Oscar Lang and The Orange Peels

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Oscar Lang

Oscar Lang “Chew The Scenery”

Young UK musical phenom Oscar Lang proved his long-awaited indie-rock debut was worth the anticipation. Heavily indebted to Brit-pop’s past, Lang excels at fuzzy hook-filled melodies with buzzing electronic flourishes. After an extended fanfare, it leads into the first single “21st Century Hobby,” focusing on the dark side of social media, and the catchy chorus is layered with guitar lines. Without missing a beat “I Could Swear” bounces along and it’s all very infectious.

“Stuck” then gets even denser and louder with a self-loathing akin to The Dandy Warhols, before it goes full-on dance Madchester funk like The Happy Mondays on “Yeah.” So far we’ve got track after track of energy and excellence until it pauses with the piano ballad “Write Me A Letter.” This demonstrates Oscar’s subtle talent and emotive pull, and as the album continues it feels more relaxed from “Are You Happy?” to “Quarter Past Nine.” As we run out of gas at the end, “Final Call” feels pulled from the Coldplay or Radiohead playbook. Overall, it’s an effective and strong debut that’s highly recommended.

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The Orange Peels

The Orange Peels “Celebrate the Moments of Your Life”

With a title straight out of a commercial, Allen Clapp, Jill Pries, and Gabriel Coan continue to move the band beyond guitarist John Moremen’s influences. Clapp goes for a shimmering jazz-pop sound here, with a mix of arty psych-pop and electro-pop flourishes. Coan’s percussion takes the lead mostly, as Clapp drives the droning synths of “2×2” and the next several tracks meander along a theme of birds.

Clapp does get soulful on the piano ballad “Thank You” and the jangling bounce of “Whenever” is a standout for fans of the band’s classic sound. But this album is more experimental, and as far from power-pop as you can get. Clapp is a genius when it comes to atmospherics, and my favorite track here is the instrumental “Two Shores” — get some good headphones for this one. “The Ghost of You” and “Human” bring to mind Tears For Fears, and the loose, trippy “Mindego Hill” is a gem. The final section of this massive 17 track album is flower-themed as the music is more about ambiance and sonic environment than melody. The band has drifted in this direction since 2020, so it’s not a big shock. However, if you’re looking for those 3-minute earworms I’d visit their earlier works.

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October Singles: Andrew Stonehome, Ken Sharp, Cliff Hillis, The Webstirs, Gavin Eimerman, Not A Moment Too Soon, The Hi-End, Abbie Barrett, Kai Danzberg

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Lots of new October music here, and better than pumpkin latte for sure. There is so much music, that I’ll make a totally separate post for EPs. Andrew Stonehome is a songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist based in Portland, Oregon and he delivers a perfect slice of power pop with “Heartbreaker.” The reliable Ken Sharp returns and he’s still got glam on the brain with “Hellcat,” and the great Cliff Hillis gives us a perfect driving song with “Just Drive” remember “it always sounds better when you sing along.” Chicago’s Webstirs are back with a new LP, and here is the opening single “For A Moment” and Gavin Eimerman shares a freebie about “Losing Ground” assisted by his dad bassist Herb Eimerman and friends. When he is not teaching African politics, Pierre Englebert makes music as Not a Moment too Soon and I think it should’ve been a more “R” rated song title, but it’ll do. The Hi-End rocks hard on the Stones-like call-to-arms “Actions Speaks Louder Than Words,” and Abbie Barrett is very much like Debbie Harry on the fantastic single “I Will Let You Know.” Finally, what’s better than Kai Danzberg teaming up with Roger Manning, Jr. (Jellyfish) for an ELO-like gem “Turn It Up,” a love letter to power pop radio and a cameo by DJ Michael McCartney Enjoy!


The Junior League and The Raves

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The Junior League

The Junior League “Bridge and Tunnel”

Joe Adragna (The Junior League) is back with a thoughtful album that has a Long Island, New York theme. The catchy single “The Sunshine Saves Everyone” is a richly developed slice of sunshine pop akin to Allen Clapp (The Orange Peels). Assisted by Scott McCaughey (The Minus 5) and Michael Giblin (Parallax Project/The Split Squad) it’s got a heavily percussive style full of grand orchestral flourishes. While 9-11 is not mentioned directly, the trauma is felt under the surface of these songs.

