Goodman and Vanilla

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Goodman

Goodman “Goodman Versus The Nostalgia Machine”

NYC musician Michael Goodman has evolved over the years into a real power-pop powerhouse. And this is latest album has both an equal amount of hooks and attitude. The opening “Nostalgia Machine/Disappearing Act” features a churning guitar rhythm and a Kinks-Beatles styled mantra, about hiding within the cushions of past influences, but the guitar buzzes forward on “Raymond Burr” with plenty of energy. Similarly “Rachel K” has a swagger similar to Jeff Whalen (The Brothers Steve) and its hooks get you pretty easily.

Goodman excels with a gem describing the sudden end of a relationship “Gone In The Blink of An Eye” where “hey it sucks here/everyone’s stuck here.” “I Want To Spend The Day With You” and “Three Camellias”  are short sweet love songs, with some nice minor chords and the latter boasts a great string break and harmonies. “You’re Doing It Wrong!” seems a perfect song for 2020 and is another big highlight among many. In fact, each song has a catchy melodic quality and the styles vary enough to keep you on your toes. Hard to believe, but this album is better than last year’s Era of Buckets. And this one will also make my top ten list. Super Highly Recommended!

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Vanilla

Vanilla “Limerence”

Jayson Jarmon (Liar’s Club) and his band of friends are exploring his love of music with Limerence (defined as acute onset, unexpected, obsessive attachment) as he flys through several different musical styles with each track. The playful “Treefort” describing a childhood tryst with some improv jazz guitar at the end. “Sentimental” is a catchy little pop confection about his obsession and it brings us to the glammy “Velvet Rope,” fans of Sweet or Gary Glitter will enjoy this one.

The orchestral pop of “Haunted” has a Sinatra-like quality and the quirky “Easy as Pi” is a kids math song with an infectious bounce akin to Schoolhouse Rock. Because of the nature of the LP, it’s never predictable and mostly entertaining. Sometimes it falls flat or sounds forced (“The Call”) and I found the best tunes in the first half, but you can find a favorite anywhere – I really enjoyed “Let’s Start Over Again,” a McCartney-like ballad. Overall it’s fun and definitely worth checking out.

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Name Dropping 101: Matthew Sweet, The Stars Explode and me

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Matthew Sweet has released a new single titled “Stars Explode” from the forthcoming album Catspaw, due to release through Omnivore Recordings on January 15, 2021.

“Recently, I heard a song called ‘Matthew Sweet’ by a band from Chapel Hill, N.C. named The Stars Explode. I was flattered and liked the song and their band name, so I decided to use it in my song “Stars Explode.” The music ‘arrived,’ so to speak, together with the title. I’ve always been interested in Space and the greater nature of things; I love the concept that “we are all stardust.” I explored that idea in the lyrics. ‘Stellar winds she comes riding upon/with a nebulous intent…’ The female character here is sort of a Mother Nature of the Cosmos—maybe the queen of the universe! The way I come in singing that repeated note in the first verse reminded me a little bit of something Neil Young might do melodically. I had a lot of fun with the lead guitars on this one too.” —Matthew Sweet

 


Here is the track “Matthew Sweet” by The Stars Explode. Incidentally, the same band was also responsible for writing and recording the theme song for my power-pop show on 11L Radio New York International back in 2012. That’s only 3 degrees of separation!

The Last Christmas Music of 2020: Jack Blackman, Cliff Hillis, Lisa Mychols, Karla Kane and The Big Stir Yuletide Wave

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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

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Cliff Hillis

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!

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Radio Days

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!

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Timmy Sean and Mooner

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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.

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Mooner

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.

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