Graham Gouldman and Quincy

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Graham Gouldman

Graham Gouldman “Modesty Forbids”

Graham Gouldman (10cc) easily one of Britain’s most successful songwriters, and even at 73 going strong. “Modesty Forbids” is a highly enjoyable album that touches many biographical themes. “Standing Next To Me” is all about playing in Ringo Starr’s All-Star Band, and bonding with him on a personal level. Gouldman’s prowess is on full display with the hopeful “All Around The World” and the jangling mid-tempo gem “What Time Won’t Heal.” Many highlights here, “Wake Up Dreamer” is perfect adult pop and offers some wisdom to the younger generation. And he’s still the master of romantic melody with “Waited All My Life For You.” While you do get some indulgent moments, overall this is a fantastic album. Highly Recommended.

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Quincy

Quincy “35 Years On”

Born in the 1980s New York new wave scene, Quincy was formed by Brian Butler (vocals), his brother Steve (guitar), Gerald Emerick (vocals, bass), Metro (keyboards), and Bob Holden (drums). They released a single album with Columbia Records that was criminally overlooked and promptly vanished. Brian and Steve Butler moved on to form Smash Palace in 1985, but they never forgot their old band.

Despite it all, 35 years later they still rock! “Liberty Bell” is a jangling gem of epic proportions, and the other tracks are just as infectious. “Innocuous” is full of catchy harmonies and the Kinks-like “A Get Well Card From The Devil” will carry you away. The album includes two tracks recorded live in 1979 at CBGB’s. Highly Recommended.

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Tributes and Covers: Tom Petty, Paul McCartney, Adam Schlesinger, Hanson, Brittany Spears

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Thanks to singer/songwriter/producer Andy Reed we have this wonderful Tom Petty tribute. All proceeds from sales go to raise money for All Music Is Power (AMP) a non-profit that brings music to special needs facilities across the State of Michigan. I honestly only recognize a few artists here, but they are all talented and the music is really good.


A very merry indie tribute to Paul McCartney. Features artists such as Catina Ann, Scott McPherson, Dana Countryman, KC Bowman, Ray Paul, 3rd Street Chaos, Keith Spinney, Keifer, May Chow, and Thunder Wheel. I love Coke Belda’s “Uncle Albert​/​Admiral Halsey” and KC Bowman’s “Man We Was Lonely” (sounds like members of The Corner Laughers are all involved here.) A big thanks to Texan Keith Spinney for putting this together.

Aussie musician and producer Michael Carpenter is revisiting some newer “oldies” that most Millenials grew up with. Check it out!



As part of the New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund’s “JERSEY 4 JERSEY” benefit raising funds to fight the impact of COVID-19, the surviving members of Fountains of Wayne reunited for their first live performance in seven years to pay tribute to songwriter, bassist, and vocalist Adam Schlesinger, who passed away a month ago today. The band’s Chris Collingwood, Jody Porter, and Brian Young were joined by acclaimed singer-songwriter and New Jerseyan Sharon Van Etten to fill in on bass and backing vocals on the 2003 Fountains of Wayne song “Hackensack.” Purchase “Hackensack” here

 

Muck and The Mires, Pictures of Vernon, Sandbourne Rd

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Muck and The Mires

Muck and The Mires “Quarantine​-​Age Kicks”

Boston’s Muck And The Mires are a group of rockers that combine the early Beatles and Ramones, then mashes it up into a groovy garage beat. Lead singer “Muck” has a distinct vocal, like a cross between Randy Newman and Ian Hunter and keeps things moving to great effect. This is a special compilation put together by Bar Rum Records. “This Town Makes Me Feel So Lonely” is an immediate “hit,” and “Next Door To Me” has a catchy riff, handclaps and recalls the Bobby Fuller Four. A pair of songs were produced with the legendary Kim Fowley, and “Double White Line” is the gem from that session. “Lesley” is a loving tribute to ‘60s pop star Lesley Gore and there are a few rockabilly tunes. The pace is fast and the songs are short, so if you are looking for a quick boost to your mood, this will fit the bill. Even “Little Steven” Van Zandt crowned them a #1 Garage Rock band, so yeah… highly recommended!

Kool Kat Musik


Pictures of Vernon

Pictures of Vernon “bug”

North Carolina band Pictures of Vernon, is the trio of Daniel Gorham (Guitar/Drums,) Anderson Ragan (Guitar,) and Brody Rogers (Bass.) Think Weezer as a starting point. Opening with “Leaving” it chugs along on layered guitar riffs, handclaps, and harmonies. The songs often pause to change direction from quiet to loud, and “Hear Me” is another standout with the plea “It would feel so damn good if you could hear me.” Songs like the gentle bedroom pop of “White Rabbit” are contrasted by the harder riffs of “Kickflip Luis’s Roof Gap.” Not everything sticks, but enough does. This is also a “name-your-price” download, so it’s definitely music that deserves to be heard.

