Fernando Perdomo and Cullen Omori

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Fernando Perdomo

Fernando Perdomo “Zebra Crossing”

Recorded at the legendary Abbey Road studios, Fernando Perdomo continues his quest to make music that moves the soul. Fernando’s profound opening tracks “I’m Here” and “Sometimes I Feel Like I’m Nothing At All” recall emotional themes similar to Brian Wilson and John Lennon. Most of the music is thoughtful balladry, with the exception of the bouncy “Find Love (Hold On)” performed with friends; Dr. Danny,  Ken Sharp and  Megan Zeankowski.

The standout track here is the ode to the audiophile “We Were Raised With Headphones On,” with its jazzy guitar interlude. The stream-of-consciousness guitar instrumental of “Not Meant To Be” is another slice of magic, reminding me of Mike Keneally. The lyrical sentiment on “Sunday” is musings on lost youth and the abstract definition of “Home” reaches a grand scale. Also impressive is the epic instrumental title track and a passionate cover of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” Highly Recommended.

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Cullen Omori

Cullen Omori “The Diet”

Cullen Omori (Smith Westerns) channels his rock influences (George Harrison, Marc Bolan) through a much more modern pop lens full of glossy embellishments and crisp melodies that stick fast to your brain under the guidance of power pop producer Taylor Locke.

On the opener “Four Years” chiming guitar, rich self-effacing lyrics is an acknowledgment to his partner that “you do so many things, and I love you for it… but I usually forget it.” It’s a standout single that sets the tone of the album perfectly. The failures of modern life are told through subversive stories like “Borderline Friends” and “All By Yourself.” Some catchy highlights include the danceable “Happiness Reigns” with its shimmering guitar rhythm.

The riff-heavy “Quiet Girl” and plodding “Black Rainbow” recalls mid-period Oasis, but another standout is “Millennial Geishas” with its big flowing chorus and layered instrumentation. No filler here it channels Cullen’s self-loathing into a listenable indie rock statement that many will identify with. Highly Recommended.

Amazon

Merry Christmas! It’s The Holiday Radio Show and more!

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Listen to the Christmas show we played last Sunday on 11L Radio NY International! And if you missed any of our Christmas posts, check them out here, here and here. I’d like to thank all the artists for making such great Christmas music and making this holiday a sweet one to listen through.

Wait! There is one last gift under the Christmas music tree for you I saved… Fernando Perdomo’s Present. A lovely LP of Christmas music as a FREE download. Enjoy!

The Grip Weeds and The Cherry Drops

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The Grip Weeds

The Grip Weeds “Trip Around the Sun”

The Grip Weeds are easily one of the most successful power pop bands from New Jersey, featuring Rick Reil ( rhythm guitar), Kurt Reil (drummer, vocals) and his wife, Kristin Pinell Reil (lead guitar). Add to the mix, Dave DeSantis (bass) and you’ve got the complete package. The band doubles down on its musical influences from ’60s psyche-pop, hard rock,  jangle and folk on this “Trip Around The Sun.”

Starting with the shimmering melody on “Vibrations” recalls 2013’s positive vibes from “Speed of Life.” It then goes to the slow-building gem “I Like Her,” and the folk-rock strums of “After Sunrise” with steel pedal accents. Psyche-pop has always been a specialty of The Grip Weeds repertoire and the groovy “Mr. Nervous” and Byrdsian “Truth Behind The Lie” stands with the band’s best work. Reil’s anthemic skills continue on the gems “Times I Wasted” and “She Tries” with its sweet harmonies and angular riffs. Overall no duds and nothing feels forced either. This is a band cruising along on a magic ride and it earns a top ten nomination for best of 2018. Highly Recommended.

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The Cherry Drops

The Cherry Drops “Good to the Last Drop”

On the third album from the retro-loving The Cherry Drops (Vern Shank, Josh Cobb, Jamie Markowski, and Jimmy Mason) they are joined by an array of guest stars. Ron Dante of The Archies, Dennis Tufano of The Buckinghams, Mark Dawson of The Grass Roots, Steve Boone of The Lovin’ Spoonful and the late Gary DeCarlo of Steam.

The opening “Cherry Drops Theme” features pitch-perfect Beach Boys-styled harmonies. “One More Try” is a bouncy theme that hits all the right optimistic buttons, with layered harmonies, guitars and booming percussion. “Tiger Feet” is another toe-tapper, similar to The Bay City Rollers that deserves its own custom dance moves. The band’s harmonies peak on “Feels Like Summer Love,” and “Rockin’ At The Hard Rock” with a genuine nostalgic glow and superior musicianship that really impressed me.

It’s fine that the guest stars play their respective “hits,” but a few songs do suffer from a little too much saccharine, like the Ron Dante (The Archies) led “Happynessville.” Thankfully the superior production lifts the cover material and helps make the music sound timeless. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | CD Baby

Stocking stuffers: Holiday singles for Christmas

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Working on several more reviews before my top 25 list comes out after the New Year. In the meantime here is the last of my holiday singles. Add them to your Yuletide mix!








….and if you are totally sick of holiday music, check out the New Slingsby Hornets! Get the Christmas single here.

Parks and Van Go

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Parks

Parks “Parks”

Seems like a million years ago Boston musician Brian E. King gave us Oranjuly but his new band is finally ready to hit prime time. Parks has Brian joined with Eric Bolton (Guitar), Andrew Jones (Drums), Rob Johanson (Bass), and Robin Melendez (Vocals). A true group effort it boasts several different styles of indie pop, starting with the pensive “Fools” where it’s “been a long time coming” as the band layers its synths, booming drums, and wailing guitar rhythms. King seems to concentrate his sound in pop jams that reference the new wave ’80s.

While it starts out good, it gets progressively better as we hit the guitar hooks on the brilliant “Sweater Weather,” with its lovely bridge chock full of harmonies and finger snaps. The catchiest gem “All We Have” has an infectious beat, as it mines deep emotion that expresses the frustration “tired of waiting, tired of hanging around.” The beauty (and sadness) of “Escaping Together” combines an idyllic ballad with the silence of heartbreak after “everyone’s dead” to you. It’s another huge highlight. The other songs don’t hit as high, but come close with “3×5” sounding like a lost 10cc track, and the jangling guitar melody of “Prove It” makes good use of Robin’s call and response vocal. No filler anywhere, and it provides a deep listening experience. Makes my crowded list of top ten nominees for best LP of 2018.

Amazon


Van Go

Van Go “Everyone Loves You When You’re Gone”

Chicago rockers Van Go come out swinging on their newest release, which is like Foo Fighters and Cheap Trick jamming with Material Issue. The guitars are loaded with tight, hook-laden power pop gems like summer anthem “Live Through This.” Each song is uptempo, with an attitude like on “Black Luck” as Van Go singer Dave Sippel croons like Dave Grohl. If you love sweet guitar riffs, this album is for you!

The band cruises through these 12 tracks, with some dark lyrics making its way toward the album’s midpoint with  “The Grim Life” and “Dead Already.” Continuous fast tempo barrages get chaotic on “Tell Us How You Really Feel,” but the catchy  “Schrodinger’s Cat” is a dynamic gem that you can sing along to. The title track gets a little denser with its psychedelic verses over its 4-minute run. And a cool cover of Paul Collins’ “Walking Out On Love” ends things. Highly Recommended!

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik