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.
A Very COVID Christmas: Ho-Ho-Holiday Singles!
COVID has allowed many musicians to develop holiday music early, and this year boasts a bumper crop of great singles. In fact, it seems everyone had time to record “Jingle Bells” this year. But I enjoy the variety and originality of most of these Christmas tunes here. Grab them quick before they get as stale as Grandma’s fruitcake in January!
December Videos: Bleu, Matthew Sweet, Taylor Locke, Richard X. Heyman
Bleu McAuley, is an award-winning songwriter, producer, and recording artist who’s done great power pop in the past and recently helped with the new Dear Stella EP. His new song “I Wanna Write You a Symphony” is supported by the above video work of filmmaker Graeme Wilson who started following Bleu’s career in 2008 and decided to contact him after Bleu casually mentioned in an email newsletter that he was puzzled about how to put his pile of new songs out in the world. He is planning the release of his sixth solo album.
Matthew Sweet is back! “Give a Little” is the new single from his upcoming album Catspaw. Sweet mentions, “It has a lot of elements I like both lyrically and musically. I think this one came to me all at once—music and words together. I really like the start and stop riffs that underpin the chorus; they give it quite a kick.” Yes, it does! I can’t wait to review this new LP.
I kind of lost track of Taylor Locke (Rooney) since his early solo work. But he has been very busy collaborating with artists such as Linda Thompson, the New Pornographers, Sloan and composing music for TV and streaming shows. Plus, he did 40 dates as a touring guitarist for L.A. legends Sparks.“Dying Up Here,” a hooky charmer that was co-written with Bleu McAuley and appears on Locke’s new EP “The Bitter End”
Choices We Make is a timely new song from Richard X. Heyman‘s upcoming album. An amalgam of folk-pop with Memphis soul, the song is anchored as always by Richard’s drumming, guitar and organ, and piano, and festooned with a lush vocal arrangement. He is joined in this effort by wife Nancy Leigh on bass, Probyn Gregory (of the Brian Wilson band) on trombone and trumpet, and jazz saxophonist Duke Guillaume.
The Nines and FaB
The Nines “Reflections”
Steve Eggers (aka The Nines) returns with his most wistful and solemn album to date. The Nines balladry has often compared to Jeff Lynne, David Gates, or Paul McCartney. Sung and played in his home studio with guitar and piano this album starts with a gem, “Don’t Believe in Destiny” a slow simple expression of sadness that swells to orchestral levels. Dealing with loneliness is the theme here and “Breathe in, Breathe out” contemplates the moment after trauma. Like a diary, the “Song For Red” asks for a fresh start, and the acoustic “Angeline” is a heartfelt folk song with a compelling dual vocal track.
Most of the songs after this are short sketches in under two minutes; the jealous lament at the bar in “I Almost Lost You” or the harpsichord “She Is Waiting” with some sweet harmonies. It would’ve been nice to flesh out some of these a bit more, but the melodic sketches do go in interesting directions like “Linda,” where it starts pretty standard and takes a wonderful detour into Harry Nilsson land. Worthy of repeat plays and highly recommended.
FaB “This Wicked Pantomime”
This is an interesting offering from Kool Kat Musik. UK bandmates Neil Fitzsimon and Bee Brogan from Pretty Blue Gun are joined by drummer Woody Woodmansey (David Bowie) and Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello) to create “FaB.” The style is hard to pin down, but the group has a wide range of influences from The Beatles, Elvis Costello, Jimmy Webb, Jacques Brel, The Smiths, and David Bowie.
It takes a few spins to stick with you. Bee Brogan has a very distinct voice and on several tracks, it’s suits the material perfectly, like “Lost Love of the Pixie Girl” with a wonderfully catchy chorus. The bending bass line on “Desolate Angel” builds a sublime new wave ballad and the twisted adult nursery rhyme of “Elsie’s Last Stand” is another standout. The oft-kilter chords on “Seven Seconds of Summer” and the title track recall Martin Newell at his wistful best.
In several cases, the material is a little too ambitious for Bee’s vocal (“A Bullet for Cinderella,” “The Tears of Scarlet Murder”) but the songs are still fascinating. Overall, this is definitely a unique offering that deserves your attention. Check it out.
