EP Reviews: The Unswept, Ken Fox, TEOA

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The Unswept

The Unswept “The Codependent EP”

The Unswept have shifted their style to a harder-edge, grittier sound with their new EP. “Codependent” adds major power to the pop melody and lead singer Ryan O’Brien seems to channel the spirit of Lou Reed. “Try To Forget You” is another effective rocker, fans of the bands on Rum Bar Records label will feel at home. The finale “Wonderfully Perfect Right” is a multi-layered power ballad with a welcome jangling rhythm.
Highly Recommended.

Bandcamp


The Unswept

Ken Fox & Knock Yourself Out “Ken Fox & Knock Yourself Out”

Since 1990, Ken Fox has been playing bass, writing, recording and touring with The garage rockers The Fleshtones. He sets his sites on going solo, still tethered to his old band on the opener “One Less Step”  and the hyper  “Let’s Go!” Both songs blow speakers apart and are a celebration of Ken’s independence. The punk fuzz of  “Do It!” is another gem that explains “it’s rock and roll!” The vintage beat and violins of “Love Is In the Grave” reminds one of Ken’s past with cowpunk legends Jason and the Scorchers. Enjoy this fun debut. Highly Recommended.

Amazon  | Kool Kat Musik


The Unswept

TEOA “Light Within”

Love harmonies? Then you’ll feel some magic with TEOA (aka The End of America). The band is James Downes, Trevor Leonard, and Brendon Thomas; friends who met on the road, after singing harmonies on each other’s songs while on tour as solo artists. Their sound is solid Folk, and thought-provoking roots Rock. “Monsters” looks at the world’s problems and give out a three-part cry for help. Even stripped down on “Howl,” the talent is on full display here, reminiscent of The Eagles’ “Seven Bridges Road.” This is the ground floor of a band destined to go far. Check’em out.

Amazon

The Foreign Films and Super 8

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The Foreign Films

The Foreign Films “Ocean Moon (New Songs and Hidden Gems)”

Bill Majoros (aka The Foreign Films) is back after the masterful Record Collector with something a little mellower but no less wonderful. Setting up a nostalgic date circa 1964 on “Dream With Me Tonight” it has echos of early Beach Boys innocence (without sounding anything like them.)  The subtle lead and strings of “Katie and the Crystal Hearts” feels bittersweet, reminding me of Kyle Vincent or Jeff Lynne.

The Rickenbacker strums of the title track make it the most impressive and catchiest song in the group, plus its got a lovely harmonic coda. The echoing piano ballad “Down On The Boulevard (Pinball Kid)” is another highlight that paints a dramatic memory with only a few lyrics. Each song resonates and even though the last three tracks are from Record Collector it matches up nicely with the new material. Another bonus is that this a FREE Bandcamp download, so you can try before you buy. Highly Recommended.

Amazon


Pop Co-Op

Super 8 “Head Sounds”

UK artist Paul Ryan is certainly prolific and unique. He’s got a homespun pop aesthetic and a poppy-hippy charm that can be quiet infectious at times. The opener “Dragonfly” layers several sounds to great effect, creating a nice jam melody before it shifts to an easy-going shuffle asking “If you could only live one day/What would you do?” Very disarming and charming.

Using jangling rhythms very much in the spirit of Elephant Six collective bands, “Love Like Ours” catches you and doesn’t let go. “Sweet Norah” slowly devolves into a psyche-pop jam and really takes off when that bassline begins. “Millionaire” is a funny tune about songwriting gone wrong, and “I Just Wanna Be Me” also moans about the unfairness of the music business. The second half of the album doesn’t quite carry it over the finish line, with covers of “Across The Universe” and “In My Room.” But this is definitely the most engaging Super 8 LP to date and it’s certainly music that deserves to be heard.

Amazon

Freebie Singles and LP previews: The Well Wishers, Ken Sharp, Chinofeldy, The Britannicas, Explorer’s Club, The Corner Laughers,Sunshine Boys

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The Easter bunny dropped off some wonderful music in my inbox this week. Rather than hide them I’d like to share these goodies with you…

The Well Wishers reflect on flection, hope, family, and charity…all bolstered by a four-minute blast of uplifting power-pop melodicism.

Ken Sharp is offering a message of hope for a world and sales go to the United Way Worldwide’s COVID-19 Community Response and Recovery Fund, which provides relief to those left vulnerable by the pandemic.

Chinofeldy is the brainchild of Joe Kane and Marco Rea, two of Glasgow’s most prolific songwriter/producers. Very much in the spirit and sound of classic 10cc, I love this joyous melody about just “staying home.” A FREEBIE!

The Britannicas are a musical collective; Herb Eimerman, Joe Algeri, Magnus Karlsson and Stefan Johansson. They specialize in jangling guitar melodies that sound great. A FREEBIE!

