Powerpopholic

Leave "On a Happy Note"

February 6, 2009July 6, 2024 powerpopaholic

This is the Chicago band Leave’s final album due the passing of lead singer and guitarist Mike Murphy. In a horrible act of fate, Murphy was killed by a hit and run driver. The band could’ve packed it in, but to their credit they soldiered on. On A Happy Note is a fitting tribute to his memory, with some excellent power pop that is styled like a combination of The Spongetones and The Riffbrokers. The opener “Hope It Doesn’t Come My Way” channels The Beatles with tight harmonies, driving rhythms and a delicious hook. The remaining tracks don’t drop in quality, and “Take The Easy Way Out” is another well crafted gem. The gentle ELO flavored ballad “Lovely Mess” is another mid-tempo beauty that will definitely get stuck in your head. “Again It’s Too Soon” could be considered a Cavern Club styled bit of rock heaven. Things settle down after that, with “Murph” exploring great lyrical depth on tacks like “On My Mind” trying to reassure his nervous girlfriend. His voice reminds me of a mellower version of Michael Stipe, and some tunes have a western pop flavor, like The Jayhawks or Rhett Miller. This comes through on “I’ll Get Mine” and the slow acoustic “Down The Line.” In fact the gorgeous title track is a bit eerie when he sings “- when time is at an end…” No duds or filler on this album, so it is highly recommended. May the legend of “Murph” continue in your ipod – get it today!

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Mellow Drunk "One Thousand Lights"

February 5, 2009April 4, 2018 powerpopaholic

San Francisco native Leigh Gregory formed Mellow Drunk in late 1999, and the band has played off and on since then releasing this album on Vollwert-Records (Germany) and comparisons to The Church and The Doves with a touch of Roger Waters are apt here. I was impressed with the energetic “Cut Me to Pieces.” The very Lou Reed like delivery of “From My Window” makes it a sweet highlight here. The epic “This is No Dream” is equal parts “The Wall” and “Under the Milky Way,” with chiming lush guitars that drive you to the main chorus. A perfect follow up here is “If Only I Could Change” with it’s long jangle intro and Leigh’s soft vocals. The resignation in “It’s Going To Be Alright” is full of long sweeping organ chords, as well as sober majesty and drum fills. The album tends to stay very somber and reflective, in other words – the moniker Mellow Drunk definitely fits here. Unfortunately, the energy and melody earlier in the album doesn’t return. “Everything and Nothing” and “Butterfly” seem to go on forever, like The Doors’ “The End” it becomes more of a chore to sit through. The songs don’t linger as well later in the album and although “Seeker” recalls The Psychedelic Furs with a bit more energy, it falls flat for me. Otherwise, the albums first half is top notch stuff that won’t disappoint pop fans.

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Caw! Caw! "Wait Outside"

February 4, 2009July 6, 2024 powerpopaholic

Reviewed by Mike Z.
It’s inescapable to notice that Wait Outside starts off with a nod to Radiohead. In less capable hands that would be nothing short of a calamity, but these guys pull it off with true vigor. Absolutely soaring guitars bring “Escape the Red Giant” to a gratifying finish. Track 2, “Organisms” evokes the Bogmen and again the interplay between the vocals and music is as it should be. The singer realizes his voice is an instrument that plays along with the others and doesn’t abuse the position as some bully pulpit to complain about how he had too much sugar in his cereal as a child. The lyrics are of no great consequence, and this frees up the ears and mind to enjoy Caw Caw all the more. “Wrapped Up Neat in the Bible” showcases a jamming and frenetic slurry of wild guitars and a rhythm section driving away with wild abandon. “A Name” makes it clear that this act grew up listening to Smashing Pumpkins and Blind Melon. The EP takes a small but notable slide from here, but by this time the listener can not be helped but to be captivated. The only real chink in the armor to my ears is that many tracks are not very discernible from one another. It could be argued that this means that Caw! Caw! is forging a style which they are hell-bent on exploring thoroughly, but it might also be said that they are lacking just a little something distinctive that could make them a formidable act for years to come. Regardless, this is a solid effort.

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Serious music from some funny men.

February 3, 2009February 3, 2009 powerpopaholic

After you’ve made your mark in comedy, what do you do for an encore? Apparently make serious music. That’s the case with Christopher Guest who best known for his roles in This Is Spinal Tap, Best In Show and A Mighty Wind. NPR has a story about his serious musician chops as a member of The Beyman Bros, where he plays guitar and mandolin, mandolin cello, and even the clarinet. It’s kinda new age-y free form instrumentals that I would expect to hear at a spa or yoga class. But it’s first class stuff.

Not to be outdone is the serious musical expertise of Steve Martin. He is considered the foremost expert in bluegrass banjo playing. The NY Times article mentions “Mr. Martin is regarded as a master of a difficult five-fingered playing style known as clawhammer or frailing, in which the instrument’s strings are pushed down by fingernails, rather than pulled up with picks.” Amazon is selling his banjo music album “The Crow” and on Youtube there are plenty of examples of his skills, but I love this early example of his banjo playing.

Suinage “Shaking Hands”

February 2, 2009April 4, 2018 powerpopaholic

Italian power poppers Suinage deliver an album full of high energy rock that fans of Adam Marsland’s Cockeyed Ghost and Joe Jackson will eat right up. So listen up, kids. Band members Pilli Colombo on guitar and vocals, Ariel Dotti on bass, and Flavio Torzillo on drums take no prisoners on the opener “Toothbrush” with hyper kinetic guitar riffs throughout that are meant to played with the volume setting on “11”. This continues on the compelling “Don’t Pass Me By” with riffs and vocals that recall the early pre-poppy Smashmouth. Other standouts here are “All Eyes On Me” and “July” as Pilli dials down the roughness and gets downright melodic. The guitars jangle away in the latter track, and I consider it the best of the album. Then the remaining tracks on the album revert back to the rough edged rock, and this works better when the chord structures go beyond typical jamming, like on “Chump” and “Underneath the Leaves.” I hope to hear more from Suinage in the future, as they are currently on tour with Radio Days in Italy. Let’s hope they’re not shy and visit us here in the states soon. Buono Lavoro!

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