We lost quite a few music legends this year (Tina Turner, Jimmy Buffet, David Crosby, etc.), but what hits me the most out of these famous musicians is Denny Laine, who was in poor health with lung disease for quite some time. He was 79 and passed away earlier this month.
Laine was a hitmaker early in his career with the Moody Blues “Go Now” and even more impressive with Wings (he co-wrote “Mull of Kintyre” and “No Words” with Paul McCartney). But Laine never suffered from “fame” and was a regular at annual Beatlefests in years past that I attended. A very approachable chap and a dedicated musician, he left an indelible mark on the world of rock music.
The Popdudes have an EP of Laine’s songs that you should check out!
And, it helps when Paul gives up the spotlight once in a while.
While not Christmas-themed, I wanted to feature this Syracuse University freshman, Callan Nagel-Dubin, who covers The Flashcubes with “It’s You Tonight” for his project in a recording class at the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Ironically, the first time The Flashcubes ever recorded was as a student project for a musical recording class at Newhouse in the spring of 1978.
It’s easy to dismiss, but I love original Christmas music. Honestly, I’m tired of the old classics (the constant repetition is what makes some people hate Christmas songs) and would love to hear new stuff on the radio. Not only are all these great examples of new Christmas music (Joe Algeri’s JAC is more of an outlier here), but most of them are also “Name Your Price,” so this is also a bargain. I have one more week of reviews left, and then on New Year’s Eve, we let fly our top 25 albums for 2023. So enjoy the egg nog while it’s still fresh!
Another Mo Troper-produced pop confection, Bory is a Portland artist who impressed me with his melodic EP debut, Sidelined. With his first full-length album, Bory has a layer of grungy, obscured fuzz and DIY bedroom compression, but it is unable to contain the powerful melodies, which sound like classic Teenage Fanclub crossed with Guided By Voices.
The bombast of the opener, “The Flake” is all about the lovely melody buried beneath the buzzing drone of guitars and pounding drums. Bory adds earworms to his “Five Course Meal” about a self-effacing narrative; you barely hear the rising harmonies and handclaps over the fuzz, and that’s the point. “Our New Home” is all about the freedom of moving to a new area and “acting real cool” as a homeowner. As we move forward, “We Both Won” and “Wreck” go into relationship issues with a masterful combination of key changes. The catchy “Secrets” adds more jangle to the mix as he frets about aging and insecurity as he says, “The best days are behind us, and the worst is yet to come.” “Sidelined” is another catchy riff that explodes into an echoing solo. Fans of Diners, Disq, and The Eels will enjoy this razor-sharp mix of textured memories and inspirations. Highly Recommended.
Richard Turgeon has found his niche, and he’s sticking with it. He’s a one-man band that writes, composes, and plays almost everything himself. Longtime collaborator Ron Guensche guides Richard along here, and these new songs stand out right away. Starting with “All Alone” and “You’ve Moved On,” they are a one-two punch about a final separation. “I’ve Got You Now” is the guitar crunch rooted in mid-90s power pop (The Gin Blossoms, The Lemonheads, The Posies), and he falls into the category of modern West Coast power poppers like Jeff Shelton (The Well Wishers) and James Hall (Shake Some Action).
Next, “Our Fair City” is a commentary on the homeless problem (“It’s better when you turn a blind eye.”) Additional highlights include the solid “Friend Zone,” and while the album’s second half sounds a bit routine, the final track, “Don’t Forget Me When You’re Gone,” is a well-done ballad in the Billy Joel tradition. Highly Recommended.
There’s always at least one artist a year who swoops in at the last minute to make a great impression on me. This year, that artist was Erik Voeks and The Ghosters. Voeks has been a tireless DIY musician making his music for many years, but this time he’s collaborated with a band, and the result is pure pop magic.
The general theme here is the ephemeral nature of all things. Both Voeks and guitarist Juan Ferrari do a masterful job together. The title track “It Means Nothing Now” is an incredible opener, with the jangle layered on top of relaxed harmonies akin to classic bands like The Byrds or America. “Hazy Maze” is another gem about the passing of time online and the endless photos that generate money for social media companies. “Everything Dissolves” chorus soars and is another gem.
The jaunty angled riffs of “Hieronymus” about a visit to Madrid perfectly describe a tourist’s mood, and then the chiming riffs of “The Most Confusing Part” are akin to classic Elvis Costello. “Suck It Up, Buttercup” starts with a T-Rex riff about the state of the political abyss and “we should’ve seen it coming.” The combination of excellent guitar breaks and wry lyrics on “It Breaks You” is a great example here. The album settles into a consistent groove without a single note of filler. And when it rocks out, like on “Love You Anyway,” it’s just irresistible. There are too many highlights to mention here, and it’s not only highly recommended; this makes my top ten of 2023 list!
Grin and Bear It is the title of Brad Marino’s new album, which features 12 songs that encompass Rock n’ Roll, Punk Rock, and Power Pop. There are moments in life when you simply have to give up and accept the situation. His ability to write great new music using the classic rock and roll template is really impressive.
In addition, Brad gladly collaborates with his fellow “New England Mafia” (Kurt Baker, Geoff Palmer, and Zack Sprague) on all manner of songs. The sound of The Connection lives through Brad on “Back Again” and the Baker-penned “Hung Up.” The title track is always about letting things slide: “Who cares what they say about you…” It’s also characterized by a jagged and halting rhythm that captures your attention. The beauty here is that Brad adds his blues-rock touches to songs like “Another Sad and Lonely Night” (a Bobby Fuller cover), and he also covers The Rolling Stone’s “(She’s) Doing Her Thing” and “Monkey Man!” Not a bad track in the bunch. Highly Recommended.
