A new site, created by several popular bloggers have created a survey, where you can post your top five album list right here.
I encourage you to add your opinions to the list and challenge John Borack’s top picks. It’s a busy time for me but I’ll post mine any day now. The poll is open until 10/31/08 — so vote today!
I found a few good songs on Minnesota native Jeremy Messersmith’s Alcatraz Kid. The Elliot Smith comparisons are still apt here, but the musical growth and songwriting development has really exploded with “The Silver City.” And Jeremy partnered with Dan Wilson (Semisonic) to paint a vivid picture of heavenly Suburbia. The opening track “Welcome to Suburbia” is a celestial pop triumph, with shimmering melodic chorus and George Harrison-like guitar accents that compliments Jeremy’s soft vocal. Much like the futuristic travellers on the cover the listeners will be treated to “Dead-End Job,” a great ballad with a lovely horns and more descriptive narrative. The next track “Franklin Avenue” is the shinning gem on this album, rich with instrumentation about a passerby “Waiting for that sinking feeling.” The production on the album is sparse, but dynamic with “The Commuter” resembling a the REM track “Man on The Moon” in feel and tone. And a bit of good electronica pop sneaks in with “Miracles” after this. The album sags a bit in the middle, but comes back strong on a version of Paul Westerberg’s “Skyway” and a very bouncy pop tune “Virginia” that demands repeat listens and I dare you not to tap your toe to the beat here. The closing track “Light Rail” continues the ride, with a McCartney styled ditty that’s a worthy followup to “Ob-La-Di, Ob-La -Da.” The album is like a great cup of coffee; rich, dark and sweet – but ultimately very soothing. Mmm… drink this one up.
Jeremy’s Site | My Space | Itunes | Emusic
Listen to “Miracles”
If you ever dreamed of finding that “unknown” pop nugget in the back of the record store’s cut out bin, then Doug Derek & The Hoax will make you smile. Much like when Not Lame unearthed “The Toms” a few years ago, Doug Derek was a little known garage band from New Haven, CT during the same period (1980-81). The album is a snapshot in time of the skinny tie era of power pop similar to Paul Collins’ Beat, The Plimsouls and even Peter Case a little bit. The big “hit” here is the opening two tracks “Bobby’s Gotta Get Back To Boston” and ” I Don’t Really Like It Here” which would fit just perfectly on those DIY power pop compilations that Rhino Records made long ago. The remaining tracks are good too, another standout is “Airwaves” which almost sounds like a Rubinoos song with it’s excellent guitar breaks and earnest chorus, about a band’s rise to fame. This album would most definitely have been a hit at the time, but it fell through the cracks — until now. Enjoy!
My Space | CD Baby | Kool Kat Musik | Not Lame
Straight from the east side of Detroit, The Romeo Flynns burst on the scene with a sound along the lines of Sweet and Cheap Trick. It starts out as a concept album about a painful breakup. The lead track “Pictures of You” has an almost Meatloaf meets Kiss quality with horns playing accents around heavy guitar riffs. The next track “Gonna Feel Alright” is easily one of the best songs on the album, with a stomping beat and a rock energy and swagger that compares well Tom Petty’s Heartbreakers. Lead singer D. Lawrence Lee’s vocals sound like both Petty and Bruce Springsteen in places. “Better Man Than Me” keeps the rock train rolling with smart riffs and a catchy chorus. It all has a retro 80s and 90s feel in places, but it delivers the goods if you want a good classic rock album. “Wasting my Heart” is more melodic than the earlier tracks with the addition of background strings and is the closest track here to traditional power pop. “Just Fade Away” is another standout track with a rich harmonic chorus. I wasn’t so thrilled with the power ballad “Kristine” – which is a bit too similar to the Kiss song “Beth” but it ends strong with a terrific cover of the Kink’s “Better Things.” A very enjoyable rock album that will thrill if you like Detroit Rock, Brit Rock and the huge sound that comes with it. You won’t be disappointed.
Romeo Flynn’s Site | My Space | CD Baby
I just got finished with my interview with The Bellfuries. If you missed the review of the album “Palmyra” then I suggest you take a look – it’s up there for a 2008 top ten nomination. I wanted to learn a little more about the band, so I put together a few questions for band leader Joey Simeone. Check the artists interview button on the right side, or this direct link to the Bellfuries Interview here.
Enjoy it! More reviews coming up for October soon.