The Nines and FaB

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The Nines

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.

Apple Music


FaB

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.

Kool Kat Musik

Ice Cream Hands and Supercrush

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Ice Cream Hands

Ice Cream Hands “No Weapon But Love”

Likely Melbourne Australia’s finest power pop band, Ice Cream Hands is exactly what we need right now. When singer/guitarist Charles Jenkins, guitarist Marcus Goodwin, bassist Douglas Lee Robertson,  and drummer Derek Smiley reunited after a 13-year absence, it was like they never left us. This is a band that knows how to write great songs, with amazing guitar melodies and soaring harmonies. And they haven’t lost a step.

The title track “No Weapon Of Love” is a bold opening statement. “Everybody got to live together, Everybody got to grow together,” a massive chorus about unity that updates The Beatles’ message of “All You Need Is Love” for the new millennium.  Next, “So Happy Apart” starts with a simple bouncy piano verse that turns into a joyful version of Harry Nilsson playing with Jellyfish. Horns add to the anthem, and a perfect guitar break makes it complete. Jenkins’s soulful vocal looks back on “Somehow We Never Got Together” as the Harrison-like slide guitar flows along. The band feels so comfortable, the songs have an unforced beauty that just washes over you.

The ballads take on a wistful tone, and “February Falls” takes on a near-religious tone, like a Brian Wilson choral. Not a note is wasted here, and “Thank You” goes through a list of musicians that influenced the band from The Only Ones to The Ramones (and Spencer P. Jones). Without a doubt, one of the band’s best albums — it will rank high on my 2020 year-end list.

Amazon

Kurt Baker

Supercrush “SODO Pop”

Like comfort food, Supercrush closely follows late 90s power pop bands like Teenage Fanclub, the Posies, and Velvet Crush. The songs are short, punchy, and filled with hazy vocals about love and heartache. Musician Mark Palm and his band (Phil Jones, Allen Trainer, Bob Reed, Inna Showalter, Greg Ehrlich, and Jay Kardong) effectively recreate that sound with a layer of shoegaze and post-punk fuzz that’s both familiar and engaging.

One issue is that the songs start to blend together a little, as they all follow the same template. A few exceptions include new wave-influenced “Parallel Lines” which could’ve been leftover from an old Ocean Blue record. The album title looks as if they misspelled “soda”, but they are actually referring to the name of Seattle’s south of the downtown business district. Recommended tracks include “Get It Right,” “Be Kind to Me,” and “I Can’t Stop Loving You.” Overall Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Dear Stella and Gretchen’s Wheel

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Dear Stella

Dear Stella “Time Zones” EP

Austrian Stefanie Drexler (aka Dear Stella) is a fresh face on the power-pop scene, but behind the smile is a crafty music veteran who’s worked with stars Kai Danzberg, Bleu, Eric Barao, and Scott McPherson. Her impressive vocal range is similar to Lisa Mychols or Kelly Jones on this highly polished debut. Not quite power pop, this is closer to pop with some rock elements.

Opening with the magical “Time Machine” (co-written by “Bleu” McAuley) it’s a tasty musical treat in the Jellyfish mold, full of orchestral swirls and harmonies. Next, “As a Child” (co-written with Matt Appleton) has a bright melody with varied instrumentation, as it opines on the loss of childhood innocence. “The Last Kiss” (co-written with Eric Barao) is a song full of contrasts; it’s a sad soulful song that boasts rich bright orchestration. The next several tunes are about letting go of relationships, very much like the themes that Kai Danzberg has explored in his recent work; “What’s the Meaning of Love?” being a standout. Danzberg adds his vocals to the finale “Let Him Go.” Overall, a terrific debut. Highly Recommended.

Amazon

Gretchen's Wheel

Gretchen’s Wheel “Such Open Sky”

The talented Lindsay Murray has been a musical force for several years now, and although her style has morphed over the years, the ethereal voice and guitar crunch has always been a potent combination. The opener “You Should Know” is a dark, compelling melody with flowing minor chords. “Interloper” starts strong, akin to a Fleetwood Mac mixed with Alannah Myles – it’s a good balance of soft vocal and hard-edged guitar.

