Nick Frater and Scott Gagner

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Nick Frater

Nick Frater “Earworms”

Nick Frater is a 60s/70s sophisticated-pop connoisseur from Croydon, UK. Earworms are exactly what power popaholics look for in a song, and Nick does a great job by letting his work just burrow into your brain. Lots of period influences are combined to make something new, yet familiar. Staring with “It’s All Rumours” with help from Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (Jellyfsh) it flows sweetly into the ELO-styled chorus. Then the wicked lead opens “Buggin’ Out,” another standout that will have you singing “doo-wops” till the end.

The “hits” keep coming with the mid-tempo “With Heavy Heart,” and shifting key changes of “Lucky Strike” which again mines Queen for its guitar flourishes. The smooth gloss of “Star Crossed” is almost like Jeff Lynne joined Seals & Crofts. And the ender “How To Survive Somebody” evokes both Elton John and The Carpenters. Each song is like a handcrafted love note to that era, and it makes for irresistible replays. Highly Recommended and another candidate for the top ten albums of 2021. Don’t miss it!

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Scott Gagner

Scott Gagner “BloodMoon”

A lot of introspective music came out of the great pandemic this year. But none so personal and deeply emotional as Scott Gagner’s BloodMoon. With the help of  Ken Stringfellow (Posies), the soaring “Rise” is an early high point, about a family moving from a natural disaster. The ghostly “Twice In A Lifetime” follows these thoughts half-spoken and half-sung in a trance-like state. The album centerpiece is “I Don’t Get Out Much Anymore” a soulful heart-breaking ballad.

Scott seems to channel his inner Lee Hazlewood for sublime “My Shadow” but after that, it gets very spacey with “On The Moon” and “Orion.” It seems to be more like a calming ASMR vibe, with meditations on the past. Even when the tempo speeds up on “Year At A Glance” and “1977” it feels like a sleepy reminiscence of events. While I did enjoy the first third of the album, it took more effort to appreciate the rest. The complex arrangements are a plus, but the brooding atmosphere will not appeal to everybody.

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Mo Troper and The Amplifier Heads

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Mo Troper

Mo Troper “Dilettante”

After a daunting Beatles cover album, Mo Troper is back to his bedroom DIY fuzzy melodies and Dilettant is more hit than miss over the course of 28 short snippets. The influences are too numerous to mention but the opener “Total Euphoria” sets up a single hook before its gone, and then the driving guitar of “The Expendables Ride Again,” a rant about how ephemeral the music is, and the reaction “What’s the name of your new band? The one with you and my old friends?”

There are thematic gems sprinkled throughout, with others being simple song sketches. “The Perfect Song” is the goal here, one that “gets stuck in my head all day long.” Some artistic anger on “All My Friends are Venmo,” and plenty of highlights that compare well with GBV; “My Master’s Voice,” “Armpit,” “Better Than Nothing” and “Blake and Lanny.” Like a bag of Halloween candy, you may not eat everything but it sure is sweet.

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Amplifier Heads

The Amplifier Heads “Saturnaliens”

Boston rocker Sal Baglio (The Stompers) skillfully continues his journey with his band The Amplifier Heads as they cruise through their third album on Bar Rum Records. Described as “a  graphic novel for the ears and head” I just start by giving kudos to the cover design. These UFOs would kick Boston’s ass.

The fine opener “Ghost Star Rider” mines that Western motif in the instrumental, and then the raw garage rock of “Rocket Boys” delivers the first salvo. Loving those riffs on “Earth Girls on the Loose,” and “All Fueled Up,” it almost goes full rockabilly with a hint of punk attitude. “GlamOrama,” “Candi Starr,” and “Bast Shit Crazy” are very Sweet-esque tributes, and the band doesn’t ease up on the gas. All lots of fun, but it can be a bit exhausting by the end of the album. Still more hits than misses here, and definitely highly recommended.

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Halloween Treats: Dolph Chaney, Vista Blue, Chris Church, Nolan Potter, Brilliant Mistakes, It’s Karma It’s Cool, The Sunchymes, Roller Disco Combo, Robbie Rist, Nick Piunti

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Scary to think October is almost over, but we’ve got you covered with great power pop. Dolph Chaney has a fun party vibe on his new single “This Halloween,” as he ends a toxic relationship. Vista Blue reliably combines Beach Boys and The Ramones on its annual Halloween EP, and Chris Church rocks with his Triple Play Single, featuring a track from each of his three LPs. Texas musician Nolan Potter gives us a frighteningly good EP, that channels Todd Rundgren, King Crimson, and more – check out “Holy Scroller.” Overall great prog-rock throughout. The Brilliant Mistakes brings us back home with “The Stories We Tell” and Its Karma It’s Cool is back with an advanced single “She Slept With The Radio On” – and I do that each weekend. The Sunchymes tap the late 60s retro vibe at “Station X” and Roller Disco Combo from Spain is nothing like their name, but they are great power pop, check out the rich “Indonesian Breakfast” and jangling “Dear Mean.” Finally, Ballzy Tomorrow (aka Robbie Rist) covers a great Todd Rundgren tune (it’s a freebie too!) and the always reliable Nick Piunti made a sweet single this past August, and it still sounds great. Happy Halloween!










Loveland Duren and The Embryos

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Real Sickies

Loveland Duren “Any Such Thing”

The collaboration between Memphis musicians Vicki Loveland and Van Duren has proven fruitful over the years, as they both are consummate professionals that play off each other beautifully. This new album is no exception, the opener “Tumbledown Hearts” is an A-list single that would win over the pop and country charts if given a chance. “Any Such Thing” is Loveland’s anti-fascist screed laced with strong rock instrumentation and blaring horns. This is soulful pop music for grown-ups.

While the styles are pop and country, the songs feel timeless when they click. “Funny Way of Showing It” has Loveland’s emotions on her sleeve when it comes to domestic abuse accompanied by orchestral strings. And Van Duren’s just as emotional on ‘Where are we going?” when it comes to a relationship in trouble. When the two collaborate, it’s pure magic; “Bridges I Had To Burn” is another winner that speaks to experience. Van Duren also manages a very timely statement on political discord with a strong melody on “Everyone is Out of Tune.” Not everything here is as memorable, but this 3rd LP by the duo is a good mix of songs that deserves to be heard.

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The Embryos

The Embryos “National Absurdatory”

Chicago band, The Embryos are back three years after their debut Open The Kimono, and their maturity is evident, “Morning Birds” is a sophisticated pop tune, but they shift their sound on the instrumental “The Funky Embryo” akin to Graham Central Station and “Rattlesnakes”  is a great synthesis influence from The Doors and The Byrds. It’s likely the best tune here, but they inject some power-pop-blues-rock with the great “Spend Tonight,” and it’s another high point.

The next several songs seem to channel The Stones, from “Catching Fire,” to the sleepy “You Can Be A Mystery.” The energy from earlier has mellowed quite a bit. The cryptic “Cosmic Wheel” and “Rolling Wheels” are both sweet stoner tunes with layered harmonies, psychedelic touches, and catchy bass lines. Overall a very good LP that grows on you with each repeat. Highly Recommended.

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