July is here and the AC is on full blast. This is why I like to check on new music from old friends. French artist Any Version of Me does his best Brian Wilson tribute with “Away,” perfect for the beach. If you’d like classic pop greatness, you have the talented Dana Countryman offering up a FREEBIE that you can’t miss; made of assorted selections from his catalog, and “Summer Sand” is another sweet Beach Boys-styled gem. It’s been a long time, but Eric Barao has a delicate ballad that just tugs at your heart; “Whoever You Are.” Aussie rockers Anatomy Class impressed me with its anthemic rich melody, fans of Lemonheads, Swervedriver, and Pixies will adore “Expo 88,” and another band from down under The Valery Trails celebrates the summer with “Jaisalmer,” a bouncy rocker stocked with guitars and horns. Seattle’s Supercrush seriously reminds me of Superdrag and other late 90’s power pop on its perfect EP Melody Maker. and finally, Ryan Hamilton is back and he tells you to write your troubles down, then fold your worries into “Paper Planes.” Hope it flies far!
West Coast Music Club and Kai Danzberg
West Coast Music Club “Faded Scrapbook”
The opening track “Fanclub Favourite” says what every under-the-radar band would love to hear “You’re still our favourite though you never really made it…” and the UK-based band does its best to spread those positive fan club vibes early on. This is the fourth album for the band; Martin Adams (vocals/guitar), Peter Madden (guitar/bass/vocals), and Marc Joy (drums, etc.) and they have a slight psych-pop vibe with ethereal harmonies; fans of Teenage Fanclub, early-REM and The Ocean Blue will enjoy these jangling melodies.
Adams’s lead vocal is soft and slightly weary but fits those guitar-based melodies perfectly. The Byrdsian rhythms are hypnotic on the title track and “Here It Comes Again,” a tune about an unwelcome earworm. The noise drone of “Hotel California” is very much in the shoegazer genre, lacking much of a hook its not for everyone. The band’s sound seems to evolve the further you listen. The emotional acoustic “The View From Here” is poignant and looks to make amends for past transgressions. It follows this form a bit until later on when we get the lively “Serendipity” which feels like a Velvet Underground outtake. The last track “Ouija Doll” is another echoing-fuzz gem. Overall a good album that takes repeat listens to grow on you. Check it out.
Kai Danzberg “Satellite”
Kai Danzberg is a next-generation power-pop artist with a collection of classic power pop influences, but this album is a self-produced love letter to Electric Light Orchestra. After a lengthy prelude, the single “Turn It Up” with Roger Manning Jr. (Jellyfish, Lickerish Quartet) is loaded with enthusiasm, and fun melodic hooks – it easily could’ve been on the Xanadu Soundtrack. The instrumentation may recall Jeff Lynne, but Kai keeps his original compositions in the present day.
“Diva Eyes” and “Oh Baby!” both have that late 70’s feel (circa Discovery) and ELO fans will have fun playing spot the influence, especially on barely disguised re-writes like “Voodoo Woman.” Another standout, “Lonely Together” is an exceptional tune that includes a loaded brass section. The quiet ballad “Satellite” is also a great showcase for Kai’s heartfelt songwriting technique. The coda “Turn It Up (Reprise)” wraps it up in a neat bow. This started as a fan-funded project and is a digital-only release. Overall, highly recommended.
Even More June EPs and Singles: Walcot, Timmy Sean, Brian Jay Cline, Geoff Palmer, Mom, Ex-Norwegian, Big Star
While the band Walcot was formed in Chicago, they moved to Charlotte, NC. and released their debut Songs For the Disenfranchised. The catchy single “Dreamin’ Away” is joined by some equally good songs; “Another Man,” and the laid-back gem “It Feels Alright.” The songs are so skillfully done, I expect great things in the future for them. With the legend Paul McCartney hitting age 80 this month, our friend Timmy Sean covers the Wings classic faithfully. While it shares the same title as a Bond movie, Western rocker Brian Jay Cline always comes up with something uniquely good, and here it is with “Never Say Never.” Geoff Palmer (The Connection) dusted off his 2010 debut album, originally under the name “Geoff Useless” – fans will enjoy this one! The Brits known simply as Mom released a pair of singles, and I really like “Scary Mary,” and it’s a FREEBIE. Enjoy the tunes!