The dour vignettes of life on “Library Bar” and “LIRR” speak about looking for something better.  The expansive sound of “54” and “Hart Island” recall the folk-rock of America, and a highlight here is the memorable “Andrea (You Can’t Fly).” The tone shifts for “Not My Time” which is like a lost Smokey Robinson & The Miracles track. Another standout is the quicker tempo of “Turn Off The Lights.” While this album isn’t that immediate, repeat listens reveal really inventive soundscapes. It’s definitely, music that deserves to be heard.

Kool Kat Musik | Amazon


The Speed of Sound

The Raves “Past Perfect Tense” (Remastered)

Based in Atlanta, Georgia  The Raves were one of those “lost” gems from the early eighties that did well locally, but never got the acclaim or signing of similar bands at the time like The Rubinoos, Shoes, or The Spongetones. By 1992 the band’s output was compiled in a limited edition Past Perfect Tense CD. This rarity boasted tight harmonies and jangling guitars in the classic tradition of The Raspberries.

Kool Kat Musik brings you a remastered version of this hard-to-find LP. Fans of traditional power pop will love this, as the energy is wilder than the Beatley haircuts on the cover. Lots of highlights from the angular riffs of “C’est La Vie” and Badfinger-like “Now You’ve Really Done It” to the bouncy rock of “Calling Your Name,” and many more. You still hear source tape limitations on some songs, but this is still a great document of The Raves talent. Highly Recommended for DIY power pop collectors.

Kool Kat Musik | Amazon

The Gleaming Spires collection; a lost new wave discovery that deserves to be heard

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The Gleaming Spires were a new wave band in the early 1980s that has an interesting history. It starts where Leslie Bohem, David Kendrick, and Bob Haag of the band Bates Motel get recruited by brothers Ron and Russell Mael to be a part of the 1981–85 incarnation of their band, Sparks. They made Sparks sound like a rock band again after years with an electronic disco sound. This was Sparks’ “most commercial” period where they finally broke into the US singles chart with “Cool Places.” Gleaming Spires was a side project that didn’t get as much attention at the time, and the band’s three studio albums were never reissued on CD, until now. Thanks to Omnivore Recordings, this new discovery can be absorbed properly.

The Gleaming Spires

“Songs Of The Spires” (1981)

Don’t let the staid cover art fool you, this is as close to the sound of Sparks you can get without the brothers Mael. The heavy synths, electronic drums, and arty guitar compositions would fit in well as a companion to Spark’s ‘Whomp That Sucker.’ The big hit from this album proved to be an unexpected B-side “Are You Ready for the Sex Girls?” which ended up on the Revenge of the Nerds soundtrack in 1984. Amazingly, it is the massive bonus tracks that are even better, featuring Bates Motel originals (produced by Andrew Gold) “The Way Marlena Moves” and “Dedication” as power-pop standouts! The punkier “Only The Young Die Young” is another winner. Like two albums from two different bands in one package. Get it on Amazon.

The Gleaming Spires

“Walk on Well Lighted Streets” (1983)

At this point, the band has a more distinctive new wave sound. And with better support in the studio (and additional players, like Jim Goodwin) the band further sets itself apart from Sparks, as it moves into more conventional music territory. Plenty of goodies here; “Mining” has a bit of Tears For Fears vibe, and the title track was similar to what Bowie was doing at the time rhythmically. “A Christian Girl’s Problem” was a controversial subject with killer hooks, and again the bonus tracks reveal some great stuff like the Oingo Boingo-like “Brain Button” and the power pop of “Christine” and “Does Your Mother Know.” Get it on Amazon.

The Gleaming Spires

“Welcoming a New Ice Age” (1985)

The “bigger” sound on the opener “Mercy,” follows similar bands in that era, like The Alarm and Big Country. Their label was faltering, so the boys decided to self-finance and with that, it allowed more experimentation with sounds and styles. The jangling guitar of “No One Coming Over” and country violin of “Secret Room” couldn’t be more different. The band still appeared on movie soundtracks; the big rock sound of “Here Comes Mr. Funhog” fits the chaotic teen movie, and the dissonant mess that is “Harm” feels like a David Kendrick’s jumping-off point to Devo. A mixed bag, but still interesting. Get it on Amazon.