Tag: Wyatt Funderburk

Great December EPs: Wyatt Funderburk, Sweetboy, Super 8, Blend Eleven, Softjaw

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Wyatt Funderburk “Fleeting and Finite” and “Parkside”

Wyatt is comparable to a “5-tool-player” in baseball. Does many things extremely well, from songwriting, playing, singing, producing, etc. He does punk pop to perfection with Kurt Baker, but I can think of very few people who have the skills to pull off a Brian Wilsonesque combination of melody and earnest romantic delivery. He gives us a double EP (one under the name “Hibiki”) Don’t believe me? Listen to “You’ll Know” and you’ll know! Get it on Amazon


Sweetboy “A Day in the Park”

Local NYC indie pop band has some amazing songwriting, check out the title track “A Day in the Park,” “Island” and the epic chorus of “End of The World.” This is a band you should keep your eyes on for future greatness. Get it on Amazon


Super 8 “Goes J Pop”

Sorry if you were expecting Kenshi Yonezu, but Paul “Trip” Ryan (aka Super 8) does a fine job with these Japanese pop covers (including a Beatles cover). Check out “Keep Doing It” with its shamisen accents. Get it on Amazon


Blend Eleven “Deepest Cuts”

This Aussie band with great sound builds everything off the 12-string acoustic strum. A cover of the classic Cat Steven’s “The First Cut is The Deepest” sets the stage, very much in the vocal mold of Extreme’s acoustic gems. And it’s a freebie to try – so pick it up, and listen to the band’s other material. Get it on Amazon

Softjaw “Softjaw”

Deceptively cool vibe on the opener “Pleased With Me” drew me in, as this Long Beach, California band has a perfect power pop approach. “Don’t Go Walkin’ Out On Me” and “Dragging Mt Feet” are pure gems. This is another band that flirts with greatness, as each song hits the mark and it’s a contender for best EP this year. Get it on Amazon

November Singles and EPs: The Dollyrots, Timmy Sean, CLONE, Wild Arrows, KC Bowman, Wyatt Funderburk

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A very big month ahead, we start with The Dollyrots, likely the coolest rock and roll parents, bassist/vocalist/mom Kelly Ogden, and her husband, guitarist/dad Luis Cabezas. They released the Night Owls LP last month, and this cool song, “Hot Mom with the Skinny Pants On,” is likely this decade’s “Stacy’s Mom.” After that, with all the hoopla over the “new” Beatles single, I found someone who covers it better than The Threetles, and that would be Timmy Sean! Next CLONE has it all: Glam guitars and a kick-ass female band. Check out “Queen” on the new EP, Knock Out Drops Vol. II. Next, NYC’s own Wild Arrows has a neat 80s vibe and a strong, catchy group of songs that deserve your attention. Then we get a very cool freebie from KC Bowman (Corner Laughers) and it’s a full album of 16 gems—so much good music I can’t just pick one song to highlight. Finally, in advance of his new LP, producer and songwriter Wyatt Funderburk returns with two singles. “November” is very subtle and light, but the follow-up “You’ll Know” is another gorgeous ballad that Wyatt does so well. More releases, and I’m behind again!




Wyatt Funderburk “Novel and Profane”

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Wyatt Funderburk is a Nashville musician, songwriter and producer. He’s been behind some of the best power pop of the past few years, producing and mixing for The Wellingtons, The Connection and Kurt Baker most recently. He’s also worked with Bowling For Soup, Linus of Hollywood and Silver Sun. But now Wyatt is on the other side of of the mixing booth crafting his first big solo album.

It’s pretty clear Wyatt has a knack for catchy hook-filled melodies and solid musicianship. Starting with the phrase “How was Your Summer?” we go on a melodic thrill ride with the song “Summer.” Next, “You Know What To Do” is a plea to girl to leave an abusive relationship, a mid-tempo slice of genius that recalls Roger Manning Jr. Each song is done with relatively restrained instrumentation and production, so the songwriting can stand out. Similar to Mike Viola or Adam Schlesinger, Wyatt twists those minor chords in each track, along with a ray of hope in each lyric. The lovely country beat and steel lap on “Feeling Good Tonight” is a welcome shift in tone, the epic “Nights Like This” gets to the heart of the album’s theme, and “Love Will Lead the Way” charms with its Tom Pettyesque rhythm and simple message. Although I felt “Try To Be” really deserved a lush multi-layered treatment, each track is a gem and it easily gets a nod for my top ten of 2013 list.

Now usually I like to wait for a full release before a review, but his one is too good to miss. Full release on August 27.

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