REISSUES OF THE MONTH
The debut album of Ex-Norwegian was re-mastered and re-released. If you missed my review, it was posted on Virgin.com before it was rudely deleted. But take my word for it… “a terrific album that delivers superior melodies along with adventurous arrangements,” check out “Something Unreal” to get a taste of this classic.
Did you know that Big Star is now on Bandcamp? Know your musical history, bro. This is one of the most influential rock bands ever and of course a seminal power-pop band.
Pop Co-op and Buzz Clic Adventure
Pop Co-Op “Suspension”
The quartet of Steve Stoeckel (Spongetones), Bruce Gordon, Stacy Carson, and Joel Tinnel continue the experiment known as Pop Co-Op. The flowing psych-pop of the opening title track “Suspension” is almost like a “loosen-up” session, and the single “I Just Love to Watch Her Dance” takes hold, with a delicate opening, and then launches into the fast-paced verses. The jangle and harmonies are lovely on “Air Heart” and euro-rhythmic “Out My Window” are early highlights.
The band tries a few different approaches to prevent predictability, and sometimes it doesn’t quite work (“Run and Hide”). But more often, the band hits the right notes, and the inventive “Unquestionably I-95,” Why Didn’t We?” and “Always In The Past” all channel the bandmembers frustrations with regrets and lost opportunities. The music succeeds on many levels and doesn’t always rely on those McCartney-like musings of age (“The Odd One.”) Overall, highly recommended.
Buzz Clic Adventure with Phil Seymour “California”
Buzz Clic (aka Elmer Charles Brandt Jr.) was a friend of the late great Phil Seymour (Dwight Twilley Band) and in 1991 the duo had a self-released album that remained a little-heard rarity. A few years later, Seymour died of cancer and this album was eventually released on Smog Veil Records, but again it disappeared. Thanks to the archival label Wizzard In Vinyl, the album is back with several bonus tracks.
Buzz adds his punk instrumentation to an overblown 90’s hair metal style on the opener “Lonely One,” and thankfully over the next several tracks more melodic tunes like “Sunsets In Blue” and “Baby Baby Baby” appear. Seymour seems to be having fun on the classic “Tallahassee Lassie” but most of the tracks are very average sounding or worse. The bonus tracks aren’t much better, even with Twilley guesting on “Don’t Lead Me On.” Recommended for Seymour/Twilley completists only.
The 1957 Tail-Fin Fiasco and Dave Scarbrough
The 1957 Tail-Fin Fiasco “Don’t Go Anywhere”
It’s way too lazy to simply say that Essex, UK musicians David Myers and Malcolm Moore are a Steely Dan cover band that’s outgrown their main influence. But The 1957 Tail-Fin Fiasco has that ’70s sophisticated, distinctive sound, and they drive that car along many roads here.
Starting the bouncy rocker “Reno’s Electric Stairs” it’s a catchy gem that adds a touch of jazzy organ behind the guitars. “Here All Week” is an impressive mantra that describes a transition from Miami to Vegas. The band takes a left turn into They Might Be Giants territory with the witty “J is for Genius.” Not a bit of filler and its unpredictable melodies (“Horses & Courses”) are matched with smooth Steely-style lounge production (“Best Bitters.”) The quirky arrangements and cheeky lyrics are similar to XTC or David Bowie. Originally a download only in 2021, this release is now on CD at Kool Kat Musik. Highly Recommended.
Dave Scarbrough “Happy Ever After”
Newcomer from Sioux Falls, South Dakota Dave Scarbrough knows his power pop. His debut Happy Ever After hits the sweet spot right away on the rocker “Catherine.” He’s a power-pop fan with influences from The Raspberries and Cheap Trick, to The Cars and Squeeze. And collecting these gems is a true labor of love for the genre. But what Dave does is make these songs work, “Take My Hand” is a brilliant rocker, “Wachet Auf” has great melodic chord shifts and his vocal is both strong and sincere. The title track is just as strong, with a sticky rhythm, and builds the narrative carefully with layered strings full of emotion.
“As Far As I Know” bounces along with confidence similar to Elvis Costello, the album’s first half is so strong, that the ballad “The Coming Good” is when we coast a bit — but not for long. The second half picks up with “Runaround” and the jangling “Hilary” and doesn’t let up. This is an album that needs to be heard and savored. Makes my top ten list for 2022, and the best debut I’ve heard this year so far. Don’t pass it by.
