Tag: Jay Gonzalez

Jay Gonzalez and The Krayolas

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Jay Gonzalez

Jay Gonzalez “Back to the Hive”

Jay Gonzalez (Drive-by Truckers) returns with a second full-length solo album designed to sink into your head with simple, mellow pop melodies that recall the early ’70s AM radio. The instrumental opener “Sunspot” gives us a clue to the time period, and the title track “Back To The Hive” follows through with an easy-going strum. The country-folk love song “(I Wanna) Hold You” features inventive lyrics like “I wanna fold you up like origami.” Jay effectively mines all the influences and still makes these songs hook-filled gems.

Jay enlists Athens, GA friends like Chris Grehan, drummer Joe Rowe (The Glands), and former Drive-by Truckers Matt Lane (drums) and John Neff (pedal steel guitar.) The album’s second half gets a little more varied, with the terrific power-pop of “Need You Round,” and its double-tracked guitar and synths. The James Taylor-like ballad “Never Felt Bad (About Feeling Good)” evokes the same moods, and “Cryin’ Through The Wall,” a dramatic tribute to Robin Gibb is another winner. Highly Recommended.

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The Krayolas

The Krayolas “Savage Young Krayolas”

We’ve been advocates for The Krayolas for a long time, and this newly re-mixed and re-mastered collection stands as proof that these Tex-Mex Beatles have the goods. These Chicano garage rockers from San Antonio rock right out of the box with the first three songs “Aw Tonight,” “You’re Not My Girl,” and “Roadrunner.” The energy and hooks are heavily influenced by the Dave Clark Five, Duane Eddy, and The Kinks (a cover of “You Really Got Me” is here too).

The band offers versatility with the Merseybeat “All I Do Is Try,” and the garage stomper “Gator Gator.” The harmony-filled “Sunny Day” compares favorably to The Beach Boys! The appealing melodies are so crisp, and if this is your first taste of The Krayolas you can look further into their catalog starting with ‘Best Riffs Only’.This is super highly recommended and stands as one of the best archival releases of 2020.

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Jay Gonzalez and Donny Brown

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Ben Wilkins

Jay Gonzalez “The Bitter Suite” EP

Drive-By Truckers multi-instrumentalist Jay Gonzalez gives us a follow up to his Mess of Happiness with a five “song cycle” EP. It starts with the hum of a theremin and launches into the bright “Light Side of the Leaves,” one of the better tunes here with its 70’s rock tone and its glossy chorus. You’ll hear influences from Bread, Todd Rundgren and even Supertramp.

Each song dovetails into the next so seamlessly, its often hard to distinguish them, but “Almond Eyes” offers up a playful ballad that is an easy favorite, and the closer “Shanarock Lane” is a solid narrative gem with nice closing harmonies that fade back into that theremin. Unfortunately some of the other songs feel a bit threadbare, but it’s still an enjoyable highly recommended EP.
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Donny Brown

Donny Brown “Hess Street” EP

Former drummer of The Verve Pipe delivers a fantastic EP that touches on the full variety of his melodic talents. Donny’s influences are closer to Brian Wilson, Paul McCartney and he reminds me of Glen Philips (Toad The Wet Sprocket) in spots.

“Lucky Number” starts out slow and pans out to a rich harmonius chorus. The “Driving Song” is a pleasant easy going highway drive. But the best songs are the magical “Bitter Rival,” like a lost Andrew Gold classic, and “The Night I Fell For You,” one of the most romantic melodies I’ve ever heard. “Call Me” is a faux 1920’s bit of flapper pop that ends things on a light jazzy note. This one sneaks up on you and is one of the best EPs I’ve heard this year.
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