Dead Billionaires - More EP

 

We loved the Dead Billionaires album, Disaster Preparedness Colouring Book. So much so that it was well placed in our Best 100 Albums Of 2023. The Richmond, Virginia Power Trio are back with a new EP. More Indie Rock with a social conscience and these 4 songs are top notch.

They call themselves Ramshackle and they are, but I wish more bands were if this is what they come up. They are a locked in threesome and certainly Guitar led. At times, they are a little Green Day, but remind me more of Tsar.

They are no heads down band, direction changes match the killer riffs and they certainly know how to offer up a catch all chorus. Slowly Shifting Change is 100mph and completely grips you. Dead Billionaires, the song, is much slower and mighty close to Power Pop another memorable chorus.

Hopes And Dreams is classic Indie Rock, a little AOR, a little Emo and lyrically adept. It would make a great single. Busted Sideview Mirror is exactly what Pop Punk should be with not a robotic talky vocal in sight. I love what this lot come up with. Catchy, yet hypnotic.

You can listen to and buy the EP here. 

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Chill Still - We're Famous EP

 

Welcome to something wonderful. Chill Still are from Los Angeles, but sound much more Brit. At times, a little like Kim Wilde fronting a cracking C86 Guitar Pop band. It does sound very Indie Glasgow in the second half of the 80s.

Vocalist, CB Yevoli has a great range and a voice that suits this type of material wonderfully well. The arrangements are spot on, melodically top notch and the riffs are stunning. A little jangled as you might expect from my description.

As well as Yevoli's impressive pipes, credit too to a locked in rhythm section and the Guitar sound reminds me of being 21 again, perfect in every way. I can't recommend the splendid riffs highly enough and they round off a really impressive debut.

The mix of synth and Jangle that makes up Clothes That You Don't Wear is top notch as is the killer chorus. But my personal favourite is the short, but incredibly sweet, Death By Palm Tree with that awesome riff and the vocals at their most Kim Wilde. I can't wait to hear more in the future.

You can listen to and buy the EP here.

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Static In Verona - Altered State Lines (Bandcamp Name Your Price)

 

We've followed Rob Merz's Static In Verona adventures from the beginning. The Chicago musician initially started off with Guitar Pop excellence, but has since developed his sound into much more of a soundscape.

The sound now is enormous and all encompassing. Still Power Pop underneath, but the arrangements are not just bigger, but cross different genres. 2022's Maybe Mayhem was reviewed here and featured in our Best 100 Albums Of The Year.

The Power Pop blossoms in the stripped down sound of Camera, but that is brilliantly counter balanced by the likes of Flood, a song that drifts more towards Modern Prog.Idle Eyes again shows of the pop sensibilities, jaunty with a big chorus, but adding surprise steel Guitar.

Big Giant instrumentally is a little 90s Rock, but the gentle vocal more Lightning Seeds and the big Drum sound works really well. Demons is heavier sounding Rock with a massive chorus. Fearful is a little 80s Rock, but another wonderfully arranged song, a little AOR.

There is great variety on display on a splendidly performed and arranged album. I have to admit a real fondness for the vast sounding songs, none more so than the title track.Static In Verona albums are always at Name Your Price, that shouldn't be seen as a lesser quality impression, more of an encouragement to sample and buy. You will not be disappointed.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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The Lilac Time - The Lilac Time LIVE

 

This year has seen a revival of favourites from our Anything Should Happen days. Artists that we would never have thought would appear on here with us all being about the new. None were more special than Stephen Duffy and The Lilac Time.

Initially, new listeners thought only of the Tin Tin days, we sort of educated them to the magnificence of the back catalogue and that may be an understated description. Never a duff album or song, we never thought there would be a Live album release. We contented ourselves with what was in the Bootleg cupboard.

So with Duffy uncovering this recording, 17 years later, is a revelation. Often thought of as a studio band, this splendid sounding show reveals that The Lilac Time where much much more than that. The show breathes new life into favourites.

Recorded at the Griffin Theatre in Hereford, days before their appearance at The Green Man Festival in 2007. These 10 songs show more of an Americana side to songs that are originally glorious Pastoral Pop. It may sound corny to say that it is a beautiful listen, but it is.

Intelligent Indie has always been our bag. Duffy deserves far greater recognition as so many of his type do. Beloved by those who know, a community that forever wants to spread the word. A lyrical and studio genius that writes and performs masterful songs.

We rarely cover Live albums, but this is essential. Members from across the band's wonderful history are present to exude the warmth and gentleness treatment of the songs. Special mention too to Pete Paphides whose Needle Mythology label continue to bring excellent forgotten gems to delight newcomers ears. I sit here excitedly awaiting next year's Care release in February.

