wistful midtempo songs like “Complicated” and “Sickness” are good, but the folk-rock “Tripwire” slows the momentum. Thankfully the energy level is just right on “Nostradamus” and “No Love Lost.” The catchy “South Carolina” is another highlight. Check it out!

Kool Kat Musik


Sofa City Sweetheart

Sofa City Sweetheart “Super(b) Exitos”

LA musician Juan Antonio Lopez (and assorted bandmates) have made a deeply personal statement and a hell of an album. “The Same Old Song (You Were Always On My Mind” is a great low-key opener comparable to Elliot Smith with its “la di da” chorus and “Stanely Waited” is a richly textured character study with a western rhythm that soars during the bridge. Acoustic guitar and strings echo along with the verses of “Annie Stays Home” and the gentle falsetto and harmonies all by itself carry “Floating” along. Every song here is a pocket symphony with really high peaks like “Stop The Thinking” that are simply catchy power pop with the addition of Spanish horn accents that takes it over the top.

“In This Lifetime” is another brilliant single that’s a hopeful pep talk, and following that are the melancholy “I am On My Own” and “Song For Alex.” The album slowly unwinds with more balladry, but it remains compelling musically, especially the ender “So Long / Lucky Nuff.” Lopez pours his heart out in the lyrics and even on the few instrumentals. He designed this album to be listened to as a complete concept, a little adventure that begins when you drop the needle down before the first song and isn’t over until you hear the record crackle at the end. It serves that purpose and earns praise as one of the best LPs of 2019. Highly Recommended.

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