Bagful Of Beez - In Parallax

Although a fan of The Meanies, I properly first got into Lindsay McLennan via Tomorrow People and the wonderful Shining album in 1997. One look at his Discogs page will show many of his adventures, but he will be forever known as Link Meanie, the front man of The Meanies, Australian national treasures.

The band are close to completing their 4th decade. Known for Punk, there is a copy element at times, short songs that never extend their welcome. Bass Player, Wally Meanie (Kempton) is noted for Cheersquad Record, a label that is exemplary in celebrating the Australian music scene.

Link McLennan as he is known here has never been afraid of genre swapping and Bagful Of Beez are a delightful listen. Now a proper band for the second album, the first being a McLennan solo affair, the concentration is largely intelligent Pop Rock, but also a testament to his adventures across his career.

Wonkavision, for example, is glorious Psych Pop. Yet, Keep Up The Joneses is great Beat Pop. Smart Enough To Know I'm Stupid is glorious Brit Pop and the title track is wonderful Dream Pop. You now must realise that In Parallax is full of variety.

Bliss And The Abyss closes the album with a glorious instrumental, cinematic, part New Wave, part Telstar and Reach For The Stars is Glorious Pop. Odd Couple is 60s Easy Listening and Meghan Maike's sugar sweet vocal turns the slightly Space Age Fever Dream into great Pop, McLennan singing a killer chorus.

There's not a duff song among the 13 here and no song is like the last. McLennan's songwriting is at a peak. The band is a complete unit and the arrangements are inspired. The whole thing is filled with joy and underlines what a career, that McLennan continues to have. Absolutely Splendid!

You can listen to and the album here. It is available on different Vinyl versions and as a download.

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David Myhr - Everything Is About You

And finally for tonight, a review from my long time friend and Anything Should Happen compatriot, Nick Fletcher. We see each other less since he moved to Sweden, but the bond forever remains.

Swedish band, The Merrymakers, led by David Myhr released two excellent powerpop albums in the 90s, he second of which, Bubblegun, was co-produced by Andy Sturmer of Jellyfish. Thirteen years after Bubblegun came David’s first solo album, Soundshine and this was followed seven years later by the next album Lucky Day. 

Both albums are chock full of infectious hook-laden pop songs and come highly recommended. It’s been eight years since the last album, during which time David has suffered and recovered from a stroke and become a father in his 50s. 

“Everything Is All About You” doesn’t take a backward step in his quest for writing perfect pop songs. There is a celebration of parenthood with the whimsical “Doodlebug”, but nothing negative related to his illness.

It opens with four blasts of sunshine pop wearing all influences proudly on its sleeve. You can pick out Jellyfish, Beatles, Beach Boys, ELO and others, but it is a celebration of their styles and never a pastiche. The opener, “Say Yes” is probably the most Jellyfish-like solo song he has written.

“Summer Summer Summer” is aural sunshine topped off with wonderful harmonies.

Many of the songs on the album are co-written with luminaries like Bill DeMain (Swan Dive), Linus Of Hollywood and Brad Jones (producer of Imperial Drag and Cotton Mather’s “Kontiki” among others). These influences help add variety to the proceedings and the sunshine pop openers are followed by the melancholy, but oh so impressive, Brad Jones collaboration “Crystal Is Thinking Of Something”.

The album continues with more great pop songs punctuated with the American Song Book influenced “Continental Drifter”. The harmonies are ever-present and keep you engaged throughout. The album wraps up with a beautiful ballad that you could imagine Paul McCartney could have penned on a Beatles album.

It’s an album that should bring a smile to any listener’s face with its singalong choruses and sublime harmonies – every day can be a summer’s day! It is available digitally here.  Physical copies can be bought here. 

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Summer Sleeves - I'm Shelling Real Daggers

 

The third album from Seattle based Jeremy Wayne's Summer Sleeves and it offers up Classic Power Pop. Largely, a solo affair with Ethan Jones on Bass on half the songs and a guest Brass section. It sounds very 70s UK New Wave at times.

