David Brookings And The Average Lookings - Exposure

David Brookings reaches his 10th album and the third with The Average Lookings. The 2016 self titled debut from this lot was one of the earliest reviews on here and we've stuck with him and then ever since. This is Nashville Power Pop at its very best.

The quartet aren't afraid to veer off into other directions and the difference to Brooking's solo recordings is  that the arrangements are even more filled out. Big Riffs, killer choruses and some really crunchy solos light up this album.

The diversions are really fascinating. Jose, for instance, starts all Spaghetti Western and then heads into melodic Folk Rock. Yet, My Last Little Shred Of Youth is a mix of early 60s Pop, Everlys even and Country with its barrel piano in the background.

Exposure is a much longer affair, almost 6 minutes, a meandering joy and as the title suggests a hit out at the constant requests for artists to play for free. Brookings vocal has a great drawl and the extended instrumental outro works really well.

The Van Gogh Plan even gets very West Country Rock. But it is the Power Pop that resonates most. The likes of Encore, Coldwater Canyon and the superb Time Bomb master the genre. Songs and choruses that live in the memory.

Brookings has a lyrical depth that transcends the I lost my girl, I love you, yes I do mediocrity that the genre can be accused of at times. At times, there is a Nick Piunti feel and both have stayed with us over our past decade, when many haven't.

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

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2021 : 11-20

It's been difficult to get these choices down to 100. I'm also not a believer in saying one album is better than another. Most of the time you are comparing Apples To Oranges. I'm not a List person, I just think what's the point?

However, for the last few years I 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. There is no meaning or judgement on an album that is Number 1, Number 100 or not on the list. Anything that I review on here, mention on Social Media or play on the Radio Show is as highly recommended.

There are few rules. All albums have to have been reviewed on IDHAS. Reissues and Live Albums are not included. Previously unreleased albums are included, but Best Of's are not. For each album, I've posted a song from it and a link to the IDHAS Review where you can find further details and how to listen or buy the album.

No 11 : Mothboxer - On The Flip Side     IDHAS Review





No 12 : David Brookings - Mania At The Talent Show    IDHAS Review

 

No 13 : Edward Rogers - Catch A Cloud     IDHAS Review

 

No 14 : Nick Frater - Earworms          IDHAS Review

      

No 15 : Caper Clowns - Abdicate The Throne    IDHAS Review

       

No 16 : The Armoires - Incognito       IDHAS Review


 


No 17 : The Boxcar Suite - Every Side Of The Abyss     IDHAS Review

No 18 :  The James Clark Institute - The Colour Of Happy   IDHAS Review

No 19 : The Toms - Tomplicated   IDHAS Review

          

No 20 : Quick Fiction - Fingers Crossed         IDHAS Review

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David Brookings - Mania At The Talent Show

 

After two excellent largely Power Pop albums with the Average Lookings, David Brookings returns to his solo career. Those two band albums sparkled and shined, indeed the second, Scorpio Monologue, was in IDHAS's Best Of 2019 list. You can read the review here.

That riff led period is fine and dandy, but it does have its limitations and Brookings solo provides a much wider canvas to paint on. Thus Mania At The Talent Show is a much more varied affair and reveals layers not seen or noticed in the band albums.

The pace is slowed down allowing Brookings melodic laid back vocals to be appreciated more. His Singer Songwriter excellence has the air to breathe. The melody is as great as ever, the songs are as well written, but they have a much wider soundscape.

He can still do Jangle Guitar Pop as proven by One Of Us Is Crazy (The Other One Is Me). Get Off (My Mind) has a real 60's bouncy studio pop feel and Kill Shot is reminiscent of those great second half of the 70s Pop Rock with its hypnotic guitar. 

The title track fairly bounces along splendidly and the cover of Tom Petty's Magnolia is wonderful. There is also a venture into Psych Pop with the moody Hide Your Crazy. Driving To Ojai is very Middle Of The Road West Coast Rock.

Mania At The Talent Show provides some great harmony moments. It is an album that will Rock you but gently. These 12 songs cover so many bases and the calmness of the songs and the arrangements allows THAT voice to shine. It is a very fine offering that deserves mass attention.

You can buy the album everywhere including David's website here. You can also listen at the streaming sites or on You Tube here.

