Ryan Krga (vocals, 6-string acoustic guitar) gives us this very Big Star-ish single. and it’s a FREEBIE too, so it gets very high marks. Also, get his “Testament” EP.
The always excellent Vegas With Randolph delivers a slowly building love song that soars when it gets to the chorus. Bravo!
I have really missed Peter Balderachi. It’s been a few months since his Change. Hope this leads to a new LP, its a great richly melodic rock single.
S.A. Reyners is our “Man On The Scene” and he makes a good impression with this energetic single. The B-side “Jinx” is also pretty catchy.
The venerable Bryan Estepa has a talent for putting emotional anxiety to music. Thank goodness for that.
Stourbridge, England’s Amoeba Teen are back and the songwriting team of Mark Britton and Mike Turner continue to craft catchy tunes, but the band stretches its boundaries and colors outside the lines on Medium Wave. The pop sophistication on the opener “Clementine,” starts out like an Anton Barbeau gem with a mid-tempo narrative but it then launches into a Beach Boys-like coda.
“Babycakes” and “(Coming On) Stronger” mines the familiar Beatles meets Nilsson influences perfectly with driving hooks and sweet guitar breaks. The acoustic folk-like “Wandering Bullets” boasts strings and harmonies comparable with Wilco about life’s everyday addictions. Then it’s back to crunchy power pop with the middle-aged anxiety of “Suit and Tie,” but the band revisits roots pop on “Ship to Shore” and “Hickory Hill,” the latter being a gentle jangling melody that sticks with repeat plays. The Lennonesque ballad “Save” is another tune that dazzles. Each song reveals more and Amoeba Teen proves to be much deeper than the surface. While a few songs are immediate, this is an album that grows on you and doesn’t let go. Highly Recommended.
San Francisco band Talkie continues to formulate lush California soundscapes and pick up right where they left off with 2018’s Fundamental Things. “Headphone, Pt 2” is perfect summer beach music, almost dream-like where “Everybody’s hanging out for the weekend.” But all is not bliss and we start to hear on “Boring Now” that “something is wrong” with that new job… all set to sweet harmonies. The band constructs its catchy narrative perfectly on “Bummer Summerrr,” an anthem for slacking as lead Christopher Isaacs croons “I can’t seem to find my way.” The story takes a dark turn after this.
The reflective “Proper Way” hints at an “easy way out” and the energy level moves up on “Eraser” a catchy guitar gem with just the right amount of guitar fuzz buried in it’s desperate lyric “I wish I could erase myself.” But the band doesn’t wallow in the negative, as the laid back “Turning Over” looks at realistic solutions, and the frantic tempo “I’m Alright” gets into acceptance and “Walk Away” approaches self-renewal. Talkie seamlessly blends each song into the narrative with hints of surf rock and folk. The album coda leads us to the opening piano chords of Fundamental Things, so for the “full concept” listen to both albums in order. Highly Recommended.
Geoff is a power pop veteran from numerous bands (The Connection, New Trocaderos, and The Kurt Baker Band) in addition, he has written and performed many of their biggest hits. So when Connection bandmate Brad Marino went solo earlier this year, Geoff decided to go solo too and throw in the kitchen sink when it comes to pop punk and melodic rock anthems. Geoff delivers his signature sound but without a dominant bass vocal, so he layers his songs in harmonies and rich guitar rhythms.
“This One Is Gonna Be Hot” sets the template with a quick tempo and take-no-prisoners abandon, akin to an early Green Day hit. “Cha-Ching” is a soundtrack to a fast-paced bank robbery, then it slows a bit for the amazingly catchy “Giving In.” The non-stop action continues without everything sounding alike, “I Got The Skinny” could be a Kurt Baker tune with its punk energy and “We Can’t Do It” is another gem with a Beach Boys-like intro about turning down a gig while touring (Maybe this was about 2016?) It was hard to find anything that felt like filler, “All The Hits” is a great sing-along tune, and my favorite song was “Velcro Shoes” about a dude “past his prime.” He even shouts out to Kurt (I believe) when he sings “Punker Than Me.” With 16 short and sweet tracks, it’s a perfect party album for summer and a nominee for best album of 2019.
Rick Gallego (aka Cloud Eleven) makes music for himself and we are blessed he is able to share it with us. It’s pure bedroom-psych-pop from the Brian Wilson/Wondermints school of soundscapes. “On Pismo Beach” has a lovely building chorus with soaring harmonies, and “Aural Illusion” attempts to explain that “magic to my ears” with slow swirling chords and strings similar to ELO. “Bound To Follow” embraces the California sound with lush melody lines, overlapping vocals and sleigh bells.
The poetic folk of “For Weal and Woe” and “L.A. County” is a slight shift in approach, with brightly strummed chords over a light percussive rhythm. Gallego looks back philosophically at his career with “Skywriting” and then “One Big Hideaway” feels like an interpretation of Brian Wilson’s mid 70’s isolation. The title track explains Rick’s contentment to be a “Footnote” in music history. Overall, while the album’s theme is slightly melancholy, it’s not too depressing either. It appears these melodies are just right for quiet contemplation with headphones. Check it out.
If you are a fan of Beatlesque pop look no further. I talked with Ian Ash (aka The Last Bees) about his debut EP. Fans of The Wonders, Spongetones and The Red Button will love it. Read the full EP review or take the plunge for $6 and buy the download.
Colman Gota is back with producer Mitch Easter on this rocking ode to a grievance. Gota’s vocal style has always reminded me of Tom Petty, but musically he forges his own unique path. Starting with “Catholic School,” he laments that “good guys only win in the movies,” as the catchy chorus sticks with you.
“Victim of Society” is a bit atonal, with his vocal melody running alongside the echoing rhythmic guitar. The remaining songs are all pretty compelling, and Gota’s voice grows on you quickly. In fact, as the album progresses it gets better, a little like a Dylan playing with REM and John Cougar Mellencamp. I love the little details and guitar riffs in “Lonely Tonight” and “Practice Room.” The melodic menagerie of techniques on “Do You Really Wanna Know” is also really great. “Do It All Over Again” starts out quiet, but leads to a hand-clapping joyous chorus. No duds here, enjoy! Highly Recommended.
Norway’s Armchair Oracles are back with a new LP (their 3rd) and the band continues to giving us dramatic and melodic rock and roll. “Porcelain Heart” is an early favorite with its gentle harmonies and guitar jangle. Lead vocalist Atle Skogrand’s tone is hushed and soothing on most songs. “She Gets Me High” has a Big Star meets Beatles quality with a solid hook and it’s my favorite song here.
The band turns up the jangle and Matthew Sweet chords on “Don’t Let It Break You” and “Might Be Wrong.” The dense production threatens to obscure the guitar solos, and at times makes the music homogenous. Thankfully on “Silver Nights” it adds a psychedelic sitar sound that adds a little variety. And the slower tempo gem “Last of All Suns” dazzles with it’s Mott The Hoople-like guitar breaks and haunting bassline. There are enough good songs here to make this one highly recommended.
