Dear Boy - Celebrator

 

Los Angeles quartet Dear Boy may have just signalled the return of Brit Pop, Not the show off magpie headliners, but the great Pop Rock that lay underneath in spades. We have always identified with that wave and it is probably why the new Supernaturals album has spent so long in our Top 10 most viewed reviews in the past few months.

The genre marked a return to Guitar bands selling out venues and the live scene was revived, particularly here in the North West. It was all about melody, memorable choruses and killer choruses and there is loads of that here on Dear Boy's second album.

There are wall to wall anthems that are beautifully produced and arranged. Songs that you can't help singing along to. But the band aren't afraid to branch out. For instance, Kelly Green sounds wonderfully Madchester, a little Weatherall dancey.  The title track follows a similar direction.

The Address goes even further back to the post C86 years and again shows the versatility of the four, the song is all beats. There is even a nod to the big album closer noted in Brit Pop songs with the mesmerising Daylight Savings.

But for all these inventive departures, it is the Pop Rock that grabs you the most. Now More Than Ever rips in with a big Guitar solo, a cracking song that you will hear on next week's Listening To This Week, a submission that led me to the album.

Wanderlow eases in with a slight Lightning Seeds vibe After All reminds me of the unsung Brit Pop bands such as Straw and Octopus. Inevitable is another genre joy. Dear Pop do sound very UK at times and this is a splendid example of how life affirming Pop Rock can be in the right hands.

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

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Rich Restaino - Mostly We Lie

 

My great friend, Dennis at Poprock Record is a big admirer of Rich Restaino and I do love how Mr Pilon comes at music from a different angle than most. You just get so busy handling what comes in that you can forget to look at what peers are up to. 

So when Rich got in touch, I felt that a deserved listen was in order. He got in touch about this and since then, he has released a solo Piano retrospective which is a great listen, but I felt that you lot my be more interested in the much wider angles he takes and this EP from earlier this year is a great example.

These six songs are very varied and each works beautifully in very different areas. Electric, but restrained. Man Has Shit For Brains is incredibly Randy Newman, yet Drunk Punk In The Afternoon is top notch 80s Indie, almost IRS.

Most We Lie gets more West Coast, a little Petty-esque at times with a cracking riff to accompany it. Yet, Every Cliche You've Ever Hears is more Americana. Life Is Losers is much more Pop, but Don't Fall Asleep On Me Just Yet is a Jazz shuffle. Restaino offers up great variety and depth and an investigation into his back catalogue is highly recommended.

You can listen to and buy the EP here.  

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The Violet Twilight - Fate Illuminate

 

I covered The Violet Twilight's debut album, Above The Cloud, here and then the quickly following EP, Cicada here. This has been the third EP since then and Tim Butcher still sounds as great as ever. His Psych Pop is such a more interesting listen than some of the blandness the genre produces in Ox.

Fate Illuminate is wonderfully melodic, built on memorable riffs and soundscapes. His mellow vocal works beautifully with the arrangements. He can take different avenues, but here he demonstrates the strength of his Guitar playing but there are surprises. 

This will be classed as an EP, but at 22 minutes, it is more of a mini album. The Psych Pop is splendid as you might expect from such a master. But there are two songs that show off other skills. What's Behind Those Eyes gets really close to Brit Pop with Pop Rock excellence.

I Don't Care is more of a Classic Rock strum and just as effective. Fans of his Psych pop will be delighted with Better Than You specially. He just rolls these songs out with such skill. I know few as strong as Butcher is in the genre. 

You can listen to and buy Fate Illuminate here.

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Cream Soda - Serving You

 

There's something really refreshing listening to an album of such intensity and energy from a band in their late teens when so many of their age are stuck on mobiles, Tik Tok and Snapchat. Being at the other end of the age range, I can appreciate historical sounds, many that these three may never have heard of, in what they do.

Cream Soda hail from Medway, but don't expect The Medway Sound, this is loud brash earth shaking stuff and it is wonderful. Certainly, a Power Trio that are not intending to come up for air regularly. Serving You is really noisy, but also incredibly engaging.

There are so many influences to note. Punk is certainly one, but not the mindless type. There are also hints of New Wave, Rhythm lines that compare to early Jam. But there is also a 60s vibe of Garage Rock, Breakbeat and UK Beat.

