I love everything about Vanilla. A great Pop Rock collective with a wonderful sense of humour and joy in what they do is not the only reason for my admiration. I was a massive Liar's Club fan and Vanilla took on the mantle thereafter.
The idea of writing a set of songs in the style of a year is quite unique. This began with the Vanilla 66 album last time round and 77 continues in that vein. The songs cover a wide area but all are indelibly linked by the way Vanilla never lose sight of their Indie (Guitar) Pop excellence.
These songs are not covers, just done in the style of the different genres of the year and Vanilla have a masterful way of presenting them. As with Vanilla 66, the songs were released on Bandcamp, one per month for a dollar a time. Then when enough are ready for the album, they are collated into a formal release.
A large part of the sound of 1977 is covered, The Yacht Rock of Poop Deck, the Piano Pop of Pillbox. the big Rock of The Hullaballoo, the Disco of Ka-Bang! Ramblin' Man is all Neil Diamond, , Torture Me all The Eagles.
Where Are You Jimmy? edges into Punk, a little Sham 69 maybe? Shut Yer Gob is excellent Glam New Wave with a riff not a million miles away from Sweet's Little Willy. Goodbye is family Chart Pop and Go is happy clappy, a little sickly Pop..
The beauty of the album is that every song is enjoyable with fun for the elders eeking out the comparisons and stand alone toe tapping for the generations below. My only grumbles is where is my beloved Prog, but I do hope there is a Vanilla 88. Vanilla are as wonderful as ever, a band to be cherished.
You can listen to or buy the album here.
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