Plastic Heroes "Escape The Lower End"

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Reviewed by Mike Z.
On the opening track, “Lover Boy”, singer/guitarist Marc Olivier’s voice grabs your attention immediately, which is a strong way to kick off any record. His voice sounds like Adam Ant in pitch and played-up British accent and warbles effectively like that of Larry Kirwin from Black 47. The music is also strong enough that it can not be ignored, so a good mix of sounds is established off the bat, and that will (for the most part) continue throughout. This is a good mix of rock, pop, and lyrical braggadocio. With “Every Day” the band again succeeds in creating a musical mix of anger, angst, and a wry sense of humor complete with bouncing guitars and a synthesizer sound straight from 1983. 

“Mary B!” has one bad-ass riff which is wasted on a song which is fails to paint a compelling portrait of its title character. Add half a point to this rating if you are a Francophile, as that motif (that’s French, right?) is to be found at various points of this recording. A weakness is exposed here and continues to unravel somewhat in the next three songs. Even though these tracks are somewhat out of place, it doesn’t overly sully the rest of the work. “The Boy” is more of a rocker and maybe the best realization of this band’s sound. Everything is just right with the mix of guitars, driving 4/4 drums, chunky bass, and overdriven synths. “Fifteen Years” continues the sonic momentum and gives further hope that this band may have some real talent. The guitar resounds like nothing I’ve heard since Billy Duffy’s big, big guitar from The Cult’s Electric.  “Whispering” starts out slow and has bittersweet lyrics. It borrows from The Beatles and XTC initially and has some beautiful touches throughout. The lyrics are simple and do not try to overstate the sentiment that the music creates. I’d recommend this album to be played on your house or car stereo, so as to fill the room and let the big guitars and meat-head drum beats bounce off the walls. If you throw this in while doing chores, having some friends over for beers, or going for a drive, a great energy will be added to the environment and it will be really hard to not get swept up with the music. 

Plastic Heroes Site | My Space | Itunes

Listen to “The Boy”

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Mondo Primo "2FN HOT"

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I guess Mondo Primo are trying to push the edge of power pop and punk by being ballsy enough to call the new album “2FN HOT” (I’m sure one of these guys has it on a license plate). The group’s sound is closest compared with Bowling For Soup with even more pop polish. Fans of Sloan will enjoy the opener “Overheated” which rocks hard and includes dreamy harmonies and minor chord changes. It plays like a great single and then it goes over to the very Weezer/Green Day-ish “Bands With Brand New Amps.” This sound continues with the rest of the album and the boys have a fresh energy that makes most of the songs work. Songs like “Allegories” and the speed-guitar fest “Dude, Your Girlfriend Sucks” are standouts that will make you forget about The Click Five (remember them?) and other Disney band-o-the-week pretenders. In a wonderful nod to The Beach Boys, Mondo Primo concentrates on “East Coast Girls” and the buzzsaw guitars form a wall of sound that ends in a crescendo. A love song to this style of music is best illustrated in “Powerchords” where the lead singer laments “hope I never get bored of these power chords”, and most power pop fans won’t.  So my advice kids, slowly back away from the Jonas Brothers dreck and give Mondo Primo a chance.

My Space | Itunes | Merch Now

Listen to “”Dude, Your Girlfriend Sucks” in 3D! – Grab your glasses! COOL! The 3-D theme is all over this album. Do you want to see the original video where this came from? It’s The Mask (1961)

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Steve Eggers is hard at work.

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Steve Eggers of the Nines sings a new demo at home on his piano. This charming home movie was filmed by his wife. Too bad it gets cut off at the end. So when is the next album coming out, Steve?

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Michael Mazzarella "Folk Songs For The Curious Few"

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Michael Mazzarella is a legend among power pop fans for his work with the Rooks. His solo career has concentrated on improving his songwriting abilities and his latest offering “Folk Songs…” is similar to the last album “Grey Over An Autumn Winter,” which presents a song cycle in somber tones. It was recorded on a simple eight-track with help from Richard X. Heyman on the harmony parts. Vocals as sharp as ever, Mazzarella is sounding more like a mix of Colin Bluntone and Chris Bell on the opener “Recollections of a Young Girl Gone.” Thankfully, the clouds part for the excellent mid-tempo “October on Bleecker” with it’s sweet strum and multi-tracked melody that mixes the Beatles and Big Star influences sure to please Rooks fans. Then the clouds return on bleak “The Ballad of Who Are We” which is a song about a bygone relationship fallen through the cracks of life. The next track “Open Letter Of Sorry” has a John Lennon quality with heavy echo in the piano and nasal delivery. Another standout is “Shine A Little” which has an spiritual quality with a strong Elton John styled piano melody. The songs themselves feel like a confessional and the melodies sparkle through the lo-fi approach on “For LaDonna The Blue” and “In An Ocean.” It ends with a gospel statement in “Hallelujah For The Hallelujah Of Us” and if it had a least one additional mid-tempo or upbeat song in the mix it would be better received. It’s a downer of an album, with the ending lyrics “Have all the friends I have known/Better to feel so alone?” Fans of John Lennon, and Big Star will appreciate this and of course if the mood suits you.

The Rooks Site | My Space | CD Baby

Note: For some reason the review of “Black Bunny” was deleted by accident, so I reposted it.

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Jaimie Vernon "Nightmare @ 20,000 Watts"

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Jaimie Vernon is not only president of Bulleye Records, he’s also been part of several bands in his native Canada. His third solo album is a concept album/homage to hit radio programs from the past. Rather than a single stand-alone CD of material, he has compiled 70 cuts as MP3s included on a multi-media disc that includes a ‘faux’ radio show from the fictitious CRCK-FM featuring Bob Segarini as DJ Brian “The Iceguy” Campbell. Follow the exploits of the last playlist from the last station on the last day of Top 40 radio. Much like Roger Water’s “Radio K.A.O.S” or Queen’s “The Works” album in “the end of modern radio” theme, except you get a whole lot more. I concentrated on the 23 songs of the “CRCK Top 20” where you get a complex story outline in the song  “Radio Killed The Radio Star” which is influenced by The Cars, Beatles, and even Billy Idol. Some highlights include the very ELO inspired “(Letter To A) Dear Chum” and the reggae beat of  “Clique Me Down” with horns and catchy chorus similar to Jimmy Buffett’s hits. “Airwaves” is the closest tune to Roger Waters style. With Segarini aboard, you also get a little bit of Chilliwack and other Canadian hits in the song “Life’s A Canadian Rock.” Included is a cover of the Hudson Brothers “So You Are A Star” and the bouncy “(Coney Island Turning) Upside Down.” Lots of other references to Canadian rock bands like Klaatu as well, however more attention is placed on the concept/storyline than the music itself, which doesn’t always live up to expectations. On the other hand, there is a TON of material here, so you are most definitely getting a “box set” worth of stuff for a single album’s price.

Bullseye Canada | My Space

Listen to “(Letter To A) Dear Chum”

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