So nine years on from Everybody Loves Chris. Simply The Best finally gets properly out of the starting gate. Initially planned to be released in 2022 before the Record Plant went bust. Simply The Best is 28 minutes of Christopher McVicar allowing spectators and listeners to realise why he has been so influential across the San Franciscan scene.
McVicar's third album under the Swiftumz banner is enhanced by the Guitar work of Chris Guthridge, a partnership that fully realises the depth and variety of the duos work, But the added help from Kelley Stoltz and members of The Aislers Set, Dirty Ghosts and The Bananas add a lot to the offering.
28 minutes may not seem a lot, particularly when the magnificent Almost Through takes up almost 6 minutes of it, but so much is packed into that time and the results are outstanding, Yet listening to the opening title track would have you believe that you are in for another early Teenage Fanclub album like affair. It is a fine opener, very Big Star, but not repeated elsewhere.
Unconditional is all Glasgow C86 Jangle in a fuzz haze. For Bucher branches out with its Brit Pop instrumental opening which leads to a breathy vocal that mixes Indie Guitar riffing with something verging on experimental Modern Prog.
Falling is Indie Pop on the edge of Dream Pop, Fall Apart is late 60s Beat Pop wrapped in gentle Psych, wonderfully melodic with an ace Guitar Solo, whilst Finally Through is a strummed Campfire all together now affair. Demoralized revokes memories of Madchester.
Never Impress is expertly Twee, yet Second Take has a Bolan like whispered vocal, beautifully melancholic with added Psych Jangle and a jaw dropping solo. But Almost Through is in all ways the centrepiece, a corking mix of well ......everything. 60s Farfisa, Glam Rock Guitar solos, switching between Psych and Pop Rock with a touch of Shoegaze. It needs all of its 6 minutes.
Simply The Best is just Top Notch!
You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl (Hurry! They are selling fast) and as a download.
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