Are you sick of Christmas music yet? Like the video from Jack Blackman and The Beautiful Wreck, I’m getting a little tired of all tinsel. Jack also is also quite adept at songs tailor-made for this Pandemic (see “Self-Isolation Song”). We’ve got a few more goodies under the tree, like more Cliff Hillis (always welcome) and chiming holiday singles from Lisa Mychols and Karla Kane. And if you still haven’t had enough, the entire roster of Big Stir Records has a 25-track Yuletide Wave featuring Nick Frater, The Brothers Steve, The Bobbleheads, and many more.
EPS: Cliff Hillis and Radio Days
Cliff Hillis “Life Gets Strange” EP
The dependable greatness of Cliff Hillis provides another look at the socially distanced life with his usual breezy melodic style. Written with Rhett Miller of Old 97’s, “Let’s Pretend” is a wonderful opener, with a solid buzzing rhythm guitar as Cliff imagines life as it was – and a desire to get close. Next, the title track is a more direct observation of how we’ve rearranged our lives, and the melody is very catchy and effortlessly sticks to your head.
“Good Problems” is a quieter recognition of gratitude and “Tired All The Time” is another melodic gem about COVID stress, but always keeping an eye out for “better days lie ahead.” The short format allows Hillis to only pick the cream of the crop, and even the bluesy ballads sound great. Highly Recommended!
Radio Days “I Gotta Love” EP
Those dudes from Milan, Italy are back with a cool new single that has plenty of power, and a neat hook. Short and sweet, this 3 song EP also includes “Baby Blue” that in no way resembles Badfinger, but recalls a more traditional mid-tempo rock and roll, and “In The City” which has a sharp jangle akin to The Romantics. Highly Recommended!
Timmy Sean and Mooner
Timmy Sean “A Tale From The Other Side” Part I
Inspired by Stephen King, California musician-producer Timmy Sean rolls out a “supernatural thriller, monster movie rock opera,” ten years after his impressive debut. The album concept starts off as a fun coming-of-age story (a bit autobiographical) in Part I, with Part II due early 2021.
After the spooky intro “opening credits” the guitar and harmonies flow on “The College Year” a richly produced mid-tempo ballad that looks back after graduating. “In California” bursts out with a fresh power-pop melody loaded with hooks, and it’s the big highlight. “Fortune and Fame” have Weezer and Lenny Kravitz influences, as it marches along to a soulful beat. The music is loaded with bombast, as “My Jaded Love” is a wonderful piano ballad with some overbearing percussion that plays into the anthemic “Over and Over Again.” The sound effects and bits between songs hold the story together but are so frequent that it can be distracting. However, there isn’t a bad song anywhere and the entire production is top-notch. Highly Recommended.
Mooner “The Alternate Universe of Love”
It’s been a few years since Lee Ketch’s Mooner delivered a new album and The Alternate Universe of Love has Lee experimenting with textures and sounds along the lines of Jeff Tweedy, but he still knows how to write a great song, as the opening title track shows. It starts quiet with an acoustic guitar but mid-way through gets funky with synths and drums.
The next few tracks, quietly bring out lots of contrasts. “Can I Be Angry?” has a sedated vocal, as the guitar rhythm gets progressively “angrier.” “Eleanor’s Ideas,” tells a good story, but for all the neat sonic tricks, it doesn’t resonate much. But then we get “I Can’t Tell,” a classic hook-laden melody that draws you in. And then one of Lee’s best-ever songs “Why Don’t You Need Me?” a brilliantly written ballad, that cries out with strings and piano. “Is This All I Can Do To Love You?” is a solid mid-tempo eulogy to a lost relationship. After this, we get back to atmospherics on the remaining tracks. This is a heart-felt grower of an album, and music fans should grab some headphones and check it out.
More Xmas Presents: Another Sleigh-load of Holiday Singles and More!
Wow! The space under the tree is just packed now. Notable goodies include a full album of music inspired by the classic A Christmas Story by Ralphie’s Red Ryders (a regular contributor to our pages under a new pseudonym) and our annual single by The Slingsby Hornets. Nick Lowe adds his Christmas standards and The Martial Arts do a fine job – check out the brilliant original “Snow Flakes.” Add to this The Decibels, John Dunbar, Stop Calling Me Frank, and The Heatwaves and you’ve got another great holiday mixtape!
The Lees of Memory and Brian Bringelson
The Lees Of Memory “Moon Shot”
From the ashes of Superdrag, multi-instrumentalist John Davis, guitarist Brandon Fisher and drummer Nick Slack formed The Lees of Memory. Leaning more on the shoegaze side of the equation, Davis starts with “Lonely Everywhere,” a symbolic anthem of COVID isolation with layers of guitars, sitars, harmonies, and percussion. Very much in the model of Matthew Sweet meets Bob Mould, it’s got a great hook that stays with you.
The heavy guitar crunch is applied perfectly to “Crocodile Tears” a song that feels like a dark cloud floating above you, and “Free and Easy” drifts along like a classic Pink Floyd guitar epic full of blues and resignation. “Drift Into Dream” is another gorgeous composition, with echoing harmonies resting on those dense rhythmic layers. Most of the songs hit the mark, “Live Without” and “The Wheel” is as good as anything Superdrag ever did, although most of the tunes are pretty downbeat. “The Summer Sun” feels like a eulogy to those sunny days on the beach. Davis throws in the kitchen sink on the 4 minute plus finale “Far Beyond” with a funky break obviously inspired by Prince. An excellent album that stands up to repeat listens and grows on you. Highly Recommended and it makes my year-end best-of list.
Brian Bringelson “Desperate Days”
Brian Bringelson, a member of the band Anchor and Bear and a solo artist under the name Paul Starling is back under his own name on Desperate Days. The opener “Losing Train of Thought” is a sweet catchy melody, that sounds much like his early material with slight echoes of early Beach Boys and The Smiths. The jangling guitar of the dream-like title track “Desperate Days” builds with each verse, the vocal harmonies burst through on the chorus.
Bringleson’s music has a very unforced and casual approach, with a Pet Sounds styled production aesthetic, best-exemplified by “Bone Collector,” “The Deep Dark Truth,” and “Rust and Gold.” But my favorite here is “Letting Go Of Arrows,” an epic ballad with smooth echoing harmonies and hooks. Not everything attains this level of greatness, but enough does. This is easily Brian’s most accessible and mature album, it’s definitely highly recommended.