“Infernal Machines” is another big standout, and Murray soars here. There are many stylistic subtleties throughout as Murray tends to have her instrumentals lead the verse, but the hook sometimes can get buried. Additional highlights include the melodic majesty of “Sleight of Hand” and “Shapeshifters.” This album is also her most consistent vision, so you should check it out.

Amazon

Singles, Tributes, and Freebies: Hot Summer, The Poppermost, Emperor Penguin and Orbis Max, Gal Gun, Gentlemen Rogues, Coke Belda, Bob of the Pops

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Hot Summer a new group by The Shins’ Jon Sortland and Brian Belier. “Fire And Ice” is indirectly related to the great disparities between political parties and a byproduct of shut-in pandemic isolation. Sounding a bit like The Eels to me, Hot Summer certainly is mesmerizing.

The great Joe Kane goes back to 1964 and the British Invasion with The Poppermost. It’s simply Fab! Let’s hope an album follows soon.

Emperor Penguin and Orbis Max combine for this terrific FREE single! An upbeat gem. What is not to like here?

I know little of Chicago band Gal Gun, but they’ve got some solid music here with fuzz guitars and catchy melody. Fans of Superdrag and Velvet Crush will dig it. Visit the singles of the previous months, especially “Premium” from September.

I haven’t heard from Gentlemen Rogues in a long time, so it’s good to see them active again. Nice aggressive guitar pop, with punk-inflected energy. Check it out.

Coke Belda digs deeper in the Bee Gees back catalog and it’s a reminder of how great the Gibb brothers were as songwriters. “Islands in the Stream,” originally sung by Kenny Rogers and Dolly Paton is presented here as a fine duet between Coke and vocalist Sara Depp. More Bee Gees love on Volume 3.

Bob of the Pops (Robyn Gibson and friends) plays hits obscure and common for Volume 5(!) This FREEBIE is brilliant and Robyn’s voice is perfectly suited to The Hollies “King Midas in Reverse” and Jeff Lynn’s ballad “Midnight Blue.”

The Blank Pages and Kurt Baker

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The Blank Pages

The Blank Pages “Is This Real?”

In today’s political chaos New Jersey’s Blank Pages start their new album with “Authenticity,” clearly stating that the truth is under assault, as we struggle to make others trust what is “real.”  “Hang Up” speaks to the isolation we feel, and the melodic “Your Generation” hopes our younger people can “save us all.” Bandmates Greg Potter (guitar, keys, lead vocals,)  Jason Brown (bass,) and  Ed McCaffrey (drums) craft songs with an intimate, friendly approach.

Standouts include “Nagging Feelings,” and “Uncomplicated.” The band resonates emotionally, but the social commentary songs (“Robots Will Not Win”) aren’t as memorable. The guitars come alive on “Laugh,” a terrific tune played with gusto. Some nods to ’80s pop are sprinkled throughout, so fans of The Police, Bourgeois Tagg, and Joe Jackson will enjoy this. Check it out.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Kurt Baker

Kurt Baker “After Party”

Kurt Baker’s back! After a few years on other projects, Kurt returns to power pop form with help from songwriter Wyatt Funderburk. The opener “New Direction” is a catchy start full of effortless hooks. Geoff Palmer (The Connection) on guitar, Kris Rogers on keys, and Craig Sala on drums make the group complete. Each track is quick and punchy, like an Elvis Costello/Donnie Iris hybrid as the hits pile up quickly; “I Like Her A Lot,” “Over You,” and “Used To Think” with its Beach Boys-inspired backing chorus.

The sweet ballad “Waiting For You” boasts some nice harmonies. The punk guitar fuzz shows up when needed and doesn’t take over the songs, plus the style varies to some degree with the new wave “Keep Dreaming” and lounge jazz of “A Song and a Drink.” But it’s the guitar gems here that standout; “She Don’t Really Love You, Dude” and “Should’ve Been The One.” A great album that deserves many repeat plays. Highly Recommended.

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