Billy Tibbals - Nightlife Stories

 

I Loved Tibbals's debut Stay Teenage, you can read the review here. 12 months on, here are another six tracks. Although many are calling this an EP, I still think 6 songs constitute a mini album and the 21 minutes here would seem to underline that.

Nightlife Stories does sound more mature, more tongue in cheek and less Power Pop than the debut. It is still very 70s, maybe more Pop Rock, but the UK Glam Rock of my youth still rings through and is really well done. 

Produced by Chris Robinson and again on his Silver Arrow label, the album is really good at what it does, seemingly bringing that 70s fun to a new generation. Both Burn Out! and The World Revolves are pure 1974 Flares and Platform Shoes. 

The chorus is absolutely killer and with Tibbals spending the first half of his life in London and then in Los Angeles, the vocal style comes across as a little mockney, similar to Ian Hunter in Hoople mode. The falsetto comes across as a little Sweet, although it is overused a little at times which in the wrong hands would have made a couple of the songs a bit twee.

Out Of Touch is a bit more melodic Punk, certainly very New Wave. Nobody Knows is again New Wave, but treads into the US version of the 80s. Again, the vibe is Sparks' Whomp That Sucker. I'll Die is much more in your face, bearing comparisons to the likes of Heavy Metal Kids and Radio Stars.

The closer, Dream Away, brings back so many memories. A big Pop Rock ballad that reminds me of the great Granada TV Kids Pop shows such as Lift Off With Ayshea, Disco 45 and even ITV's Supersonic, even down to the fake opening and closing applause. Nighlife Stories is pure Fun!

You can buy the Vinyl Edition everywhere. The album is also available on all the streaming sites. For those of you like us who are Spotify averse, you can listen to the whole album on Soundcloud or You Tube here or here.

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2023 : 71-80

 

For the last few years We have compiled annual Best Of 's because these posts seem so popular and the aim of this Blog is to get exposure (and Sales) for the artists. A reminder that anything reviewed on I Don't Hear A Single is highly recommended. 

Narrowing things down to this 100 has been really difficult. The countdown is posted in reverse batches of 10. For each album, a song is embedded from the album and a link is provided to the IDHAS Review where you can find further details and how to listen or buy the album.

71 It's Karma It's Cool - Thrift Store Troubadours      IDHAS Review

72 Phantom Note - Out Of The Shadows      IDHAS Review

73   Bennett Wilson Poole - I Saw A Star Behind Your Eyes, Don't Let It Die Away      IDHAS Review

74 Inner Circle Club - Do-It-Yourself Propaganda      IDHAS Review

75 Doctor Mother Father - Feelin' Fine      IDHAS Review

76 Billy Tibbals - Stay Teenage      IDHAS Review

77 Bottlecap Mountain - O! Fantastik Melancholy      IDHAS Review

78 Jonny Swift - Kalimera      IDHAS Review

79 The Housing Crisis - Astral Apartments       IDHAS Review

80 Bone Apple Tea - Bone Apple Tea      IDHAS Review

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Billy Tibbals - Stay Teenage

 

I was a little confused about this wonderful affair at the moment. The Los Angeles Guitar Pop scene is in rude health at the moment, but Stay Teenage sounded so UK in sound and certainly in Vocal. That was soon explained when I read that Tibbals moved to L.A. from London in 2014.

The influences sound very UK, amazing because the scene here is a bit tumbleweed at present. This is definitely Power Pop, but there are massive Glam Rock vibes and more than a few hints towards the UK Wave. The resulting six songs are splendid.

Tibbals has had the right guiding hand. His debut 7 Inch Single was on Brent Rademaker's Curation label and Stay Teenage is on Chris Robinson's Silver Arrow label. Recorded as a Trio, this is outstanding Riff led stuff.

Best Day I Ever Had is really close to Buzzcocks, yet Hurt So Bad is pure Glam Rock, think Chinn and Chapman meet Sparks 1974 and you have some idea of the joy here. All For You is built on a killer riff, again hints of Island era Sparks on the verse, but a little more American (I still think of Sparks as UK) on the chorus, a bit The Plimsouls and a lot like the more current Uni Boys.

Three In The Morning is a more Pop Rock affair, a little Raspberries maybe, wonderfully orchestral. Foreverland heads into Jangle territory, but Hollywood Baby has everything. Much more American than what else is on show, it is the big Production number. Arranged perfectly with strings and piano complementing the riffs and what a closing Guitar solo.

Stay Teenage caught me completely by surprise. What a talent at such a young age! Splendidly produced and performed, if you like your Guitar and your Pop this will leave you floored. There is a Bolan swagger matched by the 2023 Los Angeles scene's rekindled love of the Guitar. Highly Recommended!

You can listen to Stay Teenage here and buy the album everywhere.

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