At times, they are very Canvey Island R and B, an even more aggressive Dr Feelgood perhaps, but for all the up and at 'em attitude, the choruses are memorable, almost football anthemic and these three can play, locked in perfectly.

There's also comparisons to the Noise Pop of the mid 80s and hints of Power Pop, though I'm not sure fans of that genre would necessarily pick them out. This is certainly more aggressive than you might expect from us, but the whole album is a joy, a ball of pent up energy.

Don't expect any ballads, but you can imagine what a great live act Cream Soda are and any band that can get as heavy as they do on the magnificent Submerged Affair are worth the admission alone. Songs of the Street these may be, but they are not dissimilar to my youth. Hey HeyRay Ray could easily have been recorded in my teens and even a decade or more earlier than that.

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

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I Was A King - Until The End

Norway's I Was A King have regularly chosen interesting Producers. This time round it is Bill Ryder-Jones and that is a really wise choice for the more ethereal Pastoral Pop they regularly come up with. The band's beautiful arranged songs are lovingly recorded.

But lest we forget, there is more to I Was A King than just stunning heart melting Indie Pop. They have what could almost be an alter ego. One listen to Sleepless Nights and the fascination with Teenage Fanclub breaks out. It is pure early TFC, all distorted guitar glory.

Pool Painted Black follows suit and you realise how good they are at the noisier stuff. The closer, Until The End, edges towards modern day Fannies, wonderful Jangle Pop with a superb violin interlude. Mainstays Frode Strømstad and Anne Lise Frøkedal share vocals on a delightful song.

But you just cannot ignore the moodier, slower songs which are crafted to perfection. Dust Bunnies is pure Dream Pop with a magnificent String arrangement, it just melts your heart. Falling is Piano led and so so fragile, you now feel that your hear is gonna break.

November is a big piece of work, approaching 6 minutes, it builds and builds and broods and broods, without ever breaking out, adding an instrumental soundscape to the close. A mesmerising listen. The Birthday Song is a little Folk, Americana even and dare I say it, there is a hint of The Coral.

House Warming is pure C86 UK Jangle, all jaunty with a slight Psych Pop feel to the chorus. Until The End is quite a special listen. I Was A King mix the melancholic with the rock out so well. A band with many directions, but all of them equally great.

You can listen to and buy the album here.  Sadly, the Vinyl has now sold out. Hopefully, there will be a reissue.

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Listening To This Week Playlist 20 October

 

A little earlier than usual. We keep saying it, but the song quality just doesn't let up. 27 songs this week and it's another belting LTTW. As well as the traditional version, we have put the playlist on Spotify and you will see the link below.  24 of the 27 songs are available on Spotify. 

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. 

The Spotify Version    

Link To Spotify     (3 Songs are not on Spotify)

Amateur Ornithologist - Swing Around

Motion City Soundtrack - Particle Physics (Feat. Patrick Stump)

Buddie - In The Glass Shell

Cherry Fez - Superexcited

Asian Cowboy - Anomaly

Greg Pope - Fallen Star (Not On Spotify)

Late Cambrian - Into The Lilac Tree

Ray Romijn - I'll Be There

Surf The Pines - Lost And Found

Surf The Pines · Lost & Found

A View Of Earth From The Moon - Emerson And Henry David Thoreau

This Silent Divide - Secret Path

The James Rocket - Chip (Not On Spotify)

No Lonesome - Good Hurt

Shaw's Trailer Park - Pretty Hat Club (Not On Spotify)

also-ran - When

Bird Streets - Everyonewelovewillgoaway

The Origin - So You Think You Can Necromance?

The Goodbye Radio - We Love You, Glasgow

Tom X. Chao- Culture Jamming (Love Theme From The Negative Energy Field)

The Webstirs - When It's Gone

Sean Griffin - Rocks Off

The Gnomes - I'm Not The One

Max Norton - The Breakers

Alejandra O'Leary - Doubtless

Citrus Citrus - Sushi Sushi

Billy Tibbals - Rock n Roll Kids

Dreamwave - Moon Buggy

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Benny J Ward - Super!

 

The reaction to Scratch That Itch on the current Listening To This Week didn't surprise me. What did was how many didn't know who Benny was. The Rinehearts front man is an Oz legend and a long time key player in the Perth scene.

18 months or so ago, Ward started to release singles, 8 in all to the point of the album release. These and 3 others are gathered on this debut solo album. It is a lo-fi joy, a little like a history of Power Pop, although largely feeling very 60s UK and Garage Beat.