There is a real charm in the arrangements, encompassing Power Pop across the ages, real variety across the songs. There is a Costello or Parker feel to Goodmorning, Sun (Dandelions), the keys make it a little lighter feel to both, but the general feel is one of 1977.

Vocally, Wayne is aided by having a slight growl, which takes it away from the often too sweet Power Pop vocal. There is also a difference to other albums in the genre, there is no front loading, in fact the album gets better and better as it progresses. 

The keyboard sound at times sounds slightly US New Wave, but the instrumental arrangements are stellar. Tiny Violins is a rare slowing of the pace, great atmospheric Piano Pop, short but incredibly sweet. The Brass arrangement on The Hurt Can You Do is almost Revue style with a laconic vocal.

Might Have A Friend is great 70s Pop Rock, Anywhere, Anytime sounds a Little Rock and Roll and the kitchen sink production on Simple Matters is joyous. The whole album is incredibly endearing, a joyous listen that shows that music can be fun as well as catchy.

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

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Stephen Egerton - I Think You're Overthinking This

 

Welcome to something wonderful. Most will know Stephen Egerton from The Descendants and immediately wonder what Hardcore Punk is doing on I Don't Hear A Single. Well, this is nothing like Punk, a heady mix of Indie Rock and Power Pop.

It is a Guitar album, splendidly upbeat, built on big riffs, great solos and killer choruses. The quality of the songwriting, the sheer singalong readiness is a joy. At times, it sounds as if it is from the scene that followed R.E.M.'s explosion, but a much chirpier listen.

Egerton's wife treated him to four days in Abbey Road for his 60th Birthday and he utilised the time to record his debut solo album and it is a true solo album, he plays everything. He decided to use songs that just wouldn't fit The Descendants and how grateful we are.

There is a feel of Bob Mould at times, but a far more melodic Mould. There is a delightful Twang to Stalwart Figure and Roland Grace is a stunning single. The album reveals a lyrical adeptness, never more so on that song which is real storytelling stuff.

The album doesn't come up for air and there is no quality drop among the 10 on show. Bottom Of The Heart's intro hints at something more laidback, but that goes all Electric. The pace throughout is joyous and Effigy even sounds a little Rockpile. I just didn't expect this and I do hope it's not the last time that he visits Power Pop.

You can listen to and buy the album here. You can buy the Vinyl here.

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Tamar Berk - The Restless Dreams Of Youth : The Demos

 

I wouldn't normally go for a set of demos, but this is Tamar Berk. Five albums in Five Years, all of them featuring in the I Don't Hear A Single Best Albums Of The Year. She is an incredible Singer Songwriter and it is nice to revisit the album that started it all. 

She has also moved on on every single album and produced some stellar Live Performances. Even considering the joy of all the following albums, this is probably my favourite, simply because of the impact that it had when I first listened to it.

I noted at the time that we appeared to be a boys club at times and I have to think that this album changed that. So much so that female artist featured included a big female presence including Tamar. It was delightful to see and hear.

A debut album can be deceiving with so many songs at times being readied up to that point. But the back catalogue now proves the talent has not lessened as her career has progressed. She is also quite unique in the way she appreciates the attention that she gets. 

There is an earthiness to the demos, particularly on Heavy & Abusive. The demos sound even more heartfelt than the finished songs. A little more sparse, but in truth, not a million miles away from the final result. Lower key, but only the instrumentation and the production varies.

Better Off Meditating still sounds as good as when I first heard it five years ago. For the embeds, I've returned to the three embeds that I used for the original review. You hear the beginnings of the major talent that she is.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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Listening To This Week Playlist 5 October

We hit our busiest period of the year with October until the middle of November being the big time for Album Releases. But the LTTW Playlist continues to excel. The maximum 30 songs again. Concentrating largely on what we are good at, but as always adding surprises and a top notch closer.

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 those who appear here. 

