Cupid’s Carnival “Rainbow Child”
Do you remember when power pop’s defining characteristic was that it sounded like the Beatles? Bands like The Vinyl Kings, The Weeklings, and Spongetones did it right, and now Cupid’s Carnival firmly plants its flag in that realm again. Their 2016 LP Everything Is Love was a love letter to the sound of the Fab Four. Loaded with hooks and jangling gems, why fix things that aren’t broken? So here we are for a second helping, but the production and mixing got even a little better. And even the songwriting has improved! These songs were singles collected over the past 3 years.
While they are Beatlesque, they aren’t slavish and manage to be completely original. Very similar in approach to Andrew Gold’s The Fraternal Order of the All, the songs lean heavily on the hippie aesthetic; “Rainbow Child” and “Flower Power Revolution” manage to be Lennonesque gems. But the best highlights have a more McCartney vibe: “You’re So Cool,” Thinking About You Girl,” and the harmony-laden “Every Single Day.” Highly recommended, and it fills a slot on my top ten list for 2023.
Sony Music Japan | Kool Kat Musik
David Kuchler “Love & Glory”
Like Mike Viola or Nick Piunti, Kuchler masters the 3-minute gem with a minor chord progression but with a distinctly brighter vocal. “In It With You” is the first song and the big single here, loaded with a great power pop hook and a sweet guitar solo in the break. It’s a very high bar to climb for the rest of the songs. The songs were developed over the course of a 3-year period. The last tune written, “Labor of Love,” is a short, catchy tune that gives David a rationale for becoming a musician.
The passionate approach of “She’d Rather Be With You” about giving up someone you’ve been obsessed with is another gem, with a classic power pop song structure. After this, it’s not as consistent, but still very good. David’s vocals also lend themselves to the more country-styled “All I Need” and “Slow Day.” His inventive slice-of-life lyrics are enjoyable on the Nick Lowe-styled highlight “Lovers Talk.” The mandolin lead “This Old Car” describes the scene of junking memories of mid-life, and “Chasing Glory” gives us a spirited jangle pop gem. The effort and great songs make this highly recommended.