Self recorded, faithfully so, it underlines what a fine songwriter the man is and how he mines his influences. TELEVISIONS! is deliciously UK New Wave, but also gets a little left field instrumentally. Tell Me Tell Me is ace Garage Rock with big hints of Jangle and Twang.

Ice cream Headache is a crackerjack of a song. A real all together now affair on the chorus. It mixes a Rock and Roll feel to Garage Psych Pop wonderfully. Back To Bed enters Jangle Pop and Flight Of The Navigator is top notch UK Beat with a Glam Rock Drum stop.

I Didn't Mean It was made to be performed at a Speak Easy and Nest In Your Head is splendid Psych that matches anything around now. It is my favourite thing here, but many of you know how much of a sucker I am for this type of stuff. 

There is an interesting cover of I Only Wanna Be With You, more like The Tourists than Dusty Springfield, but rocked and jangled up beautifully. Super! is a great listen and you do wonder why it has taken Ward this long to release a solo album because this is great.

You can listen to and buy the album here. The album is available on Vinyl, CD and as a download. The CD is on the Kool Kat label and can also be purchased here.

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Motion City Soundtrack - The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World

 

I've said many times that as Pop Punk and EMO bands have progressed, they have developed into the likes Of Indie Rock and even Power Pop. Many have still thought of their original genres as Robotic or kids wearing half pants. But these kids have got older and those still around are offering up corking albums.

This is the Minneapolis five piece's 7th album and their first in 10 years. Reading the PR and write ups, the album is described as Pop Punk, lazily in many cases, You can still hear their roots the odd time, but this is largely glorious melodic Power Pop.

If people want to suggest Busted and McFly as newbies entry level to Power Pop, this lot are a much better bet because this album is wonderful. They've never been afraid of keyboards and the Moog, but here it is used to enhance the songs.

The stand out is probably Particle Physics, where the band are joined by Fall Out Boy's Patrick Stump. It is complete Power Pop joy, a massive chorus awaits you. But the band can spread their wings. Your Days Are Numbered is a big production, similar to 80s AOR and another guest appears, Mat Kerekes of Citizen.

Downer is more in touch with their Pop Punk days and Bloodline is a much heavier affair, part Grunge, wonderfully short and aggressive. The title track closes the album and comes across as a celebration od what they were and are now musically. Mixes the then and the now and breaks into Weezer territory part way through.

But the likes of You Know Who The Fuck We Are are great Power Pop. Motion City Soundtrack are a band that haven't forgotten their roots, but taken their sound into much wider areas. That should be recognised by newbies as The Same Old Wasted Wonderful World is a cracking listen.

You can listen to and buy the album here. You can buy the Vinyl and CD here and all good Record Shops.

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Dogs Die In Hot Cars - Pop Nonsense

This was something posted in the first month of I Don't Hear A Single in 2016. There has been a request for me to re-up the post.

Two things are constant in this poptastic world of ours. Everyone appears to be looking for both the new Jellyfish and XTC. For us XTC fanatics, we can see, hear, smell, touch, taste them. From The Sugarplastic through The Futureheads to Field Music.

Dogs Die In Hot Cars released their debut album. Please Describe Yourself, in 2004 and a splendid album it was too. Quirky pop at its best. The comparisons to XTC were obvious and still are. Produced by Langer and Winstanley, Madness it isn't, probably a little more in touch with Deaf School. 

They were signed to V2 and what a strange old mess that label was. Branson folly! 95% owned by Morgan Stanley, what was that all about? Hailing from St Andrews in Scotland, the band were typical of the great stuff coming out of Scotland at that time. 

Angular Pop at its most splendid. The critics loved it, a sure fire way for a band with XTC comparisons to sell nothing. There was lots of Promo, but nothing really made a dint. There were two live sessions for KCRW and KEXP.

The band began recording the demos to their follow up, Pop Nonsense in 2006. However at the end of the sessions, after the departure to University of guitarist, Gary Smith, the band abandoned the recordings. In the mass V2 cull in 2007, the band were dumped.

In 2008, the posted the 17 demos on their website with instrumental tracks too, so that fans could remix the songs in anyway the liked. The results could be sent to the band who would pick their favourites and split the royalties 50-50 when the album was released. The band abandoned the mixing project saying that there wasn't enough content to release the project.