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2019 : 31 - 40

It's been difficult to get these choices down to 100. I'm also not a believer in saying one album is better than another. Most of the time you are comparing Apples To Oranges. I'm not a List person, I just think what's the point.

However, for the last couple of years I have compiled Best Of 2019, normally I just said what my favourite album of the year is. I've done it again, because these posts seem so popular and the aim of this Blog is to get exposure (and Sales) for the artists.

There is no meaning or judgement on an album that is Number 1, Number 100 or not on the list. Anything that I review on here, mention on Social Media or play on the Radio Show is as highly recommended.

I would also add that the Top 100 includes albums available as Download Only. To suggest that they are anything less than equal to a Physical release is patently nonsense and omits many wonderful albums.

I will compile a Top 20 of Reissues and Compilations combined after all this is complete. For each album, I've posted a song from it and a link to the review, where you can find further details on how to listen or buy the album.



31 Remo Drive - Natural, Everyday Degradation      IDHAS Review







32 Pastis - Circles       IDHAS Review







33 John Howard - Cut The Wire       IDHAS Review

34 My Little Hum - Pioneer       IDHAS Review







35 Louise Connell - Squall Echo Rale     IDHAS Review  







36 The Vapour Trails - See You In The Next World    IDHAS Review   







37 David Brookings And The Average Lookings - Scorpio Monologue       IDHAS Review







38 The Late Great - Temporary Love Songs       IDHAS Review

39 The Magic E's - Dead Star       IDHAS Review







40 The Lunar Laugh - Goodnight Noises Everywhere       IDHAS Review








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David Brookings And The Average Lookings - Scorpio Monologue

David Brookings offers up his second album with The Average Lookings after nigh on a two decade, largely solo, career. The self titled debut album is reviewed here and the great news is that Scorpio Monologue takes the band a massive step on.

Brookings voice has always been ideally suited to Power Pop, but simply calling this that would be a huge disservice. The arrangements are bigger, the Guitar solos hook you completely, put simply this album is far more than songs about lost love and bop she wop choruses.







Don't get me wrong, Brookings can still Jangle with the best of them, noted on songs such And It Feels Like and Grow Up Fast chime with the best of them, but there's far more depth, particularly when he slows it down on songs like Rainbow Baby.

Indeed, Time Takes You Baby sounds so Nick Piunti and I can pay the song no greater compliment than that. Silicon Valley is wonderfully country and is a real tongue in cheek tribute to an area that the artist knows well.







She's Mad At Me Again is pure 50's Rock And Roll, The Girl's Not Right is Jangly Joy with a Gunfighter Riff twist. Be Gone (Whoever You Are) is all Lounge Lizard and the epic 6 minute closer is a potential West Coast anthem. Lighters Out everyone! What a Guitar solo!

There's also a couple of covers amongst the 13 songs. Both are not essential although the take on Girl From The North Country is interesting and Without You reminds me of the Badfinger comparisons of the debut album.







You can buy the album everywhere and you should open your wallet. It's incredibly good at what it does and I've not heard as good a Pop Rock record in a long time. The album is released tomorrow and the Launch show in San Jose is well worth attending. The Bobbleheads are part of the support, providing even more reason to attend.



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David Brookings And The Average Lookings - David Brookings And The Average Lookings

David Brookings is seven albums in with his latest album, this is the first with The Average Lookings after six excellent solo albums and it's Power Pop in the style we all love to love. Badfinger and in particular, The Monkees spring to mind. Catchy Tunes of the highest order.






Eleven great pop songs are here, but there's more to them than just trying to please those in the know. The guitar is largely jangly, but the solos are varied and incredibly good, note the weeping end to Don't Stop To Doubt Yourself or the countryish twang on This Is The Life.

Summer Pop pleases the majority of us here and there's a mass of it on offer here, but this shouldn't detract from the writing skill and David can certainly write a chorus. The Basement Room will have you singing along loudly.






The Jangle delight of Place We Can Go is at complete odds with the acoustic moody orchestrated Come Back Home. Time To Go is more traditional Power Pop with a great hook. There's even time for a jaunt into Country Territory with the excellent I'm In Love With Your Wife.





If things don't feel up to kilter, this album will chirp you up and make you realise that things ain't so bad. It's Power Pop of the highest quality and a great addition to the shelves marked "Great Pop"

You can find the details on how to buy the album here. Before you buy, you can listen to all 11 songs here.