Upcoming projects: Tom Wilson Documentary and Cheap Trick

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Screen Shot 2016-02-29 at 5.27.00 PMMarshall Crenshaw has created a Kickstarter project to remember legendary record producer Tom Wilson. It was Tom Wilson who signed The Velvet Underground to Verve/MGM Records and produced their first two albums, signed Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention to Verve/MGM Records and produced their first three albums, became Bob Dylan’s record producer in 1962 (halfway through “The Freewheeling Bob Dylan” album), continuing through 1965 and “Like a Rolling Stone” (the period during which Dylan gradually “went electric”), produced the first album by then-acoustic Folk duo Simon and Garfunkel (“Wednesday Morning, 3 AM”), then seriously launched their career by unilaterally deciding to add electric instruments to “The Sound of Silence” (Legendary record producer John Simon told me that he thought that Wilson did it as an “intellectual exercise”).

Wilson “discovered” Sun Ra and The Arkestra, producing and releasing their first two albums on Transition Records, a label that Wilson established right after graduating Cum Laude from Harvard in 1955. Wilson “discovered” Cecil Taylor and produced his first album, “Jazz Advance”, for the Transition label. These are just the bullet points of Wilson’s artistic legacy; to put it in a nutshell, he was a visionary, someone that moved the Culture, saw the future and set about helping to create it, was one of the architects of Popular Music as we’ve known it since the 1960s and still know it today… And up until just recently he was pretty much a forgotten figure. Visit his website: www.producertomwilson.com to learn more, but even more important check out the Kickstarter page and help fund this project!

A10SP7LXMXL._SL1500_-1-744x744Cheap Trick is looking forward to the release of the new album Bang, Zoom, Crazy…Hello on April 1st. Check out the extras on PledgeMusic. If you don’t already have it, you can get the new song “No Direction Home” for FREE just visit the Cheap Trick landing page.

Scott Warren and Stay

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Scott Warren

Scott Warren “Good Love”

Scott Warren (Signal Hill Transmission) brought together the same cast as his 2012 effort Dyed In The Wool, but this time with a big studio sound complete with horns and string arrangements.  Starting with the solid “Good Love” it’s one of the best openers this year, with melodic muscle in the chorus. “Cold Feet” is worthy follow up, with a wicked guitar solo at the break about a hot-and-cold love affair.

“Idle Hands” recalls Matthew Sweet’s dense bed of drums and riffs, but then he slows down for “Why Won’t You Come Around?” before it builds up to a bluesy crecendo that knocks it out of the park. A few country styled songs are wedged in here, but don’t resonate as strongly as the rock. The ballad “Fall in Line” is a good palette cleanser for the Fleetwood Mac-ish “When I Get Away From You.” A slow tempo cover of Lindsey Buckingham’s “Trouble” closes things out. This is terrific album that deserves to be heard. Highly Reccomended!

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Stay

Stay “The Mean Solar Times”

Barcelona based Stay are a psych-rock collective that bears more than a passing resemblance to Oasis, as the new album The Mean Solar Times was produced by Owen Morris (The Verve, Oasis) and features a guest guitar slot for Andy Bell (Ride, Oasis, Beady Eye). There is a solid Britpop vibe mixed with some psychedelic rock and so fans of both genres will enjoy the interplay of synths, organ, harmonies and great lead guitar riffs perfectly executed on “Pinkman.”

Fans of The Byrds will dig “You Know It’s Alright” with its easy going chorus and jangling bed of guitar rhythm. And while “Dirty and Alone” and “Always Here” have that Manchester vibe similar to The Stone Roses, the sitar is thrown in to give it a retro gloss. No real duds and a highly recommended trip through your headphones.

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The Cherry Drops and Propeller

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Cherry Drops

The Cherry Drops “Life is A Bowl of Cherry Drops”

Is it possible to love the sixties sound too much? Nah. Vern Shank and his band the Cherry Drops have concocted an album that absorbs those retro influences like a sponge. Opening with a vocal Beach Boys prayer “Bliss,” it’s followed by the bubble gum gem “We’re So High” with its mellow psych-pop groove, reverbs and farisa organ. Then the band turns on a bit of the guitar muscle with the “Far Out,” and mentions almost every dance craze of the era. And its not just paying homage, as Steve Boone of The Lovin’ Spoonful is included on the sunny chorus of “Sweet Lovin.”