Then the 17 songs in advanced demo form were put on the band's website for free download. People were encouraged to do what they wanted to incorporate them into songs with 50% of the royalties going to the band.

These songs are long deleted, so I've linked them for download below. If anyone from or connected to the band have a problem with this, I will take them down straight away. I have also added a link of the US Radio Sessions for the debut album.

01 Something for the Good Boys
02 Pop Nonsense
03 Real
04 Big Big Love
05 Beauty Us
06 Me Me Me
07 Charo
08 Serious
09 Here
10 Like Music To My Ears
11 Emergency Party
12 Bloke In The Toilet
13 Trials and Errors
14 Christmas
15 To Get Love Returned
16 Squeeze
17 Plutonic Dancing

Pop Nonsense

KCRW Session

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Coast Arcade - Coast Arcade

 

Can we finally dispel the notion that all music from New Zealand is pastoral gentle sounding stuff that should ideally be on Sarah Records. Earlier in the week, we had the melodic Guitar Pop of Silk Cut, now we have the slightly noisier, anthemic Indie Rock from Coast Arcade.

Bella Bavin has a great set of pipes, but the quartet are the sum of their parts. Songs are wonderfully arranged, performed and produced. Many energetic, there is a reminder of Brit Pop from the likes of Sleeper and Elastica.

There is also a hint of Garbage, particularly on Afterthought, but that is without the show off fuzz and attitude of that particular band. They can also mix styles, heavier guitar with a Pop Rock vocal that joins together nicely.

The riffs resonate and the choruses are big leading to an ability to sing along whilst tapping your feet and at times shaking your fist. Hallway is an absolute gem of a song, you keep waiting for the I'll Meet You In The Hallway line.

The Intro on the opener, Kids, is a wonderful introduction to what you are going to hear, Bavin's vocal is spot on, restrained and affecting. Coast Arcade don't come up for air too often, but when they do on Week, they are just as interesting. Acetone may be the winner here, but the whole album is a joy.

It is also refreshing to hear a band rocking again. There is so much moodiness and breathy songs to bore you, it is nice to hear something more straight ahead. Great solos, great melody and a lead vocalist who completely engages. What's not to like?

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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The Telephone Numbers - Scarecrow II

 

I jest with Darrin at Subjangle about Dream Pop. We follow similar traits in our rush to help the Indie Scene, but our choices differ at times. I like my Jangle rockier and he likes his Guitar Pop a little gentler, but when we meet in the middle, it is exceptional. This is a prime example.

Although they share members with more notable bands in the San Franciscan scene, these four together are surely the best od the lot. Of course they American, but musically they share so much with both the C86 scene and Glasgow.

Scarecrow II is soothing, almost pastoral, Jangle Pop at its very very best. Slightly haunting at times, incredibly melodic, yet wonderfully soothing. These 10 songs whisk you away into a trouble free state. They sort of wash right over you and the world is a better place.

Whereas many of the scene now and then, jangled you until you could jangle no more, this quartet add much more to the arrangements. Adding some stunning violin accompaniment from K. Dulan Edrich on the majority of the songs.

They also have the element surprise. Pulling Punchlines picks up the pace considerably, with Jangle that is more than a little Psych Pop and supporting Trumpet from Anna Hilburg. Tony Molina rounds things off by adding 12 String. It is a crackerjack of a song, beautifully arranged. 

This Job Is Killing Me  is stripped down, more moody with another superb arrangement. The stand out may be Telephone Numbers Theme which gets even more Psych Pop and Morgan Stanley's vocal suits it perfectly as do her backing vocals throughout. The second half of the album is slower and deeper than the first and this shows two sides of the band, but to be fair there are more than two sides here.

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

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Cherry Fez - SUPEREXCITED!

 

Pennsylvania's Todd Shuster has been with us since the Anything Should Happen days and Todd is Cherry Fez. Latterly, he's been touring with our other long termers, Caper Clowns. A sort of marriage made in heaven.

Superexcited was released in July and I feel really guilty about taking so long to write about it. I was fortunate to hear the title track in its very early days and the collaboration with the legend that is Brad Jones really excited me.

That song still sounds wonderful now and is the ideal opener, but the album is even more special. There is a mix here of Jangle and Acoustic. The Electric is what you might expect, but the more ethereal songs suit Shuster's wonderful vocal really well. That voice could sing the Phone Book and make it interesting.