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Sunbourne Rd

Sunbourne Rd “Teenage Lyrics”

Sunbourne Rd is a talented dude from Northern Italy with influences that include John Lennon, Paul McCartney’s Wings, and ELO. The opener “Baby! Baby! Baby!” is a riff fueled standout that compares well with a band like Radio Days or Cirrone. “Different Life” and “Fire From The Sun” are  Lennonesque mid-tempo songs but “Joke In A Can” gets a little more in Sgt. Pepper’s territory, before it shifts to heavier ’70s styled rock sound. The power ballads “Last Time” and “Long Lost Afternoon” show off some impressive techniques similar to ELO. This short album was an impressive debut, so I look forward to hearing more. Check it out!

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EP Reviews: The Lickerish Quartet and a new interview with Roger Joseph Manning Jr.

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The Lickerish Quartet

The Lickerish Quartet “Threesome Vol. 1” EP

It’s been almost 30 years since former Jellyfish bandmates Roger Joseph Manning Jr., Eric Dover, and Tim Smith worked together on Split Milk (1993) but they’ve been teasing a semi-reunion for several months now. Well, the wait is over, and the three are now under the name The Lickerish Quartet. While it isn’t Jellyfish, it will be close enough for most fans of the revered cult power-pop band. Manning told me that there are no big egos in this project and the trio equally contributes to all the songs here.

The spritely “Fadoodle” starts the EP and it’s the most Jellyfish like tune here, a Dover-written gem that bounces along with lustful glee. Manning’s “Bluebird’s Blues” is next, a mid-tempo ballad that has all the layered sonic details building as it slowly veers into Jellyfish land toward’s the song’s end. “There Is a Magic Number” is distinctly different, a slower tune with twangy guitar and swirling synths. The EP ends on a 6 minute plus epic “Lighthouse Spaceship.” With a commanding glam guitar riff and a memorable melody in the chorus, it almost heads into Imperial Drag territory, before the piano coda fades in and the psychedelic details build-up towards a satisfying end, including a little “I am The Walrus” styled chorus at the fade. Overall a smartly detailed EP that will have fans salivating for more. Makes my top EP list for 2020, and Highly Recommended!

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Interview With Roger Joseph Manning Jr.

Despite some technical difficulties, I was able to speak with Roger about the new band, and the challenges of making this EP. Plus a preview of what’s coming next after Threesome, Vol. 1 including his next solo EP. Hopefully, the audio player will load below…

Lickerish Quartet

Diamond Hands and Paul Melancon

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Diamond Hands

Diamond Hands “III”

LA musicians Jon Flynn and Joel Wall have done a great job of getting people hooked on their ’60s drenched power pop. In 2016 they released a free debut, brilliantly constructed; their sound was like The Byrds, Monkees, and The Move all combined. They followed this up with “II” another free full-length LP that continued the melodies in 2018, so by the time “III” was ready I was eager to lay down my cash for this one. It was recorded last year but released last month.

The Rickenbacker strums have added muscle on “Sleep Too Long” with California references and a killer hook. “Tomorrow Can Wait” has an echoing jangle and is very similar in style to The Above. The ballads are just as infectious, like the Beatlesque “Any Other Girl.” You’ll have a fun time trying to play spot the influence on most of these songs. While very strong, the songs don’t surpass the gems on “II.” But they come close, and there isn’t a note of filler here. Highly Recommended.

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Paul Melancon

Paul Melancon “The Get Gos Action Hour!”

Atlanta musician Paul Melancon and his band “the New Insecurities” take the persona of a late ‘60s Hanna-Barbera cartoon show, but other than the quick intro theme, it isn’t sugary bubblegum. This is an album about a journey.

“Permanent Makeup” is a great song about the lies we tell ourselves, and it includes a dense guitar break between the catchy verses. The narrative is a tale of struggling to deal with a dark reality, “This Shaky Lullaby” is a warning to listeners to “please don’t follow,” as it effectively leads us down the rabbit hole. “Hyperventilate” is a Jellyfish-like tune that describes a panic attack, and one of the best songs on the album. The next several songs deal with self-exploration and facing those demons, a notable example “Fitzcarraldo” about Werner Herzog’s obsession to complete his film with swirling synths in the melody. Next, “Mareación” is an 11 minute, 4-part epic trip that goes from folk to prog rock, and back. The aftermath is dealt on “Here and Now I Was” and the catchy finale “The Answer Is Yes.” Overall a strong emotional album that challenges the listener. I recommend you check it out.

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