Brent Seavers - Exhibit B

 

The Decibels' Brent Seavers ventures out on his second solo album just three years after his debut, BS Stands For and it is a cracker. The multi instrumentalist masters Guitar Pop from the late 50s up until the present day.

Although he is more than comfortable moving around the dial, it is New Wave Power Pop that he excels, although the diversions are maybe even more interesting. Surrounded by a melody overload and great riffs, his gentle-ish vocal suits the material perfectly and what a selection of material it is. 

From the straight ahead Power Pop of Roller Coaster Ride to the 60s Beat led Psych Pop of Fuzz Off, there is not a duff song in sight. The UK New Wave stand out is the magnificent The Noble Cause, all 1978 with a Steve Nieve like Organ rounding things off.

It could be Nieve again on The Universe And I and the pair of songs sitting together form a great central point to the album and probably mark the album's high point. Both are built around top notch riffs, big choruses and add a fine solo.

Push Me Down is great 60s UK Beat, yet Evolves is great Mod Pop. Of Poetry is more the 90s second wave of 90s Power Pop, but Her could come from one of the great Pop Rock albums of the 70s. Till It's Over is a really jaunty all together now affair with a killer solo.

Lullaby is prime time Merseybeat and even late 50s at times and Stumbling could be Squeeze. I can't help thinking of Latter day The Jam listening to the closer, Raining In My Head. Great Pop Rock isn't that easy to find nowadays, this is that and more. Wonderful!

You can listen to and buy the album here. The CD is on the Kool Kat label and can be bought here. 

......................................

I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2019 : 81- 90

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.


No 81 Gretchen's Wheel - Moth To Lamplight : A Tribute To Nada Surf      Review









No 82 The Nines - Shipwrecked - Eggers Songbook Volume 1    Review








No 83 The Decibels - Scene, Not Herd      IDHAS Review









No 84 Pictures - Hysteria       IDHAS Review









No 85 Kimberley Rew and Lee Cave-Berry - Enjoy The Rest Of Your Day      IDHAS Review

No 86 Sofa City Sweetheart - Super(b) Exitos     Review









No 87 Nagillum - 52 Weeks      IDHAS Review









No 88 Slumberjet - World Of Sound     Review

No 89 Charlie Rebel - The People's Republic Of Earth      IDHAS Review









No 90 Bertling Noise Laboratories - The Frodis Tape     Review








.........

The Decibels - Scene, Not Herd

Sacramento's The Decibels cap off their return with a splendid new album. Their heyday was in the second half of the 90's and after their 2001 split, you wouldn't be forgiven for thinking that was largely that, bar a few hometown gigs.

However, a highly successful tour of Spain in 2013 revealed that there was a real appetite for the band and led to a proper reunion in 2017 with the eventual intention of recording a new album. The result is Scene, Not Herd.






It's really pleasing to report that the new album is as good if not better than they ever were. Although that Spanish Tour encouraged many to hail them as a great Mod Pop quartet, Scene, Not Herd is primarily straight ahead good old fashioned Power Pop.

After my recent adventures in compiling a couple of 80's things and being awash with the syndrum and that awful dated keyboard sound, it's refreshing to be back on more welcome territory. It's refreshing to hear three minute pop songs in the say what you've gotta say and get off style.






Although the album feels very mid to late 60's UK Beat, those Mod references are few, although All Of Your Lies and It's Not Me are definitely from that mould. There's a great jangle on She Thinks Of Everything and The Truth is very much in The Beat and The Plimsouls territory.

The band feel and sound far more UK New Wave than Californian Pop and they pull it off really well. Riffs are plentiful, harmonies spot on and all this leads to doing what it says on the tin. This is a perfect brand of toe tapping Power Pop.






You can buy the download, vinyl or CD here. The CD is another on the Kool Kat label and continues KK's wonderfully varied 12 months of releases.