This is never more so than on Deep Shades Of Fate which is a haunting, melancholic affair that melts you and almost makes you cry. It also has a splendid string arrangement. Awake With A Lullaby follows a similar vibe, but this time a little more Americana.

However fans of Cherry Fez will be looking out for the plugged in songs and there is much of interest her. Happy Hour is top notch Power Pop that Jangles like a good un'. You've Got A Lot Of Nerve sounds very IRS 80s Indie. 

The King Of Everything races along, not a million miles away from UK Beat with a great Psych Pop solo. You Got A Lot Of Nerve shows what a great songwriter Shuster is. The whole thing is an absolute joy and shows a uniqueness at times. Beautifully arranged and produced. Sn absolute cracker!

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

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Witkin - Things I Might Have Said

 

I've loved the two singles leading up to this debut album. Both Hard To Be Happy and Last Years Ashes have featured on Listening To This Week and I've been bursting waiting for the release of Things I Might Have Said. 

Witkin is Los Angeles's Veronica Witkin and whereas artists of a similar age want to come over all sassy and allow themselves to be over produced with a myriad of vocal treatments, this is nothing of the sort. This is essentially great Power Pop, but with ventures into other genres that add great variety.

Hard To Be Happy for instance has a real Psych Pop feel at times, particularly on the Guitar solo. A Way Back To Myself is wonderful Classic Rock, bordering on AOR and These Days comes across as very Hazel O'Connor. There is even space for an instrumental, Chromatic Aberrations, which allows Witkin to show her Guitar playing skill in a mesmerising way.

Drowning In The Gene Pool even goes a little bit UK Glam Rock, very Suzi Quatro. But is the Power Pop that rings out most, aided by dad Bruce Witkin on Bass and production duties. That Power Pop mixes Classic with the new noisier Indie breed of the genre.

One minute Witkin can vocally be Tamar Berk and the next Elena Rogers. The Power Pop changes too. I Hate My Brain is very 80s AOR-ish, 1973 is a great paean to the year before I still think I live in. Last Years Ashes is very close to the new Guitar led breed that is dominating both our peers' attention these days.

However songs such as You're So Cinematic and Don't Call It A Cult show off a different side of the artist, slower, more cinematic and poptastic. This is cracking debut album from a lady you will hear much more about in future years. Mature and melodic and not afraid to break out, the whole thing is wonderful.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Cassette or as a download and maybe crying out for a CD or Vinyl release.

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Listening To This Week Playlist 13 October

 

A cracker this week. The maximum 30 songs! Our most recent discovery opens, then some of our beloved Guitar Pop and we venture all over the place after that. As well as the traditional version, we have put the playlist on Spotify and you will see the link below.  29 of the 30 songs are available on Spotify. The Silk Cut song is released on the platform on 15 October.

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. 

The Spotify Version     (The Silk Cut song will be added on release - 15 October)

Link To Spotify

Mint Condish - Rat Utopia

Ryan Allen - Think Fast

Benny J Ward - Scratch That Itch

The dt's - Sun Shines Down

Log Flume - Get The Picture

Silk Cut - Death Of Us (Not On Spotify until Wed 15 October. Will add then)

This Will Destroy Your Ears - Stop That Wacky Show

Samayoa - Hasta El Fin Del Mundo

Radio Altamont - Marilea

Rulers - Likeness

RightHandWave - Rebound Girl

Next Week's Washing - Carry On

Morrow Voice - Coded Emotions

Paul Nazole - Without You

Trash Man - Cool Until It's Not

Rudy Nuno - Sirens

1991 - slipp meg inn igjen

Bonus Room - Blessed Be

The Journey Back - Excuses

Lipstick - Giving It Up

Sloan Brothers - In A Movie

Brites - O.D.In H.D.

George - It's Gonna Burst

Vallory Falls - Gave Me The Key

Black Suit Youth - Rattled

Joe Caruso - 7 Hours A Day

Nicamus - Boogie Man

Jessica Breanne - Hungry

Lorne Mower - Holiday Ways

Alice Austin - Back To The Beginning

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Kirk Adams And Ed Woltil - Eat The Sunshine, Drink The Sunshine.

 

I first discovered Ed Woltil due to his album with our long time fave Steve Robinson and the album, Shadow Play was incredibly popular. You can read the review here. The album was in our Top 30 albums of 2022.

