It took a while, but I finally got to Meadows frontman, Todd Herfindal and his solo release of songs called “Collective.” Rather than it be a collective of odds and ends from the last Meadows album, it stands on it’s own as straight ahead pop/rock album. The style doesn’t fall far from the Meadows tree however, the opener “Air I’m Breathing” has an slick pop sheen with a very catchy chorus that falls between Tom Petty-Counting Crows rock and a dash of Crowded House pop. It’s a great message too, “I won’t waste another day on little things that don’t mean nothing.” The slide guitar solo is welcome on “Finally Movin’ On” although it’s a bit predictable in approach in songwriting. The guitars flexible riffs make the song “Waiting on the Sun” sound great, and this one most resembles Counting Crows. “Won’t Look Back” is an excellent ballad about your best female friend. Another standout is “Forget It All Again” a classic modern rock track that will please fans of The Honeydogs. Not a bad track on the album. Even the sappy sentiment on “This is a love song” has so much earnest good cheer and emotion it makes up for “silly love songs” type of lyric. Overall, this is one of those very commercial power pop albums you can give your musically challenged friends, and they’ll enjoy the clean arrangements and Herfindal’s perfect rock and roll lead vocal. One of the most accessible and good-natured albums I’ve heard all year.

Todd’s Site | My Space | CD Baby | Emusic | Not Lame

Cliff Hillis (formerly of Starbelly and IKE) pulls together his third solo record. After he left IKE, Hillis worked on some songs for movie soundtracks and even won last year’s Chili’s contest with his Beatles-style take on the eatery’s “Baby Back Ribs” jingle. This new Hillis album has a more mellow spin here, with the pleasing tight melodies that sound like Glenn Tilbrook (Squeeze) mixed with John Mayer. The smooth catchy opener “She Sees” shuffles along at a casual pace that switches to the guitar buzzing goodness of the great “Never Understand” with those great “ooh ooh” vocals in the chorus. The album boasts a cadre of pop experts including his band The Thinkers, as well as Eric Bazilian(The Hooters), Danny Wilde (The Rembrandts), and Willie Wisely. The song “Elevator” is another standout of awesome light pop melody and tempered beat that flows right into the chorus. “Northern Lights” echos back to earlier albums and flirts with a Posies-like sound with heavier guitar. The Beatlesque mid-tempo “Ought to know” is another great tune with an unusual synth break during the main banjo melody. Every song here is good, and even the ballads don’t get too weepy. The songs delve into subjects about maturing relationships and marriage – without the usual gloom and doom you hear with other artists. This is a good solid album you are sure to enjoy.

My Space | Tallboy Records | Not Lame