Kelly’s Heels "Neither Use Nor Ornament"

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You just have to admire Kelly’s Heels. This is a band that has been in the trenchs of post-punk power pop for a long time. Since the first IPO show in 1999, Kelly’s Heels have been a band that was consistently first-rate with Beatles, Records, Kinks inspired guitar pop. They had Not Lame’s theme song written for Hook Heaven vol.2 pop compilation on top of everything else. And now the band has matured gracefully to this new release. Bob Kelly’s vocal approach can best be summed up as a mix of McCartney and Elvis Costello. And let me tell you the music is full of great hooks and melodies that knock you down after the first listen. If you heard any of the earlier albums, this one just raises the quality level to “11” and makes it a near perfect album. Each song follows a tight arrangement and stays under three minutes for the most part. The tracks later on don’t quite reach the great highs at the start of the album, but there is no filler in here. A great track, “For Always” best speaks with the lyrics, “Some may call it growing up, accepting what life all orders up” and other songs talk about reliving the past and it being hard to let go of old dreams. “The Same Mistake” sounds a bit like a lost Squeeze tune and the ballad “Walk Alone” provides a brief pause in the high energy here. Listen to the entire album streaming on Not Lame! If you never listened to Kelly’s Heels yet, this album is a great place to start!

Kelly’s Heel’s Site | My Space | CD Baby | Not Lame | Itunes

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The Singles "Start Again"

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The Singles exploded onto the scene in 2003 as a standout with the excellent album Better Than Before. So this past February, The Singles have switched labels and released Start Again. There is plenty of garage rock on display here, with a liberal doses of T Rex worship on the “The Most Beautiful Girl.” This song sounds like a outtake from T Rex’s Electric Warrior. About half the album has that Marc Bolan vibe, with songs like “When will she be mine” and “Summer.” Then on “Annette” try to imagine Bolan fronting for The Dave Clark Five, complete with fuzz guitar and hand claps. They change pace with “Cryin’ over you,” a 50’s styled tribute to Roy Orbison. Lots of Small Faces influenced mod-styled rock is all over this album as well. “Hypnotized” is a good example of this, and remind me of another power pop group – The High Dials. “Goodbye Little Girl” is an awesome radio friendly track, that is a fitting finale. I highly suggest this album for highway driving this summer.

The Single’s Site | My Space | CD Baby | Not Lame

Listen to “Annette”

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The Eisenhowers "Almost Half Undressed"

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On the Eisenhower’s site they mention they are “a loose collection of people who sometimes make a noise with musical instruments.” Well, if lots of neat harmonies and catchy guitar riffs are noise, then bring it on. Raymond Weir, primary force for the band does a great job here. “Useless Love” is a low key rocker that remind me of a lost Dream Academy track. “Novelty Act” is a flat-out great song that evokes Crowded House with a great chorus, biting lyrics and amazing guitar. “… And Consequently” is another great track along the lines of Jellyfish. Both these tracks are awesome. Elsewhere the other songs on the album try hard to match it. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn’t. When the electric guitar wasn’t in a song it tended to not be as distinct. “Jigsaw” is a song with a great hooks and melody worthy of inclusion. It recalls the best singles of The Rembrandts. “If Satellites Should Fall” has beautiful arrangements and flows along like a lazy river. “Constantiople” seems like an adult pop indulgence, not unlike a Finn Brothers solo tune. Little influences of Squeeze, Elvis Costello and XTC appear in places, so this will not dissapoint most power pop or AOR fans. Enjoy this one.

Eisenhowers Site | My Space | CD Baby | Not Lame

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Limbeck "Limbeck"

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The state of alt country is in good hands with groups like Limbeck. Like the Honeydogs, Limbeck has taken the lead in the genre since the demise of The Jayhawks and my apparent disappointment of the latest Wilco album. In the past Limbeck couldn’t seem to reconcile the country leanings and sugary pop tendencies. On this album they come together perfectly. Limbeck frontman Robb MacLean tells a great bunch of road stories that are pure Americana with a West Coast laid-back flavor. There is no filler on this album and every song seems to flow at it’s own smooth pace, suited for lazy sunday afternoons in summertime. The details here show a finely crafted masterpiece. “Big Drag” has a bluesy beat with little Sax flourishes that has a awesome chorus. “Let Me Come Home” almost sounds like a country-flavored Fountains of Wayne tune. Even a slow country ballad “Reading The Street Signs” gets a bit of Beach Boys harmonies. “Wake Up” is a Tom Petty styled rocker that keeps your toe tappin’ with excellent guitar riffs. “Your Story” has some great harmonic shifts and chord changes that is the stuff of greatness and my favorite track on the album. This is definely on my top ten list this year and if you are an alt country fan this is a “must-have” album. Listen to the album streaming on the Pure Volume site.

Limbeck’s Site | My Space | Pure Volume | Not Lame

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