Seattle's Mason Lowe is the drummer for the splendid Bread & Butter, who are two albums in and part way through a third. Morning People is Lowe's debut solo album and it is ace melodic Pop Rock, drawing from a wide range of influences from the genre.
The style is very much of the 60s and 70s, but it is expertly achieved. Songs are very much his own, they certainly remind you of Pop Rock song genres without pointing too much at bands. The album is like a tour of Pop Rock from 1966 to now.
Stoned and Cold is in Ray Davies territory, Whiplash is great UK Glam Rock with additional surprises, World Class is very 60s Top Of The Pops, think Edison Lighthouse and Christie. I Can Do Well is pre Punk Pop Rock of the highest quality and Hanging Round is fine Toytown Psych Pop.
Yet Scab On Your Arm is very Glasgow late 80s / early 90s when the city was a bit of outlier in the wave of Dance Rock that was trying to engulf all. Pre Brit Pop, when everything thing that was catchy got wrongly labelled as such.
If You Ever Your Change Your Mind is a torch song bordering on Merseybeat, it is followed by You Took A Chance On Me which is pure Merseybeat to a tee. You Got The Touch is all happy clappy, real West Coast Summer Pop. Plattered is wonderful UK New Wave. albums promise much, but
Morning People's strength is the consistency of all 12 songs. Too often these sort of albums are front loaded and run out of steam before the half way mark. Not this one! Songs that get you tapping your feet and soon picking up the sing along chorus. Absolutely superb!
You can listen to and buy the album here.
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