Tag: Diamond Hands

Diamond Hands and Roger Joseph Manning, Jr.

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Diamond Hands

Diamond Hands “Cookie”

The duo of Jon Flynn and Joel Wall returns for a very different follow-up to 2021’s Thank You.  The band has taken a slightly different direction, as “I Want You” opens with a tropical, almost Sugar Ray-like tune and the surf guitar washes over you like a day at the beach. “Won’t Go Down” features bursts of post-punk guitar, and then “Fruit Trees” jangles along to a catchy melody (and my favorite tune here).

The album takes plenty of chances stylistically, with the dream pop of “Open Your Eyes,” the mid-tempo “Don’t Wanna Start Again” with its elegant strings, and “Take You Home” echoing Marc Bolan’s breathy vocals. My only pet peeve is that there isn’t a song in the second half that stands out among the pack. This seems more like a transitional album, but it’s still a good one. It’s music that deserves to be heard.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Roger Joesph Manning, Jr.

Roger Joesph Manning, Jr. “Radio Daze & Glamping”

Rather than release a new EP, Roger added four new tracks to 2018’s independently released Glamping and included eight bonus tracks with live and instrumental songs. The new material is good. Opening with the piano bounce of “I Feel Good, Bad, Fine” sets the mood nicely with a touch of boogie. “Rockin’ It Our Way” is the Jellyfish-styled rock fans have come to expect from him, with soaring chords and harmonies. “I’m Starting A Band” and “On Our Way To The Moon” have Roger looking back on his career a bit with his impressive falsetto. “We’re so in demand,” he sings in the former. While very good, these songs are stretched out past the five-minute mark and aren’t that sticky.

I previously reviewed the other songs, and the live tracks are nicely done. If you are a completist or you never bought the previous EP, then I’d pick this one up. Roger remains one of the most sought-after musician-producers in the business, and this LP proves he hasn’t lost any spring in that step. Fans should also not forget his great work with The Lickerish Quartet. And hopefully, more new music is on its way.

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The Harmony Motel and Diamond Hands

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The Harmony Hotel

The Harmony Motel “Topical Depression”

Stanton Hall (The Zags) takes a detour from his band to this wild diversion. Starting with the electro-funk instrumental “The Plan” it goes into “Played By The Game” a compelling slice of piano pop akin to Ben Folds combined Bowie and add in some prog-pop elements. Next is the chugging beat of “Gettin’ Started Late,” it’s another winner that delivers a strong chorus before it leads to the sleepy synths of “Faces” which reminds me of Godley & Creme’s arty pop. “Mushrooms” is a bit of filler (with Hazel H rapping) but better is the impressive composition of “Comment Comment” and “Topical Depression” with its western slide guitar that morphs into a waltz. Some of these songs work, and a few don’t, but overall the experience proves that Stanton’s Harmony Motel is worthy of a visit. Come and stay awhile.

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Diamond Hands

Diamond Hands “Thank You”

After three retro gems and some solo work, the duo of Jon Flynn (“Citrus”) and Joel Tyler Wall (“Green Wave”) join forces again for Thank You. And the retro-pop influences of previous entries are more in the background here, as Diamond Hands creates a more timeless sound. Similar to those Elephant Six bands of the late ’90s, they include elements of psych-pop and baroque folk.

From the start “The Magazine,” has a hook that keeps you engaged and a chorus that hums along, and  “She’s An Alien” enjoys a crunchy jangling lead and its fascination with beautiful women. There seems to be no single track that stands out as it’s all consistently good from top to bottom. From the aching vocal of “Out of My Head” or the slide guide chord progressions of “Runaway,” it’s a treat. It does get heavier (glam?) with “Ziggy,” and the tempos slow down towards the album’s second half. Overall a highly recommended album that further solidifies Diamond Hands as one of the best power pop bands around.

Kool Kat Musik

Diamond Hands and Paul Melancon

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Diamond Hands

Diamond Hands “III”

LA musicians Jon Flynn and Joel Wall have done a great job of getting people hooked on their ’60s drenched power pop. In 2016 they released a free debut, brilliantly constructed; their sound was like The Byrds, Monkees, and The Move all combined. They followed this up with “II” another free full-length LP that continued the melodies in 2018, so by the time “III” was ready I was eager to lay down my cash for this one. It was recorded last year but released last month.

The Rickenbacker strums have added muscle on “Sleep Too Long” with California references and a killer hook. “Tomorrow Can Wait” has an echoing jangle and is very similar in style to The Above. The ballads are just as infectious, like the Beatlesque “Any Other Girl.” You’ll have a fun time trying to play spot the influence on most of these songs. While very strong, the songs don’t surpass the gems on “II.” But they come close, and there isn’t a note of filler here. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Paul Melancon

Paul Melancon “The Get Gos Action Hour!”