You can listen to the album here. This is an album that deserves to be heard on physical media, shown off to friends for years to come who will admire your taste. It is available on Vinyl and CD from all good Record Shops (and online).

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Listening To This Week Playlist 22 December

 

No sign of a slowdown for Christmas as we offer up 27 songs this week. None, as is our want, about the festive period. You know our musical base camp, but as always we aren't afraid of straying into other areas.  The weekly playlist is largely for submissions, not just the usual stuff that we dig out ourselves. 

The song order is not about song preference, but how the playlist flows.  All embeds open in new windows to aid scrolling. Links to the artists will also appear on I Don't Hear A Single Social Media sites over the next 24 hours. This will help you to discover more about the artists who appear here. 

Hexham Heads - Can't Live Without You

Andrew Weiss And Friends - Knots I Can't Untie

Pretty Inside - Really Diggin' You

Esso - Kiss Of Death

Late Cambrian - Into The Lilac Tree

Sugarfuzz - Signal

Swell Maps - Johnny Seven

Chill Still - Clothes That You Still Don't Wear

Painted Vein - Left Behind

He's Dead Jim - He's Dead Jim

Alice Offley - Don't Mess With Me

Fifteen Years Later - Good Night Goodbye Farewell Good Luck

David Schapiro · Good Night Goodbye Farewell Good Luck Re-Upload

Atom Lux - Pointless Madness

Venice Treacle - Bad Aji

Linear Television - Sandy Beach

Sherbet Tone - Alright With That

Voltz - Over And Done

The Sentimental Tourists - Happy Beatle

Afton Wolfe - Rules Of War

The Let Down - On A String

Mooon - Modulation Baby

Misty Coast - Always Sun

Defiantbutterfly - It's Not just Damaged It's Broken

Defiantbutterfly / introverts Dancing · Its Not Just Damaged Its Broken

Hiram Audio Labs - Hypatia

Hiram Audio Labs · Hypatia

Bleach Dreamer - Paradise Cove

Turbocoopers - Ganar o Perder

Bevis Frond - Horrorful Highs

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Pansy - Skin Graft

Seattle quartet Pansy have offered up a cracking 5 song EP that offers variety and splits into Indie Guitar Pop and Acoustic melancholia wonderfully well. The songs written by Vivian McCall certainly show an emotional depth that is incredibly listenable. 

The opener is great 80s Indie sounding Jangle Pop. Mercy, Kill Me has an intro that is very La's There She Goes. Also a little Power Pop, It is a cracking listen. Walk Dangerous (Chaser) is much bolder sounding, more C86, inventive Indie Rock, a great joint vocal with an ace Guitar sound and a more aggressive Jangle.

 I'm Coming is my favourite here. Noisier with some almost Psych Guitar that wails wonderfully. A scuzzier fuzzy feel that works so well. All three of these songs sound more UK than US. They are an Electric delight.

By My Side is such an aching, almost heartbreaking Acoustic listen, you almost weaping. Dark Star offers up the best of both. Beginning with an almost Americana touch, again very heartfelt. But then the song morphs into something much more heavy and electric, something 90s Alt Rock.

Skin Graft is a wondrous listen. There seems a lot going on in McCall's head, all of it laid out impressively. It is intriguing, interesting and thoroughly well put together. Remember Kids that great offerings often are released well after magazine deadlines force writers to go with their Best Of Year selections.

You can listen to and buy the EP here. It is available on CD and as a download. 

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Beauty - I'd Do Almost Anything For You. (Bandcamp Name Your Price)

 

New Jersey Trio, Beauty, have been releasing excellent singles since 2018, nine in all, Seven before the album release and 2 since. Of the seven before, only Polar Bear Ice Cream makes the album, so you have a lot to go at to hear their development.

I'd Do Almost Everything For You is great Power Pop reminding you of past glories of the genre, yet adding plenty of individuality and the sound of a locked in trio. As a side issue, so many of the great Power Pop bands are Trios.

Beauty offer up the classic prerequisites of the genre, classy memorable riffs, great solos and big choruses. At times, it sounds very much like the 90s revival. at others, a little 80s AOR. It is an album that works best when songs are delivered at pace.

The harmonies are also strong and effective. Highlights include Alive Tonight which kicks in superbly, Daisy mixes Power Pop with 70s UK Glam Rock wonderfully, hand claps and all, with a superb Guitar Solo, really well put together.

Acid Baby Girl is almost Slacker Rock, a little Weezer and becomes a real Guitar-athon. whilst Let It Ring has a real Bryan Adams feel, but the whole album shouts melody through a loud hailer. A fine listen and well worth the wait.

You can listen to and buy the album here at Name Your Price.

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