This time Woltil joins up with fellow Tampa Bay Resident, Kirk Adams. These are two musicians who plough similar furrows, so as you might expect, the results are outstanding. Dave Gregory joins up once again on four of the songs.

Again the feel is 70s UK New Wave at times, Guitar Pop at its finest with the bonus of some wonderful Guitar arrangements courtesy of the XTC six stringer. Gregory appears on 4 of the 12 songs and the emphasis across the album concentrates more on Pop Rock than Shadow Pop.

There are big exceptions though. Almost Home adds Baroque Pop and pastoral Psych Pop to the mix. It's All Songs starts a little Ob La Di Ob La Da at the beginning, but becomes very close to Paul Simon vocally across its jauntiness.

King Of The Rotten Things is wonderfully put together, biting lyrically with wonderful Vocal Harmonies. A Rumor Of The Promised Land adds a splendid Twang to proceedings and Soft Landing is beautifully smooth Piano Pop, very easy listening.

Fans of 70's Pop Rock will love the album as the vocal work, harmonies and arrangements are spot on. Eat The Sunshine, Drink The Sunshine takes less chances than Woltil's work with Steve Robinson, concentrating on feel and touch to provide a great laidback affair.

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

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Silk Cut - Corridors Of Light

 

Silk Cut's second album was self titled and in our Top 10 albums of last year. You can read the review here. My thoughts at the time and approaching this follow up, were how do they follow that? I'm pleased to note that there is no difficult third album for the New Zealand quartet. Corridors Of Light is jaw droppingly brilliant.

For all our wanderings across the genres, there is a base camp. Frequenting that place is primarily great Guitar Pop and this album ticks every box. Songs built on melody, riffs and singalong choruses crash out into the open without one hiccup. This is indeed Pop!

There is a Brit feel to the sound. A song like Death Of Us underlines this, but mixes 60s Beat with 70s Pop Rock and 90s Brit Pop. The whole album is a little like that, but the emphasis is on killer riffs and hooks without ever losing focus. The instrumental arrangements are amazing.

Supernovae is acoustic and sounds a little folky, but allows the band to show vocal harmony strength, it even gets a little Psych Pop in feel with a wonderful Guitar run. Heavy Lifting continues that gentle Psych feel whilst still sounding a little Brit Pop.

Corridors rocks a little more and the chorus is more restrained. .The moody atmospheric closer, Godlike I is hypnotic, different to the jaunty album surroundings. It is massive in scope and instrumental build. Truly gobsmacking. What an incredible song!

The emphasis across the album though is joyful. Never more so than on the trailing single, Good Morning, which still sounds as ace. Why is it that songs about the Radio always sound so good?  This whole album is a relegation, varied and incredibly pop tactic.

It is a grim world presently and that may be why albums like resonate so well. The chance to forget about what is going on around us and replace it with joy and light. Corridors Of Light is a mood changer, a notable reminder of the power of song. What an antidote this lot are.

You can listen to and buy the album here.

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This Will Destroy Your Ears - Funland

 

You would expect a band with such a name to be Death Metal or at the very least Hard Rock. The French Trio are a little noisy at times, but incredibly melodic and the album is full of surprises. The album is about a desolate Amusement Park after a visit to Blackpool.

Heaven help them if they'd been to Rhyl or Camelot. The noise is controlled, not intended to rattle the dentures and in the magnificent Stop That Wacky Show, they have a killer Indie Rock song, one of the best of the year.

Then there's No More Letters, where you have a Goth feel, a little dark and heavy on the breakout, but it could also be prime time Killers. Yet, Losing My Rag is more Pun with a Lydon-esque feel to parts of the vocal.

Hurrah is deliciously dark early 80s Post Punk but totally engaging. The instrumental breakout is gripping, real shake your fist stuff. The closer, Lost Our Track, is wonderfully intense, 80s Darkwave, but with hints of Psych. It broods splendidly.

There is a real lyrical adeptness and wit at times that can be hidden by the pace and a lack of coming up for air, but it is definitely there. This is most relevant in the cracking opener, Gorgeous Eve Holds A Banger Hammer.

Funland is a great example of letting your ears make the judgement. Labels confuse. Looking at the band name and listening to the opener might make you think this isn't for you. But the beauty of albums is that they let a band show what they've got over 10 songs. Playlists don't do that. This is Top Notch!