The Corner Laughers‘ new album is coming soon! Here is a sweet track to entice you to preorder.
Sunshine Boys have a new album coming soon! I love the catchy melody here, “Summertime Kids” is a winner.

The Explorer’s Club will be planning to release two (2) albums! One is a covers album represented by the Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart classic “I Wonder What She’s Doing Tonight?” – the other is just original penned tunes represented by “Ruby.”

Pop Co-Op and Dolph Chaney

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Pop Co-Op

Pop Co-Op “Factory Settings”

Steve Stoeckel (The Spongetones) is back with his collaborative band The Pop Co-Op; Bruce Gordon (guitar and keyboards) Stacy Carson (drums) and Joel Tinnel (guitar). The fact that the band members record their parts miles away from each other matters not. Stoeckel’s unmistakable pop melody comes through on “No Man’s Land” an uncannily prescient song about the isolation that fits these times perfectly. And those harmonies! The pop gem “Kissing Katy” boasts some nice drum work, handclaps, and an acoustic guitar break. Next, “Flaws of Attraction” has a quirky story-song approach similar to They Might Be Giants and lots of neat harmonic contrast.

The jangling guitar riff, and bouncy tempo of “Catching Light” recalls XTC at their most buoyant. Other songs shift statistically, and “To the Sea” is a simple ballad with Stoeckel on the ukulele that suddenly enters deep psyche-pop territory before coming back. There is enough variation throughout the 14 tracks, so you will not be bored. Highlights include: “The Price of Admission,” “Sleeve” and the odd boogie-woogie “Won’t Be Me.”  Highly Recommended.

Amazon


Dolph Chaney “Rebuilding Permit”

Chicago songwriter Dolph Chaney starts his album with “I’m OK,” a bouncy affirmation that has a homespun quality similar in approach to Chris Breetveld, but with an underlying darkness. “If I Write It Down” also feels like a therapeutic exercise set to pop music, and it’s an emotionally honest, compelling song. “The Handling” is about handling a loved one’s death through the riffs of a guitar solo, and much of the remaining songs on the album are bleak.

Another standout here is the ballad “A Good Road Is Hard To Find” where the repeating acoustic riff feels like the hangover morning after an all-night bender. The bluesy solo here is a perfect fit too. While this might not be for everyone, the emotional journey is definitely worth the trip through the darkness. It’s music that deserves to be heard.

Amazon | Big Stir Records | Kool Kat Musik

 

The Bye Bye Blackbirds and Tommy Ray!

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The Bye Bye Blackbirds

The Bye Bye Blackbirds “Boxer At Rest”

It’s been a tense time for the band The Bye Bye Blackbirds, reflecting on the passing of friends, and loved ones — the band’s founding member Lenny Gill required a heart transplant and months of hospitalization and rehabilitation. The band patiently worked on the album and waited for Lenny to recover and contribute. The result is a more personal take on loss and an extremely strong album. Add to this producer Doug Gillard (Guided By Voices, Nada Surf) and engineered by power-pop legend Chris von Sneidern, and you have a potential classic. The production here is flawless.

“You were All Light” is an excellent start, with a driving beat and heavier riffs, and notable horns overlaid onto the lead melody towards the end of the song. Lead singer Bradley Skaught and Kelly Atkins add some rich harmonies on “So True” to go with the simple rhythm and the jangle-tinged rock of “Baby It’s Still You” is another winner. The acoustic ballad “Words and Signs” bring to mind Big Star, and “Watch Them Chime” is a rare burst of optimism with its climbing major riff. That feeling continues on the 7-minute groove-fest “If It Gets Light.” It’s got an infectious beat that gives way to wild guitar theatrics. “All Our Friends” is a fitting and uplifting end. This LP makes my top ten for 2020 list, so it’s super Highly Recommended!

Pre-Order from Bandcamp


Tommy Ray

Tommy Ray! “First Hits Free”

The Cry! had a pair of great glam-styled power-pop albums over 5 years ago. Lead singer Tommy Ray’s solo LP is the long-awaited follow up and will not disappoint fans, as it keeps the gritty punk energy and layered guitar riffs with an even harder edge. “Aint No Use” sets the fast pace, a song that recalls The Damned, The Real Kids and The Only Ones.

The songs all have a fun anthemic punk quality, “Life Goes On” is a sing-along that rumbles to its catchy chorus. The storytelling aspect of the lyrics is emphasized more than the previous work. Highlights include themes of obsession and hard luck rejection on “Suzanne,” “Tuesday’s Girl” and “Take A Chance.” Tommy Ray finally turns things up a notch on “No Better Than This,” with an impressive composition and multi-instrumentation that I wish he did more often. Like Geoff Palmer (The Connection) recent solo work, Tommy Ray’s music is meant to be played loud, so crank it up. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik