Ultra groovy video from the Maple Mars album “Galaxyland”. Directed by Mark Helfrich, who has also directed videos for the Dandy Warhols. See my review of Galaxyland here.
The Successful Failures and Victor Stranges
The Successful Failures “Three Nights”
Mick Chorba (Dipsomaniacs) returns with a much more focused third album. The chugging guitars and manic drums of “Armadillo Boy” are supported by solid melody and catchy chorus. The sound is heavily Replacements influenced, especially on bouncy “Sinkhole.” The band has a good sense of humor on “Waiting For A Ride” and “Houston, We Have A Drinking Problem” and both songs will remind you of the nerdy, but funny slice-of-life rock that Weezer used to make. The band’s compositions are also much stronger here, with no filler to be found. Even “Fletcher” has an epic feel that recalls those classic Who tunes without sounding retro at all. The alt country/lo fi sound comes out on “College Scholarship Blues” and you can picture the scene, as our young protagonist croons “I don’t belong here anymore.” When it comes to power, “Leave Me In A Coma” has blasting guitars that dominate the latter part of the album. These guys just keep improving with each release.
My Space | CD Baby | Not Lame | Kool Kat Musik
Victor Stranges “Hello Me To You”
Yes, Australian musician Victor Stranges looks pretty menacing on the cover here, but his inventive compositions are full of soft rock warmth that recalls Paul McCartney and Elvis Costello’s gentler moments. The solid “Morning Star” is full of complex chord structures and an infectious combo of hand claps and “do-do-do” chorus. “Hello Me To You” echoes 70s rock style and tells the tale of a record store romance. The bouncy “When The Morning Comes” is led by a solid keyboard bridge and the most Costello-like, it’s my favorite on this album. Some songs tend to wander on (“Restoration Blues,” “Nineteen Years Ago”) and get a bit too maudlin for my tastes. “Tonight” is a real gem here, full of strong guitar work and energy that seems it’s buried amongst the other lesser songs. Still a very strong debut, I expect to hear more from Victor in the near future.
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The Krayolas "Americano"
Hector Saldana (guitar), Flaco Jimenez (accordion) and Augie Meyers (vox organ) return to bring us the latest Krayolas album. “Americano” emphasizes it’s tex-mex garage pop roots, but the band expands it’s traditional sound a bit. Opening with the zydeco styled “Exit/Salida” it hints at new things. “Fruteria” gets back to the band’s sound as “los hombres mexicanos del Beatlesque.” The Dylan rock of “Piso Diez” with Saldana’s wicked guitar lead is another treat here. A many tracks don’t have the punch of earlier stellar efforts, but there are still plenty of songs here that make the album a keeper. The understated “If I Can’t Have You” and “Missed The Last Train” are great examples of classic rock composition. “I’m Not The Man” borrows from The Shangri-La’s style of balladry and it gets downright psychedelic on “You’re On Top” and “Wall of Accordion” which ends in a cacophony of horns and guitars. More interesting is politically charged bilingual rock ‘n’ roll single “1070 (I’m Your Dirty Mexican)” available on The Krayolas site. It’s a protest over the recent anti-immigration legislation and a damn fine song too.
James Henry "Overspill"
James Henry is a Liverpool born vocalist, guitarist and songwriter who is produces gentle adult pop on his own label. If James Taylor and Glen Tilbrook (Squeeze) ever had a baby, James Henry would be the result. He favors clean guitar arpeggios and with his lone vocal on all the songs. “Milsom Heights” is a crisp single with a little bit of everything (harmonies, hand claps, solo break) wrapped in a catchy package. The following songs are all gentle melodies that recall Taylor or Cat Stevens, like on “Overspill” or “I’d Be All Over That.” But all of this pales before the XTC goodness of “The Sun Is Cracking The Flags.” This is one of the best singles I’ve heard this year, with a chorus that won’t leave your head. He dabbles in some eastern European rhythms with “A Bus That Never Comes” and “Industrial Injury.” There is no doubt as to James talent, as his harmonies float on a cloud and his guitar playing anchors each melody. The album is due out May 17th, although you can get a download of “The Sun Is Cracking The Flags” here. His last album, “Sweetner” is available on Amazon.
Frank Royster "Innocence is Bliss"
With the help of The Spongetones alum Jamie Hoover, Frank Royster produces his most accessible and catchy album yet. Like a rogue Wilbury, the infectious opener “Mr. Wonderful” has everything a power pop fan could possibly want. Royster’s vocals are full of character, like a mix of John Popper and Randy Newman – and often double tracked to smooth out the rough spots. Unlike his first album, the classic pop influences are more pronounced here like the up tempo Beatlesque “She’s Not Alone” and the slight country bend of “Can’t Make Me Smile.” The songs all have smart harmonies and catchy hooks that stick like glue, a big highlight is the lyrically touching “Brena You,” with it’s Billy Joel styled pounding piano chords. Every song has that fab guitar jangle from “Oh Mary” to the cover of “Every Little Thing” and it just doesn’t get old. This is out on Kool Kat Musik’s label and comes with a bonus disc filled with demo and acoustic tracks. A real triumph that should be savored again and again.