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

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The Glad Machine - All The Pretty Things

 

I love The Glad Machine. They've been with us since our inception, but in that time, this only the third album released. So it is a reason to celebrate. Following on from my Reviews of 2018's self titled joy (here) and 2022's Hey! (here).

They aren't a band that trails what's coming through months ahead PR and Social Media, an album just arrives and certainly, for a reviewer, that is a pleasant surprise. It is nice to hear things early, but some release dates are so far ahead at times, it is hard to keep track. For instance, I have 40 odd Albums in draft, almost two thirds have advance dates.

The Glad Machine specialise in melodic Pop Rock with a crunch. The main difference to peers is that crunch. Every song is beautifully performed, arranged and produced, all sing along joy, but it is the band's ability to step out with noisier riffs and solos that marks them out. 

These songs are all sugar coated heaven. But there are also rockier affairs. The title track reminds me a lot of peak period Extreme, built around a razor sharp riff, but with a mega chorus and those choruses have always been the strength of this lot.

Gravity Sunshine also bursts in, but the chorus is all UK Glam Rock, handclaps and all. Can We Still Fall In Love This Summer is the anthem, a mix of AOR and Brit Pop that is totally engaging. Back To You is great Power Pop.

The big number is She Said, all 6 and a half minutes of it. It starts as a ballad, but builds and builds, adding a killer 70s Pop Rock solo. It really is great to have them back. I just wish that I could say that more often. Pop Rock gets criticised for being a bit mawkish, there is nothing of the sort here!

You can listen to and buy the album here. The CD is available from Friday 17 October on the Kool Kat label here.

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The Valery Trails - Winter Palace

The return of Brisbane's The Valery Trails with their fifth album is most welcome. They still sound a little like mid period The Church and The Black Watch, but the addition of Tim Steward and Skye Staniford has also taken the band into new areas.

Winter Palace may finally turn the admiration in Australia to a much deserved wider worldwide audience, particularly the States. Despite, essentially being an Indie Rock band, their trips into Psych Pop are as wonderful as ever.

Take for instance Vultures Of Lima which is wonderful Psych Pop, but enhanced by the Flute of Staniford. Our Love is 60s UK Beat, but again transformed by the Brass of Terminus Horns. You quickly realise that this a band not afraid to take chances and switch directions.

Leonard Said is much darker, all 80s Synth, that shouldn't necessarily work for a band that is so Electric Guitar driven and Staniford aids this again with ethereal backing vocals. This Is Not My Home is more Indie Rock with some stunning Guitar, riff and solo. The song shines even more due to what surrounds it.

People Who Are Gone is great Power Pop and Journey's End is a fine struming closer. Yet, the band are still in touch with their past as proven by the moody, brooding opener, Another Time. But the real stand out is pure Guitar Pop.

Everything Is Temporary is a superb catchy affair, all riff and melody, a song that would grace any album. Winter Palace is the sound of a band at the top of their game, willing to take their sound further. C'mon everybody, join the admiration!

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

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Faulty Cognitions - They Promised Us Heaven

 

San Antonio quartet, Faulty Cognitions sound very Brit, the rhythm section is very 78 New Wave, particularly the awesome basslines.  Yet songs venture into the Post Punk 80s that led to the Indie C86 joy. The band can do all three equally wave.

There is a real social awareness, Red Wedge-ish, but the underlying sound is a mix of the Dunedin years. Some of the songs would be big anthems in a lower fi way. All slightly aggressive Indie of the highest quality, riffaholic almost.

Yet, the band are not one dimensional, Don't Let Them See You Suffer is like a noisier Cure and Go To Hell is built on a wonderful Billy Duffy style Goth riff. They can also be endearingly noisy and aggressive in the style of Husker Du and perhaps more relevantly, The Replacements.

Tiny God is a mix of The Pogues and 90s Slacker Rock, beautifully in your face. There is also an ability to  calm things down. Rooting For The Void is under a minute long, but a sort of Front Porch all together now acoustic number.

That sensitiveness also opens the closer, Enjoy the Ride, which turns out to be one of the best New Wave songs of the year. Lest we forget,  Arsonist was a great introduction to the album, a splendid Indie Guitar Pop anthem with an underlying lyrical warning.

It is really impressive that Faulty Cognitions can change direction at will without the songs feeling out of place. They can come up for air, but rarely do and they strike me as a band that will be wonderful Live, all energy with songs that grab you at will. This is great!

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

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