Tag: Dan Israel

Anchor & Bear and Dan Israel

powerpopaholic

Naturally, I miss quite a few 2022 releases. This week will feature several of them…

Anchor & Bear

Anchor & Bear “No More Nights On The Roof”

Katy Pearson and Brian Bringelson the duo known as Anchor & Bear. I’ve been following Brian since his early days as Paul Starling, and it’s nice to find that Katy is a perfect match for him musically. “Earthquake On The 4th Of July” hits it right away, as Katy’s gentle harmonies and the catchy chorus make it a great start. The follow-up “Hospital Song” is so low-key, it loses some momentum, but luckily it picks up the tempo with the breezy “Red Letter Days” and playful “Cool Water” with Katy on the lead.

“Glad it’s Over” and “She’s A Robot” takes time to build momentum, but they are also fine tracks. The dynamic is very much along the lines of Stevie Nicks and Lindsey Buckingham (Fleetwood Mac) or Carl Newman and Neko Case (New Pornographers). The bouncy “On The Deck Tonight” is another highlight, and while it sometimes feels inconsistent – it more often hits than misses. Definitely, music that deserves to be heard.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Dan Isreal

Dan Israel “Seriously”

Dan Israel has been very active these last few years. Like a mix of Elvis Costello and Tom Petty, he weaves tales of woe and emotional frustration to a solid guitar melody. Starting with the workman-like effort of “Happy For Now.” It’s all about the nature of his pessimism, with a blistering guitar break. The title track is a bit heavier, with his Dylan-like vocals asking “Should I write another song that nobody hears?” It all seems rather sour but, “I’m In New York” is a chugging melody with harmonica accompaniment offers some relief, leading seamlessly into the acoustic “Taking The Fall.”

The album is consistently good but the best standout tracks are reserved for the end of the album, the defiant “I Quit” and amazing “Hang Of It” make this triumphant.  It did make my top 50 list (#40) last year, so do not hesitate. I would also check out his earlier album Social Media Anxiety if you are a new Dan listener. Highly Recommended.

Amazon

Summertime Singles, Freebies and EPs: Dan Israel, The Glad Machine, Golden Richards, Kevin Robertson, The Blendours, Believe It – It’s Easy, Robby Miller, The Foreign Films

powerpopaholic

It’s a hot, humid week in NYC and I am waving the white flag of surrender. Too much heat and too much music. I’m far behind on album reviews, but as far as singles and EPs we have a treasure trove of power pop goodies. I’m proud to start it off with the excellent Dan Israel single “The Hang of It,” which is a perfect highway traveling song, and he’s got a video too. The Glad Machine/Golden Richards split singles are catchy gems all on their own, and Kevin Robertson (Vapour Trails) has been super active recently, he’s got a new solo album, EP, and single. All great jangly treats. The Blendours are a duo from Iowa that resembles an acoustic Bowling For Soup, and they serve up some fun-filled folk punk. A new band Believe It, It’s Easy from Connecticut has its moments on the first 3 songs of this freebie. Robby Miller is another rookie with a hook-filled love song. Finally, The Foreign Films’ next LP ‘Starlight Serenade’ is almost ready, so here are 2 tracks early to keep you cool this summer.








Dan Israel and Fastball

powerpopaholic
Dan Israel

Dan Israel “Social Media Anxiety Disorder”

Minneapolis singer-songwriter Dan Israel is back with his 15th studio LP, and he’s better than ever. While always a reliable roots rocker in the tradition of Tom Petty or Steve Earle, on Social Media Anxiety Disorder he hits it outta the park. “Be My Girl” is a gem that blasts out the horns and guitar riffs with abandon and a solid hook that will stick in your head quickly.

Next “125” is a mellow psych-pop tune that comfortably grooves, and “Just Can’t Take It” is a catchy gem that sounds like Bob Dylan playing with Mark Knopfler. “I’m Still Lost” is a soulful examination of anxiety and facing it head-on. “Another Day” and “Alright” are uptempo rockers that resonate, and he revisits the earlier theme on “Just Can’t Take It Revisited,” and its a clever deconstruction. No filler here, each song brilliantly captures Dan’s emotions and insecurities. This LP is built for multiple listens and highly recommended.

Amazon


Fastball

Fastball “The Help Machine”

Platinum-selling band Fastball is known for smart catchy power-pop and its latest LP is another strong effort that leans heavily on the great songwriting from Miles Zuniga and Tony Scalzo. However, the musical hooks so prominent on past albums are in shorter supply here. While the quality of the music remains excellent, the mood is mainly dispirited.

The world-weary “Friend or Foe” projects a sense of angst with all the uncertainties of life. Scalzo’s “White Collar” is an early highlight, with some terrific shifting chords and tight harmonies, along with its organ melody. “Redeemed” is a bluesy mid-tempo gem that plays like a sermon with a jazzy guitar solo. One of the few uptempo tunes “The Girl You Pretended To Be” is like a bouncy early Elvis Costello song with a steel pedal country vibe. But most of the songs are lovely ballads like “I Go South” or “The Help Machine,” which focuses on that empty existential feeling as Zuniga croons “I don’t want to spend my life chasing money.” A downer, but so well done. Highly Recommended.

Amazon

 

Dan Israel and Secret Trees

powerpopaholic

Dan Israel “Dan”

Fans of Tom Petty, Dylan and The Traveling Wilburys will be quite taken by the tight melodies of Dan Isreal. It’s not that Dan is a bundle of sunshine, but he’s a music veteran with typical country-western themes of heartache and loss running through his compositions. “Be With Me” has a catchy bounce and Katie Geartys’ vocal harmonies are a perfect compliment.

“You Don’t Love Me Anymore” is a radio-ready rocker of romance-gone-wrong featuring Adam Levy (Honeydogs) on guitar and Bethany Larson on vocals. The 12-string electric-guitar jangle goodness of “Can’t Believe It” and “Lonely Too” play out like lost Wilco tunes, and overall the quality of songs is pretty consistent. Dan’s been playing for a while (this is his 13th album) and he’s definitely an artist who deserves to be heard.

Amazon | CD Baby

Secret Trees

Secret Trees “Till We Find Ourselves”

Los Angeles-based Secret Trees excel in creating atmospheric chamber pop that soothes – the opener “Beautiful Forever” is a flowing melody with amazing harmonies. Taking influences from Tears for Fears, Bon Iver and The Beach Boys – it really made me take notice.

Unfortunately the next several tracks are understated minimalism in “Some Room To Spin” and the sleep inducing moodscape “Til We Find Ourselves.” Thankfully we get back to something melodic to go with the flawless technique on “Better Things” with its sweet bridge full of strings and acoustic guitar. The roots flavored “The Sound of Your Love Breaking” and “One More Lonely” round out the best tracks. Produced with a lush sonic depth, this is a band you should check out and I hope we’ll get to hear more in the near future.

Itunes