Tag: The Cleaners From Venus

EP Reviews: Young Fresh Fellows, Aaron Lee Tasjan, The Cleaners from Venus, Jim Trainor, Fashion Bird Danger Danger

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Young Fresh Fellows are back with the ageless Scott McCaughey leading the way and it’s just as good as you expect. “This Time is Ours” has a rocking guitar rhythm and a catchy chorus. It gets progressively more punk as we move forward. YFF are still trippy with “Alone in a Bus.” Enjoy!

Aaron Lee Tasjan really nails on the opener “Fake Tattoo” a song that warms the heart. “My Bed’s A Mess” is another romantic pop gem, “What A War” has an acoustic folk catchiness with strings that soar. One of the best EPs of the year.

The Cleaners from Venus are back, (and its a FREEBIE) as the brilliant Martin Newell sings about timely subjects on “Statues” and the smokey “Golden Lion of the Sun” are the highlights here.

Idaho power popper Jim Trainor starts with a great Beatlesque melody on “The Only One” and the bouncy “Claire” is another keeper. The fast tempo “Grace & Beauty” keeps you moving. In fact, every song is good. Don’t miss this one.
OK, now we go for something more experimental called Fashion Bird Danger Danger. John Wlaysewski (Late Cambrian) and Matthew Milligan (Wheatus) come together for this oddly compelling pop. “City Island Shaman” is like they tossed Southern Culture On The Skids in a blender with Tears For Fears. I also liked the bleak “Part 5 of Fear” full of angular prog guitars.

Thanksgiving EP Feast: The Condors, Fuzzy-Vox, The Cleaners From Venus

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The Condors

The Condors “Joie De Vivre” EP

The Condors is the main duo of singer/guitarist Patrick DiPuccio and drummer (Sitcom Neighbor leader) John Murphy, with selected bass players filling in. The trio creates a full and energetic sound that ignites their live shows. This EP collects some singles, and will really appeal to fans of The Connection, Watts or Kurt Baker. Highlights include “Girl Trouble,” “Tell It To The Judge” and my favorite instrumental this year, “High Chaparral.”

Amazon | CD Baby

Fuzzy Vox

Fuzzy Vox “Ba-Da-Boom” EP

Fuzzy Vox is a hook-heavy trio who’d easily pass for The Hives’s younger French cousins. They’re pushing a kind of power pop that’s heartfelt, but endearingly immature. With Ba-Da-Boom the band harnesses that explosive energy on “I Fell In Love With The World” and “Eyes On You.” A bit of Elvis Costello snarl comes through on “Cold Justice.” A great little EP that gives you a sense of the band at a live concert.

Amazon

Cleaners From Venus

Cleaners From Venus “Martin Newell’s Jumble Sale”

While technically, not an EP, this is a collection of unheard/unearthed recordings dating from 1975 to present day from the great Martin Newell. Lots of stuff that I’m amazed didn’t get released elsewhere, lots more stuff that’s very much like demos. The jangling “Scarecrow Hair” is a wonderful Cleaners single. Other highlights include; “Red Guitars and Silver Tambourines,” and “The Lunatic Lantern.” Worth exploring for sure.

Bandcamp

Tony Low and The Cleaners From Venus

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Tony Low “Rendezvousing”

Tony Low, a founding member of New York’s renowned garage-psychedelic pop band The Cheepskates, is back since his Tone-Wah EP from a few years ago. The simple sing along “Should’ve Known” and strummed “The Awful Dream” are good mid-tempo songs, and the well written “Pictures Of Your Son” has nice light fuzz guitar behind the melody. The best tune here is “Hey Now,” a 4 minute fully fleshed out jam that will please fans of late ’60s era bands.

Fans of jangle pop will enjoy the Rickenbacker led “You” and the funny dance number “Do The Mikey.” A few folk-psyche pop numbers aren’t as memorable (“Flicker”) and I felt that Tony’s vocals are a bit too light in the mix overall. But it’s still very good to hear Mr. Low making music.

CD Baby | Kool Kat Musik

The Cleaners From Venus

The Cleaners From Venus “The Last Boy In The Locarno “

The Wild Man of Wivenhoe is back. English songwriter Martin Newell is one of the most prolific post-punk songwriters and he’s been releasing more material than ever before. His memories of the old girl groups is displayed on “The Crystals and Ronettes” with its Phil Spector styled approach. The lite ballad “Gorgeous Day” is a great example of how Martin makes a minimalist masterpiece.

Many of the tracks are reflections on his loves (“Pauline,” “You’re Looking Great”) and life (“English Pier”) all done economically, and similar in style to Ray Davies. The doo-wop nostalgia of “Eight O’ Clock Angel” is faithfully rendered as well as the pub atmosphere in “Victorian Doll.” Newell’s very English point of view fits this stroll down memory lane, and it’s definitely worth your attention.

Amazon