Tag: Wyatt Funderburk

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

powerpopaholic


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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