Tag: The Weeklings

Happy Thanksgiving! Feast on this: The Grand Levè and holiday singles

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TGL

The Grand Levè “The Grand Levè”

Remember Longplayer? Well, Göran Hjertstedt (the lead from that band) has a new project that continues to draw its influence primarily from Electric Light Orchestra and Queen. The slow building “And Light Appeared” is a very majestic instrumental introduction full of pomp that demonstrates the rich orchestration. “Ride The Wind” is a compelling Wilbury-like track with a very sweet slide guitar over a steady strum. “Two to Tango” follows as a blues-influenced number about a love of dancing like Fred Astaire, and “All in The City” is a synth and percussion-heavy melody with all those great ELO stylistic touches.

At times music’s glossy bombast threaten to overwhelm those multi-tracked choruses but thankfully most of the songs are strong enough to let those melodies stick. “What Am I Gonna Do (Lunar City Heartache)” is an excellent mid-tempo power ballad, and the shimmering instrumental “Memory Lane” is a fitting end with its superb guitar solo that reminded me of Boston’s Tom Scholz. Overall a highly recommended album that demand’s repeat listens.

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Now have some dessert! FREE Holiday singles from Herb Eimerman and Richard Turgeon



Lastly, but by no means least – a new single by The Weeklings! Get “Running Away”

Videos and freebies: The Weeklings, Spygenius, Dominique Leone, Ancient Babies

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The Weeklings are back! It’s a new single that was recorded during the Abbey Road sessions for Studio 2 last year and has never been released. Look for it now on Amazon.
Dominique Leone sends us some wonderful piano songs with complex arrangements and solid melody. Check out “Domestic Bliss” and the rich multitracking on “I’ll Always Be Right Here.” And yes it’s a FREE download on Bandcamp.

Ben from the band Onward Chariots, has a new project called Ancient Babies with a mix of melodic rock, disco and electro dance pop. Yeah, this isn’t what I usually feature here but definitely check out the last track “Rolling Like A River” a rocking garage styled theme.

Spygenius of Canterbury, England, last album Pacéphale (pah-say-fahl) is being re-released in the USA. The band plays pop in the jangly, hooky, mold of XTC or Robyn Hitchcock and it’s accompanied by an illustrated storybook — check it on Big Stir Records or Amazon.

Holiday Music Bonanza: The Weeklings, Michael Carpenter, Vista Blue, and more!

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The first Rockin’ Christmas tune from The Weeklings is a mix of The Beatles “Revolution” and “Winter Wonderland”

Power pop favorite from the land down under, Michael Carpenter delivers a real gem here about “Another” Christmas song!

Vista Blue is back with another punk-pop Christmas. Fans of The Ramones will love this, especially Gimme! (Garfield’s Christmas Theme) and its a big FREE download for your stocking!

More gifts! Futureman Records has a FREE holiday sampler with great artists like Chris Richards and The Subtractions, The Hangabouts, Nick Bertling and many more.

The Pengwins also have a free gift for you, courtesy of SpyderPop Records – it’s Christmas Again!
Remington Super 60 is a indie-pop project from Fredrikstad Norway, founded by composer & producer Christoffer Schou. This shares a title with Mr. Carpenter’s song but is very different. Think, warm fireplace and hot cocoa!

The Weeklings and Steve Somerset’s Shadow Kabinet

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The Weeklings

The Weeklings “Studio 2”

Looking for pure unadulterated Beatlesque fun? The Weeklings are a great choice, with the sound and spirit of the legendary moptops circa 1965. Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, in the very same studio as The Beatles themselves. Musicians Glen Burtnik, Bob Burger, John Merjave and Joe Bellia are not your average cover band, as the band members have years of experience. Some have played with McCartney, Styx, Marshall Crenshaw and others. Some have even performed in Beatlemania on Broadway.

The songs are all originals with a few very rare Beatle covers. Start with the Rickenbacker strums of “Morning, Noon & Night” it is a note perfect melody down to the harmonica flourishes. The big single here is “Little Elvis” which has huge riffs and compares well to “That Thing You Do!” for catchiness. I could continue, but almost every song here kicks ass. This is above and beyond your average Beatlesque effort. Makes my top ten list, and should be in your music collection.

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Steve Somerset's Shadow Kabinet

Steve Somerset’s Shadow Kabinet “Nostalgia For The Future”

The Shadow Kabinet is the personal vehicle of Steve Somerset, talented singer, songwriter, and melodic story-teller. Nostalgia For The Future was recorded in 2013, but only now sees the light on Kool Kat Musik. Somerset’s style is solidly set in the psychedelic pop world and you’ll hear Sgt. Pepperisms everywhere.

The epic title track is a winding tale with sitar, long bending chords and Steve’s vocal is a bit like Lennon at his trippiest or a more sober Anton Barbeau. The guitar of “Angelville” continues the slow tempo with a spacey theme. “The Notebook” is a very English sounding tale about a personal keepsake. The textured “Dust Descends As Light” could have been a lost Pink Floyd track from Wish You Were Here. Additional highlights include “Lame Duck” and “The Glass Half Empty House,” but the ending track “Let It Go” is a perfect Lennoneque mind game sure to amaze. Plug in the headphones and enjoy this one.

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