Nick Frater - Mirror Mirror

The Society Of Rockets - She Lives In A Museum

Nick Piunti - Every Sorrow

Spygenius - Mr Blue Sky Thinking Blues

Tamar Berk - Better Off Medicating (Demo)

Noble - Kiss Goodnight

Part Time Signals - Green Light

My Life As A Bird - Breaking Up

Elena Rogers - Here We Go Again

Drifter corp. - Miss Of The Mister

Drifter Corp. · Miss of the Mister?

Passion By Proxy - U&I

Gentle Hen - Best Day Of Our Lives

Vanilla - No Winners Today

Homework - Heroes Welcome

David Delinquent And The IOU's - Shame Of My Youth

Heaven For Real - What Are You Doing?

Langan Frost & Wane - Widow's Bay

Charles Smith - Insane

Exploding Flowers - Information Dark Age

Max Rauch - Willowbrook Mall

Pope - Newboi

XximagexX - Nice Guy

Bill Baird - Live Creates Itself

The Tryouts - Chewing Gum

The Tryouts · Chewing Gum

We Are Dust - Be Still

We Are Dust · be still

Plastic Nancy - Beware Of The Dog

Sidewalk Driver - I Hope You Break Up With Me

Acid Smoker - Deadheads

Flamesquirrel - Funny Farm

Monolyth - Blurry Vision

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Nick Piunti - Under The Wire (Bandcamp Name Your Price)

 

I do like surprises and when the surprise is an unexpected release from long time I Don't Hear A Single stalwart, Nick Piunti. I think I've covered every album here and he was with me before the 2016 start here. It started with a Sugarbush release of 13 In My Head on Vinyl in 2014.

He's even recorded a Live Session for here. So this 6 Track release is really welcome as I get the October Tsunami wave of Reviews in October going. Under The Wire does sound more laidback, not that Piunti has ever been afraid of such.

The story telling is as great as ever, you can imagine the story in your head of many songs. I simply mention laidback, because the man is a fine Guitarist in his own right and you marvel at the riffs and solos, but this release underlines the quality of his songwriting.

As ever with Piunti's albums, there is wall to wall quality, not one throwaway song in attendance, but as always a killer song and this time it is splendid Every Sorrow is the one here. Oozing with melody and a killer chorus, you'll be singing along in no time.

I Couldn't Reach You is stripped down and Acoustic and almost heartbreaking, You're Poison feels more Americana and Slow Learning simply aches. Along For The Ride has a great twang and slight slow Jangle to it. Hope You Got High is beautifully sung and again incredibly moving with a great solo.

Under The Wire feels very pensive, creating a mood that allows you to concentrate on the lyrical strength and underlining what a Singer Songwriter the man is. I'm constantly proud to be able to listen to his songs in admiration. Absolutely Wonderful!

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available to download at Name Your Price.

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Plastic Nancy - Perpetual Now

 

Los Angeles Trio Plastic Nancy do sound a little 60s Psych at times, wonderfully so, songs hit a groove that is hypnotic. Named after a line in Love's The Daily Planet, there is a 1967 feel at times. They don't really sound like anyone else, yet the variety reminds you of what's gone before. No criticism as 70 years on, all music feels the same.

The variety is exemplary and welcome, but the overall sound is something heard less these days. For instance, Runaway sounds like a mix of Surf and Rhythm And Blues, yet the short closer, Ego Vampire, is wonderful shouty heavy Noise Rock.

Elsewhere, the organ on Love Over Dose reminds you of The Doors, although the song itself is more Psych. Jukebox Heart has some wonderful Steel Guitar on it and does feel very Country Rock. Echoes Of Laughter comes across as slightly The Coral, it has a sort of Scouse twinge.

You may have heard Beware Of The Dog on the LTTW Playlist and it is a great song, pacy, bouncy even and as near a hit single that they might get. There's even room for a groovy 60s Film Soundtrack like instrumental in Chocolate Box.

Hanging In The Balance is a moody brooding joy and In The Breeze has a wonderful Peter Green feel Guitar wise and yet bursts into a killer chorus. Perpetual Now is definitely Psych, but very accessible Psych, a mood is created that sucks you in, making you not want to leave.

You can listen to and buy the album here. The album is available on Vinyl and as a download.

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