Enjoy the gentle strums and multi-part harmonies of Brent Wilder. Looking forward to this LP soon, but get the FREE download in the meantime.
The prolific Richard Turgeon pens a genuine love letter to his instrument.
Ken Sharp has released the Davy Jones charity single, “Girl” b/w “Forget That Girl.” “Girl” is the song Davy famously performed on “The Brady Bunch” while “Forget That Girl” is a fantastic Monkees track featured on their “Headquarters” album. All proceeds of the sales of the songs will go to Davy’s charity of choice, the Davy Jones Equine Memorial Foundation, which benefits his herd of horses.
Justine and the Unclean are back. They are a talented women-fronted garage/punk/power-pop band with some new tunes. Fans of Joan Jett wanna hear this one.
On the soft pop side, SA Reyners delivers a single so sweet and catchy I can’t resist it. Dig that bassline! No relation to The Cufflinks (Ron Dante) golden oldie hit of the same name.
OK, I know nothing about this band except they do their best to imitate The Dukes of The Stratosphear. I give Cherry Parke credit for going there and it’s a FREE download.
The Kickstand Band makes news again with this cover of The Chiffons tune for Valentine’s Day. Wonderfully produced it would’ve fit nicely on Dana Countryman’s Girlville.
Space Engineer is the work of Sydney based songwriter Terry Lyndon. He’s got a nice mellow jangle pop sound and uses it over these mostly melancholy songs. Check it out, as its a FREE download.
Okay, it’s not a freebie, but this Phoenix, AZ trio called Action Jets has the right attitude and some decent musical chops. With a more polished production, these guys would really shine.
Neil Nathan‘s latest “Diamond in the Sky & Song of the Firefly” is a FREE preview of his newest LP. Its mellow introspective music that signals Nathan’s next creative direction.
Frank Bango “Touchy Feely”
Frank Bango was has emerged from a long hiatus after The Sweet Songs of Decay, this album was entirely funded with Kickstarter. It’s also a wonderful comeback for Bango to the positive melodic goodness of “Defenseless,” full of layered McCartneyesque touches. Bango’s nasal vocal works perfectly on the psychedelic melody “Not A Word” and the yearning ballad “Night Song” is almost like Elvis Costello. Overall a great album with barely any low points (although the ballads tend to drag), easily could’ve been added to my top 30 list. Other highlights include “Too Lazy Too Love You,” “What Kind Of Saturday” and the jangly treat “Astronaut I’m Not.” Note: I was told this is an official 2013 release – so its the first candidate for the top ten in 2013.
Neil Nathan “Sweep The Nation”
After an awesome debut, Nathan moves toward a hard rock concept album, although it reminds me a bit of Pink Floyd’s The Wall mixed with Styx Mr. Roboto bringing us a dystopian plutocracy message. The both the title track and “Jumpstart” drives the thematic melody forward, much like Collective Soul. Then “Comin’ Round The Bend” is more like classic Meatloaf. “I Aint No Company Man” has a solid KISS riff and his voice deepens as he plays a different character. Both “There Is No Time” and “Everybody Everywhere” relentlessly blasts you, almost into submission. Fans of late 70’s styled bombast will love this, others be warned it doesn’t tone down till the last track “All We Need Is So Much More.”
