Super Cassette and The Small Square

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Super Cassette

Super Cassette “Continue?”

Max and Nick Gerlock, two siblings who have a knack for both melodic and dramatic moments, are the leaders of this Oakland, California-based band. Max’s strong vocals are very reminiscent of Stanton Marriott (Skeleton Staff). Their powerful debut track, “Continue?” draws connections between the arcade gaming world and overcoming crippling anxiety. “Path through the Past” is a dance-pop pastiche with an infectious chorus, but my favorite here is the brilliant “9 to 5” with its strong guitar riffs and commanding rhythm.

Great guitar work punctuates the emotional songs “Ulcer” and “Bastille Day,” the latter in particular with a cheery chorus about “killing the gentry,” so is it about the French Revolution or something else? Another highlight is the odd chord shifts in “Someday” and its chorus that’s both pensive and soothing at the same time. Other songs managed to hold my interest based on their great writing; the ballad “Sliver” is a great example of this. Although not everything is as captivating, the album does not contain any filler. Highly Recommended.

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The Small Square

The Small Square “Ours & Others”

The Small Square is an indie rock group of expatriates living in Osaka, Japan. Paul Chastain (Velvet Crush, Matthew Sweet) and John L. Richardson (Tommy Keene, Gin Blossoms, Joey Molland/Badfinger) had a fine debut this past summer that we reviewed. But now the duo has raised the bar exponentially for Ours & Others. Great guitarist John Moremen (Matthew Sweet, Orange Peels) joins Chastain and Richardson as they dominate each song here.

“Twenty Third” feels like Mike Viola meets Sloan, with its hypnotic chorus of “faded out, faded out, fade down.” While the influences from the last album remain, the songwriting stands out a lot more. “The Hourglass” is a fantastic combination of different lead and rhythm guitars; it’s a real joy to listen to. “Open Up” features a cameo from Shoes’ Jeff and John Murphy, and it’s another big highlight. “Insta” shimmers with each strum as it sticks fast in your head. Several of the songs draw on Chastain’s own experiences; for example, the humble rocker “N. Main Blues” is based on his early days in Velvet Crush when they “were losers,” and “Baby Face” is a tribute to the late power pop legend Tommy Keene. Each song hits the mark. It’s not just highly recommended, but it’s worthy of a spot in my 2023 top ten list.

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Gifts under the tree: The Gripweeds, Kai Danzberg, Vista Blue, The Amplifier Heads, Geoff Palmer, Dan Miraldi

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December is barely here, and we’ve got some great musical gifts for you! On the first weekend of December… The Grip Weeds are back! They have remastered their classic holiday album, Under The Influence Of Christmas. It makes a perfect stocking stuffer. And we’ve got more gifts: the talented Kai Danzberg is giving us a massive freebie with four great albums at a “name-your-price” point, and Vista Blue is celebrating “Christmas Every Day” with buzzing guitars and Ramones-influenced rock and roll! Speaking of classics, The Amplifier Heads have a retro rock single with a spirited lead by Jen D’Angora. And Geoff Palmer gets into the act as well with a festive holiday EP, while Dan Miraldi is wondering why this holiday time is often sad and stressful. As usual, I’m way behind with LP reviews, so there’s plenty more to get to before our year-end top 10. It’s coming soon!






Lost Treasures Found: Peach and Lee

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Peach and Lee

Peach and Lee “Not For Sale 1965-1975”

This is truly a lost power pop treasure. Peach & Lee’s new double album, “Not For Sale,” is the result of ten years of work by Arlis Peach and Larry Lee, who have been best friends since childhood and grew up in Iowa together. They became deeply interested in rock and roll in the 1950s and were writing and recording their music by the mid-1960s. They got signed to RCA Records in 1972, and a single was released, but things never took off. Thankfully, they saved the tapes!

This release compiles all their output, a full 27 tracks. The band follows in the footsteps of The Beatles and The Hollies, evident in their opener, “Long Way to Go,” with churning guitars and solid harmonies. The comparisons to Badfinger are stunning here, especially on “Not For Sale,” “It’s Up To You,” “No Way Baby,” and “Do It Again,” including its handclaps and its infectious lead guitar.

A more basic, echoing early Beatles sound is clear on “Never Made the Grade” and “Down.” The catchy, simple lead in “Paradise” recalls the Hollies. “Help Yourself” and “Don’t Be Looking My Way” are very much in the Emmit Rhodes mold.

The band tries rocking harder (almost glam) on “You Ain’t Got Me Running” and “The Other Night.” The dramatic ballads “Can’t Let Go” and “Love Is On Our Side” are solid standouts.

The source material limits a few songs, such as “So Badly” and “Ooh Baby,” whose production is subpar. In addition, there are plenty of beautiful misses and demos here, but by any standard, this is a tremendous success. You wonder why these guys never made it big, but we finally have them 50 years later. Highly Recommended.

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Parthenon Huxley and Matt Tiegler

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Parthenon Huxley

Parthenon Huxley “As Good As Advertised”

Parthenon Huxley, aka P. Hux, has been a reliable musician known for his melodic gifts and his meticulous production work. The gentle strum of the chords for the title track showcases the mature and rich musical palette Partheon uses here. Most of the songs were created during the pandemic years, and the mood is decidedly downbeat. The passionate anxiety of “Mister Black Sky,” seeks to banish venomous politicians from the atmosphere with its hopeful message that “in the light you die” and “Uncivil War” are about the partisan media stoking hate between the factions.

It’s all very understated, but the inventive melody of “Rainbow” redeems the song from easy listening purgatory. The personal ballad “This Song Reminds Me of You” is a lovely sentiment, associating a moment in time with a favorite tune and a Spanish-styled guitar break midway through.  “Human Again” is written in anticipation of COVID restrictions being lifted. “When will normal ever feel like normal?” he asks. Most of these songs do not carry the ELO orchestral style that P. Hux has been associated with, except for the excellent “Bitter Tears.” However, there is enough here to make this highly recommended.

Kool Kat Musik

Matt Tiegler

Matt Tiegler “Hands Free Down Hill”

Matt Tiegler is a multitalented artist from Chicago who writes plays, acts, and occasionally records his own music. Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Tommi Zender was in charge of producing this new album and collaborated on many songs here. Opening with the bright guitars and vocals of “Dream (Reason for Living),” it has a good structure that sets up the chorus nicely. There is a light mood full of earnest emotion on “I Didn’t Get You” and the jangling “I Want Start A Religion With You.” While Matt’s voice isn’t classically melodic, it suits the quirky subject matter fine.

Tiegler’s great songwriting is what makes the whole album work. The simple love story of “Summer Love Song” and the awkward “Forward” are wonderfully realized. The exuberant power pop guitar on the title track, “Hands Free Down Hill,” will stay in your head, and it would be a much better album with more of these gems. It remains a good album that deserves to be heard.

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