Tag: Baby Scream

The Shang Hi Los and Baby Scream

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The Shang Hi Los

The Shang Hi Los “Aces Eights & Heartbreaks”

The Shang Hi Los are Jen D’Angora (Vocals and Guitar), Dan Kopko (Vocals and Guitar), Lee Harrington (Bass and Vocals), and Chuck Ferreira (Drums and Percussion). Kopko knows a good guitar anthem, as he’s done them with his previous band Watts. From the opening track, “Takes One To Know One,” it’s clear that the band is firing on all cylinders, with driving guitar riffs, pounding drums, and a frenetic energy that is impossible to resist.

Jen D’Angora owns “Monsieur Valentine,” a catchy mid-tempo ballad that really stands out. “Plymouth Rock” is a rambunctious, foot-stomping anthem that’s guaranteed to get stuck in your head for days. The band’s chemistry is evident in each song, creating a sound that is both polished and raw. “Billy” adds a little Ennio Morricone, and “Victoria’s Garden” recalls a lost Blondie single. With only nine tracks, it’s considered an EP – but there is no filler here. Highly Recommended.

Amazon

Ian M. Bailey

Baby Scream “Castell de Pop”

Argentinian musician Juan Pablo Mazzola returns with a sparse acoustic guitar and a series of songs that questions the nature of life. In some ways, this is the most depressing soul-searching he has done. As a “Castaway” in the opening track his darkness “comes and goes” but on “Kill Your Idols” he plunges into the black with resignation, as he cries “Nobody’s gonna help you with your hell/So you might as well pretend you are doing well.” The tender “Back Home” adds Ky Anto and its a bright spot, plus “Chillin'” explores the joys of a quiet day.

Often I’ve compared Juan to John Lennon in approach. “Panic Room” recalls this if Lennon got paranoid and yelled, “everyone to go fuck themselves.” The gentle guitar couplet on the title track is another highlight, but the heavy emotional nature of the material might put off some. Still, this is an album that deserves to be heard.

Exile Records

New Year, New Singles: The Morning Line, Ken Sharp, Jeremy Porter and The Tucos, The Click Beetles, Baby Scream

powerpopaholic

While I plan to write several reviews about albums I missed in 2020, that doesn’t mean we don’t recognize that new music is already here. Enjoy these brand new singles from some of my favorites! 

 





The Fast Camels, Ken Sharp and Baby Scream

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The Fast Camels

The Fast Camels “Full of Strange”

The Glasgow UK five-piece band, rooted in late ’60s psychedelic sounds recalls Mod-era Who, Jefferson Airplane, Love and Pink Floyd. The opener “Blissful Serenity” chugs along with its slowly building jangle rhythm, overflowing with reverb and a touch of backward guitar. It slows down to a simple acoustic guitar on “Caught In A Dream” which brings to mind The Moody Blue’s Justin Heyward and the harmonies are strong on the flowing “Storyteller.”

The band sounds tighter overall, and the songwriting has improved from previous efforts. The acidic lyrics of “The Wedding” tell a wicked tale of a cheating bride during the reception and atmospheric guitar work is excellent. The follow up “Sordid Dreams” showcase the dark vision of how “she messed up my mind.” Another highlight is the loopy “Family Tree,” with sounds like Syd Barrett’s version of a circus. The quite ballads work well as a contrast between the more sonically vibrant songs. “Honeymoon” is my favorite here, with a power-pop riff that carries the tune along with its pounding beat. Overall a great psyche-pop album, highly recommended.

Kool Kat Musik


Ken Sharp

Ken Sharp “1301 Highland Avenue” (Reissue)

Ken Sharp has gone back to his debut album from 1994 and added more than a fresh coat of paint to a classic that’s been a Japanese out-of-print LP for almost 25 years. Celebrating the 25th anniversary of “1301 Highland Avenue,” he has remastered each track and added new sonic arrangements. 

An excellent example of power pop sounds better than ever, he opens with the wistful memory of the session on the brand new title track. You hear the influences right away, primarily The Beatles, Rubinoos and The Raspberries. Each track loaded with hooks – I don’t want to call out a single track (they are all good) and fans of 90’s power-pop should pick this up without hesitation. Trust me, you’ll love it. Highly Recommended!

Amazon

Baby Scream

Baby Scream “Just Covers”

Juan Pablo Mazzola (Baby Scream) had made several cover tunes between album projects and decided to share it with us. A few bands I wasn’t too familiar and that helped somewhat. Mazzola has a unique vocal that’s part John Lennon and part Tom Waits and it fits nicely with Aaron Neville’s “Tell It Like It Is” and Culture Club’s “Karma Chameleon.” Other tracks are good, like “Secret Agent Man” and the understated Psychedelic Furs classic “Love My Way.” Deconstructing other songs to minimal synths like on 10cc’s “I’m Not In Love” and Sepultura(!)’s “Roots Bloody Roots” makes them nearly unrecognizable. However, you may want to check these covers out.

Bandcamp only

Singles & EPs: Tommy Sistak, Telephone Lovers, Nick Bertling, Baby Scream and Vapour Trails

powerpopaholic

First, we got Tommy’s good hat — now we have “A Good Friend.”

Classic power pop guitars! “Two Dollar Baby” is what these singles cost, and its worth every penny!

Nick Bertling brings out his jangling guitars and fuzz melodies in this fantastic EP. “As One Again” is a standout!

Juan Pablo’s tortured Lennonesque melodies float into your brain on this EP. Lovin’ “Fake It Till You Make It.”

Brilliantly indie pop with jangle that will help you find “The Inner Truth.” Hey, it’s a FREEBIE too!

8×8 and Baby Scream

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8x8

8×8 “Inflorescence”

This is the third 8X8 album from duo of Lane Steinberg (NYC, US) and Alex Khodchenko (Kiev, Ukraine). The two musicians have shown from the very beginning how to make excellent music through long distance collaboration. This effort is more of a mixed collection of styles ranging from bouncy pop gems like “My Summertime High” to acid-tripping psychedelic epics like “The Essence.”

The best 8×8 work clearly falls in that psych-pop middle with the brilliant “After All is Said and Done” with its swirling organs and guitar chimes, and “Bubbles” full of layered guitar rhythms and Lane’s rhyming lyric. The strong narrative piano on “No More Second Chance” and atmospheric “Some Surreal Idea” are more highlights on this album. Without a doubt, this is music that deserves to be heard. Highly Recommended.

Buy Direct | Kool Kat Musik

Baby Scream

Baby Scream “Life’s A Trap”

Once again Argentinian artist Juan Pablo Mazzola brings us his latest musical vision with producer Nick Schinder. Often compared to John Lennon due to his similar sounding timbre and subject matter, and the opener “Life’s Better When U R High” is no exception.

The simple guitar strums are supported by light strings on “The Ballad Of Music Biz” where Juan Pablo laments he’ll “never make the cover of Rolling Stone” and other assorted depressing musings. Thankfully the tempo swings up as the lyrics get bizarrely sweet on “Climbing Down” about the joys of fatherhood. The next several songs concentrate on the regrets of lost youth, very much in the spirit of Harry Nilsson. As he says on “Midnight Snack” it’s not the end, but “life is about beers and weed.” Chill out with this one.

Amazon