A few more guests include Mighty Manfred (Woggles) and Tony Valentino (The Standells.) There are a few covers (including a rare Badfinger tune), but its the originals that have plenty of hooks as “Light ‘Em Up” proves. Plus “It’s A Surfing’ Thing” is chock full of Dick Dale guitar licks. The danger here is a few songs can appear saccharine (“Everything’s Alright”) but most of the time The Cherry Drops deliver their pop with a sincerity that can’t be faked. Highly Recommended.

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Propeller

Propeller “Fall Off The World”

Propeller is back and with another quality power pop release. “Can You Here Us Now” is part Bryan Adams, part Bram Tchaikovsky with a great leading riff in the chorus. The bands compositions have gotten tighter as “Mismatched Shoes” and “Wish I Had A Picture” densely packs the harmonies on top of a bed of guitars. Lead singer Greg Randall’s vocal style reminds me of Nick Piunti too.

“She’s So Alive” is similar to Tom Petty with its jangling rhythm, and its one of my favorite songs here. The lyrics are mostly about the common teenage crush; “a girl with a beautiful name” is the source of inspiration for “It’s Kinda Why I Like You.” Not a single note of filler as the band goes through all ten high energy tracks. If you want to nitpick, the band doesn’t take its foot off the gas, and it would be nice to have a slower tempo break things up a little. Otherwise this is a real winner, and you can download these tracks on Bandcamp at a “name-your-price” or buy the traditional way. Highly Recommended and no excuses for letting this one pass you by.

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Freebies: The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club, Matti Jasu and The Four Chords

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The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club is back and with another quality power pop single. These guys keep getting better as “Have You Met You” has plenty of energy to spare with strong synths and driving beat. And it’s a FREE download. Check it out! 

All the way from Finland comes Matti Jasu and The Loose Train, they’ve got a mellow rock folk sound on “Gone To The Dogs.” The simple harmonies and guitar start “What Goes On” is a diary of Jasu’s day done with heart and sweetness.

The Four Chords have a keen pop sense and combine multi-part vocal harmonies with a large dose of power chords and a love of classic pop songcraft. Influences include The Who, Cheap Trick, Beatles, Big Star, Dwight Twilley, Replacements, Tom Petty, Manic Street Preachers, Ramones, Redd Kross and many others.

Trolley and The High Llamas

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Trolley

Trolley “Caught In The Darkness”

Milwaukee band Trolley continues it’s charge forward bringing 60’s inspired pop into the modern era.  This is the strongest effort to date, as the title track hits all the right notes, with solid support from organ and drums. A big highlight is “Thursday Girl,” with a combination of groovy retro synth and solid melody. Mod elements on “Crying All The Time” give way to a Byrdsian chorus that also meshes perfectly.

If it leans too hard on the retro conventions, it always seems to throw a curve in the melody or instrumentation like on “She Has It All.” But any shortcomings on some songs are overcome by the enthusiastic compositions, which never get predictable. Another gem “Losing That Madly In Love With Her Feeling” boast a good harmony in the chorus, and even goes a slightly punk on “The Kids All Sing.” Even the weird filler at the end of album is interesting.  I’m proud to list this as my first pick for the 2016 best-of  list.

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High Llamas

The High Llamas “Here Come The Rattling Trees”

Sean O’Hagan is back with another easy listening album, with all its wonderful subtleties and his influences are still mainly Brian Wilson, with a touch of Steely Dan. This narrative-driven project is broken up in several parts, with the main theme (title track) being lush and low key minimalist pop.

The vocals are in several songs, but most of this album is instrumental, with underscores all showing up first. “Brambles Black” is has a soothing bossa nova rhythm, with light synths and slow organ of “Mona’s Song” is another gem. Overall, this is what you’d expect from O’Hagan, his meticulous folk lounge music is meant to remain a sweet background soundtrack to your life.

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