Tag: Dana Countryman

Brent Cash and Dana Countryman

powerpopaholic
Brent Cash

Brent Cash “The New High”

Brent Cash has been very carefully releasing finely crafted pop albums every ten years or so. On his third album, The New High Brent goes for a very sophisticated softness, on the title track it recalls Van Dyke Parks or Burt Bacharach with its orchestral strings. The great piano melody “Out for Blood” brings to mind a classic Todd Rundgren ballad, and its my favorite here. The lighter “The Wrong Thing” and “Dim Light” break up the heaviness of the earlier tracks. “The Way You Were” has a bit of McCartney mixed into its Wilsonesque melancholy.

While this is all beautiful pop, it has a downbeat and serious theme.”I’m Looking Up” is another gem with swirling chord combinations and harmonies and “Edge Of Autumn” flirts with ELO’s classical style. Highly Recommend.

Amazon

Girlville

Dana Countryman “Girlville”

Songwriter/Producer Dana Countryman has written and recorded three albums of his particular brand of “retro-pop” but now he’s taken his high-gloss template to girl groups of the early ’60s. Using a variety of vocalists he sets the mood perfectly with Lisa Mychols, Molly Felder, Kathy Hettel, Tricia Countryman, Julie Johnson Sand, Andrea Perry, Kelly Harland, and Lisa Jenio.

Some brilliant songwriting is found among the gems here, “I’ve Run All Out Of Tears (To Cry Over You)” gets the spirit and its catchy chorus stays with you. In the best tradition of these ballads, all songs are strictly from the girl’s point-of-view.  It also hits the bubble-gum style of “How Do You Know When You Love A Boy?” and “Bom Sh’Bom Sh’Bom.” Audiophiles will have a ball picking up each Brill Building cue and reference. However, with 19 tracks it could have used a bit of editing – my guess is Dana was having too much fun here. Fans of the early girl-band era must get this one.

Amazon

Dana Countryman and The New Trocaderos

powerpopaholic
Dana Countryman

Dana Countryman “Pop3! Welcome to My Time Warp!”

Thank God for Dana Countryman. It’s rare that an artist with his talent and ability devotes himself to the lost art of 70’s styled AM pop, and this is his 3rd and in my opinion, best volume. Countryman is more consistent here, the melodies are better and the shift in styles from song to song are more natural.

Starting with “Every Kiss Reminds Me Of You,” and the following songs are full of sugary sweet romanticism, influenced by Richard Carpenter, The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Neil Sedaka and Curt Boettcher. You can play a “spot-the-influence” game, but in a few cases it pulls directly. “Can’t Get You Out Of My Mind” cops the entire percussion section from The Spiral Staircase’s “I Love You More Than Yesterday,” but the bridge to the chorus here is great. “Shari Girl” is a direct sequel to The Four Season’s “Sherry,” and those harmonies are also perfectly spot on.

My favorite song here is the beautiful Beatlesque “Don’t You Know You’ll Break My Heart” with Matt Tyson’s backing harmonies. And Dana rocks out on “24 Hours With You” and “There Goes My Heart Again,” the latter with the hot guitar of Scott McPhereson (Vanilla, Pop4). Overall a great album that deserves multiple listens, its obviously highly recommended.

Amazon

The New Trocaderos

The New Trocaderos “Thrills and Chills”

Sounding more like a new Connection album (with Kurt Baker added), than anything else “What The Hell Did I Do” and “Love and Hate” feature the familiar frantic tempo and buzzing guitar riff rhythms. “I’m So Bad” is a pub rock tune about a cliche rocker who drinks “more booze than Keith (Richards).” This is fine, as some distinctive tracks stand out like “Like An Angel” and the sing along alcoholic theme “By The Balls.” Its one hell of a party album – so crank it up.

The Baker influence comes through on a few tracks like “Crazy Little Fool” and “She Don’t Know” with a touch of jangle added to each catchy chorus. Musically you get a perfect melding of the Baker-Connection sound on “Oh Boy (Today Is My Birthday).” The band finally breaks the template with the ’50s themed ballad “Love Anymore” a rockabilly croon with a sweet piano solo at the break. Aside from the unremarkable “Midnight Creep” all the songs are killer cuts. Highly Recommended and if you’re not too over saturated, Kurt Has a solo album out as well!

Amazon

Dana Countryman and The Bishops Daredevil Stunt Club

powerpopaholic
Dana Countryman

Dana Countryman “Pop2! The Exploding Musical Mind of Dana Countryman”

Dana Countryman is back! After the debut LP almost exactly one year ago he returns with a solid light pop delight. Unlike last year’s debut Dana isn’t showcasing a mix of different pop styles, he sticks with the mid 70’s romantic sound that was popularized by AM radio staples like The Carpenters, Gilbert O’Sullivan and Andrew Gold.

Dana is extremely comfortable with this style, “Baby I’ll Be Your Star” is a great theme with its crisp melody lines and sax lead, it reminded me of the Hudson Brothers or Eric Carmen. The romantic harmonies of “Just Look In My Eyes” is dripping with so much sweetness, it approaches epic Barry Manilow status. When he chimes “I wake up every morning with a Great Big Goofy Grin,” he sings this affirmation like its his life mantra. Then Dana sings a duet with Beach Boys styled vocalist John Hunter Phillips on “I’ll Get Right Back To You” and its a perfect match as Dana’s vocals are uncannily like Al Jardine — this is another winner. It can get way too corny, “Momma Said I’m Not Supposed To Roll And Roll” is an over the top fifties boogie, but its fun too. Overall, this is bright, bouncy sweet pop music that recalls the top 40 from 40 years ago. If you are a nostalgic sap like me, you’ll love it. Highly Recommended!

Amazon

The Bishop's Daredevil Stunt Club

The Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club “Veva, Hold On!”

This Chicago band is one of those rare finds where you’ll be saying “Where have these guys been hiding?” Lead by singer songwriter Billy Giricz, the Bishop’s Daredevil Stunt Club is an alternative rock band that draws influences from The Posies, Radiohead, Stone Temple Pilots and Matthew Sweet. He’s assisted by Dan Passarelli on bass, Paulette Bertrand on keys, Darin Gregg on guitar and Luke Smith on drums.

Opening with “Bob’s Yer Uncle,” you hear clear vocals, steady rhythm and solid song structure. Next my favorite track, “Days At The Pool” is a hypnotic slice of life that draws you in. Paulette adds her vocal on “Treat Yourself”as the harmonies weave into the background. “Singlehandedly” is a highlight similar to Weezer or The Replacements, but it almost goes off track with the six minute droning of “Jaws of Life.” The charming Lou Reed-like title track keeps things fun, and helps make this an enjoyable (but short) LP. Check it out.

Amazon