Atlanta musician Paul Melancon and his band “the New Insecurities” take the persona of a late ‘60s Hanna-Barbera cartoon show, but other than the quick intro theme, it isn’t sugary bubblegum. This is an album about a journey.

“Permanent Makeup” is a great song about the lies we tell ourselves, and it includes a dense guitar break between the catchy verses. The narrative is a tale of struggling to deal with a dark reality, “This Shaky Lullaby” is a warning to listeners to “please don’t follow,” as it effectively leads us down the rabbit hole. “Hyperventilate” is a Jellyfish-like tune that describes a panic attack, and one of the best songs on the album. The next several songs deal with self-exploration and facing those demons, a notable example “Fitzcarraldo” about Werner Herzog’s obsession to complete his film with swirling synths in the melody. Next, “Mareación” is an 11 minute, 4-part epic trip that goes from folk to prog rock, and back. The aftermath is dealt on “Here and Now I Was” and the catchy finale “The Answer Is Yes.” Overall a strong emotional album that challenges the listener. I recommend you check it out.

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Freebie Friday: Mitchell Adam Johnson, Diamond Hands, Vista Blue and The Tomboys

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Mitchell Adam Johnson is a Minneapolis artist with impeccable taste in chamber pop, using classical composition and an ethereal vocal on the opener “Through A Mood Indigo.” Akin to Elliot Smith or Bell & Sebastian in approach, the melodic “Keeping Secrets” is a soothing gem that sticks with you through its carnival atmosphere.You are bound to find a favorite ballad here. The instrumentation is also top notch, check out “At Another Stop,” “Losing Sleep” and the rich piano melody on “Tourniquet Love” reminded me of Pet Sounds a little. Highly Recommended and a FREE download.

Diamond Hands made my top album list last year and was definitely one of the best free albums then, so here we go again! Written, performed and recorded by Jon Flynn and Joel Wall, it is a pure pleasure to hear the opener “PCH (Pacific Coast Highway)” with its rich, layered chorus. Hints of The Beatles, psyche-pop and other power pop influences are all over the LP. Great examples are “Now or Never,” “San Francisco,” and “Nowhere” all have lush harmonies and layered rhythms with tinkling piano flourish. And the 60’s styled garage guitar comes out on “Caught Up In A Memory,” it could’ve been a lost hit for The Animals or The Stones. The power pop blast of “Underground” and “Not Sorry” cranks up the energy too. Highly Recommended and a FREE download.

Vista Blue remains a very reliable contributor to our Freebie posts. The band plays sports themed punk-pop in the tradition of The Ramones. They also have a recent single I liked “Why Doesn’t Jimmy Wanna Play?” The new LP “End of The Season” features nine tracks, each representing an inning of a baseball game. You can read the whole story on the band’s Bandcamp page, where you’ll also find a full scorecard from the game as a free download with the music.

For fans of 80’s styled power pop, The Tomboys are back with Vol.3,  download the album free on their website. Check out “Two in Love” and “Tonight.”

A shout out and Diamond Hands

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The amount of music I missed this year is staggering, and its been sensory overload with lists from my fellow bloggers. A big thank you goes out to my fellow active music critics in the power pop community who made year-end lists; Absolute Powerpop, Pop That Goes Crunch, Pop Fair, Power Pop Station, Alan Haber’s Pure Pop Radio and of course, IPO’s David Bash. Note the albums that appear in all of our lists, these are the gems you should get first. My goal is to check out and review some of the higher ranked LPs that I missed or just didn’t review in 2016, until the 2017 releases pour in.

 

 

The Unswept

Diamond  Hands “Diamond Hands”

By far it seems one of the biggest releases I missed was this debut album from the band “Diamond Hands.” This L.A. band is the duo of Jon Flynn and Joel Wall and they have an uncanny knack for melody and retro-influenced instrumentation all under 3 minutes. “Not The Same” brings the jangle and hook to the front and the follow up “Maybe Tomorrow” is even better with its Beatlesque chorus and tight harmonies. They break out the cowbell for the Raspberries-like “See You Again,” even though lyrically its very basic. So many highlights here, “Just Another Day” brings back the Rickenbacker and the rolling piano on “Come Home” is like RAM-era McCartney. No filler – all killer here. It would’ve been wedged into my top ten and its a FREE download, so no excuses – get it now!

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