The Speedways - Talk Of The Town

 

There is a valid argument that The Speedways reignited Power Pop in the UK and progressed to hit the States to the point that any new band in the Genre are usually compared to them. It all seems like a masterplan, but it was nothing like that really. When I reviewed the 2018 debut album, Just Another Regular Summer, it was a complete surprise to my ears. I loved The Breakdowns, but I never expected to branch out into a solo career that stepped into my Pop Rock domain. 

The debut was only ever supposed to be one off. Indeed in that first review, I implored Julian to not let it be so. The album featured in the IDHAS Best Of 2018 and lo and behold, the following year, Rum Bar Records got hold of it for a CD Release that added five Bonus Tracks. The American doors were now opened. The follow up, Radio Sounds expanded the remit as an album that seemed more focussed, a little more relaxed and an upgrade of the sound. Just as good as the debut, if not better, there was one more important note. The Speedways were now a quartet. The album hit the IDHAS Best Of 2020.

In the meantime, the band were gaining quite a reputation as a live act. The quartet gelled into one of the best live bands that you will see and hear. It was as though lock down had never happened. So we reach the third album and wow! The first thing that you notice is the Production, it is big, I mean really big. Gigantic even. Dead From The Heart Down is a splendid opener, but you don't realise what you are in for as the album progresses. That opener is Power Pop and why not, the band made their name with their mastery of the genre.

But the more you listen to, the more you note that this isn't necessarily a Power Pop album. Radio Sounds hinted that there was more to the band, but the honing of the foursome has resulted in an absolute Guitar led masterpiece. Power Pop hasn't been left behind, but it is everything else that is most interesting. Julian hasn't lost his chorus strength, but at times Talk Of The Town sounds a little more American. There's also a Classic Rock adventure that continually breaks out.

Wrong Time Wrong Place has a twin Guitar blast that Thin Lizzy would be proud of. Strange Love is built around a strutting riff and A Drop In The Ocean has a real West Coast Jangle about it. A Song Called Jane And A Lie Called Love is angular yet a little The Knack and has a real plank spanking solo. Summer's Over has a real Blue Oyster Cult feel instrumentally and Secret Secrets edges towards Glam Rock. Kiss Me Goodbye is great UK Indie 80s Guitar Pop and Weekend 155 sounds so Dark 80s, turns into an urgent dramatic verse and then a trademark Speedways chorus.

Talk Of The Town is all Funk but still has time for another wonderful Guitar wig out. Monday Was The Start Of The Stars is even more of a Thin Lizzy Guitar assault and even has a Kevin Rowland like chatty intro. This is a band album. Guitarist, Mauro Venegas is heavily involved in the song writing on what was previously Matt Julian dominated. Bassist, Adrian Alfonso also writes a song, the excellent Taken (with an incredible Guitar solo) and forms a superb rhythm section with drummer, Kris Hood.

This is the sound of a band at the top of their game. The Guitar sound is a major surprise and what a set of choruses. If The Speedways started out as a bedroom lo fi affair, they are at the other end of the scale now. This should be the album that breaks them. Talk Of The Town is released on 21 November. Currently only the two tracks that have been previously released are available to stream. Both are embedded here, but don't really do justice to the full scope of the album, so I will add further tracks to the review when the album is released.

The album will be available here. You can listen to and buy the two tracks there and investigate the band's previous output. Matt Julian's various Demos can be listened to and bought here,

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2020 : 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 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.

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 grossly unfair, even more so in 2020 with all that has happened during the year. To qualify, an album has to be available for sale in any format.

For each album, I've posted a song from it and a link to where you can find further details on how to listen or buy the album. 

No 31 : Supercrush - SODO Pop    IDHAS Review

No 32 : The Speedways - Radio Sounds        IDHAS Review









No 33 : The Persian Leaps - Smiling Lessons     IDHAS Review

No 34 : Sergeant Buzfuz - Fox Pop          IDHAS Review

       

No 35 : John Howard - To The Left Of The Moon's Reflection     Review

No 36 : Nick Piunti & The Complicated Men - Downtime      Review




 




No 37 : Girl Skin - Shade Is On The Other Side     IDHAS Review

No 38 :  West Coast Music Club - Greetings From Ashton Park, West Kirby    IDHAS Review

  



No 39 : Papills - Too Hot For May   IDHAS Review

   

No 40 : 2 a.m. Orchestra - Trading Graves         IDHAS Review

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The Speedways - Radio Sounds

I reviewed The Speedways' debut album in July 2018 and loved it. You can read the IDHAS Review of Just Another Regular Summer here. At that point, it appeared that the album was a one off Side Project for Matt Julian and I hoped there would be more.

Since then, the excellent Rum Bar Records got hold of the album and released an Expanded Edition last year and the album took on a life of its own to establish itself as one of the great Power Pop albums of recent years and rightly so.







So I'm delighted to report that the follow up is released this Friday and you won't be disappointed. Radio Sounds is everything that is great about the debut album, but seems to have taken on an even more melodic feel. If anything this feels a bit more laid back at times.

It is also pleasing that the band have become an established quartet now and it shows in the playing and arrangements. Where as song such as Number Seven is everything that you would expect from a Speedways song, Your Brown Eyes Seem So Blue could be Racey.








Empty Pages is a jangle fest, very early 80s US Pop, yet Had Enough This Time is very UK New Wave. In A World Without Love It's Hard To Stay Young is a Jingle Jangle riff-a-thon. The Day I Call You Mine is great pop.

All the prerequisites of Power Pop are here. Big Choruses, riffs that hook, great Middle Eights etc. Matt Julian has captured the genre perfectly and at a time when Power Pop seems to have lost so much direction, Radio Sounds should be used as an example of what the template is.







You can pre-order the album here.


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The Speedways - Just Another Regular Summer (2019 Extended Edition)

I want to return to an album that I reviewed in July 2018 and was on my Best Of 2018 list. I seem to cover less Power Pop these days. I Don't Hear A Single just seems to be evolving this year and it is leading me, rather than vice versa. 

But I'm delighted to see what was originally a one off for Matt Julian developing in to something much bigger. The excellent Rum Bar Label has gotten hold of the album for the CD Release and five bonus tracks are added. If you aren't already on board, you should be. 

Below is my original review. The link to listen and buy are still relevant and you can pick up the new extended Rum Bar CD at the same link.


I get incredibly frustrated with the UK. I've stopped fighting on forums about Guitar Music being dead, Power Pop being irrelevant and that people won't attend gigs. If I see another Classic Band Poll, I will scream. What's wrong with now, build it and they will come.

So I'm delighted to be in familiar Power Pop Territory here and keeping up with a recent theme, The Speedways do not sound like something that comes from Nottingham or Leicester, home of The Junipers and Diesel Park West. We'll forget about Kasabian, because we like to.







Just Another Regular Summer is pure US New Wave Power Pop. Think 1979 - 1983, everything from The Beat and The Romantics to The Plimsouls. The Speedways are the brain child of The Breakdowns' former Guitarist, Matt Julian and I don't think I've enjoyed a Power Pop album as much since The Stanleys outing last year and to emphasise, this is from the UK, home supposedly of Grime and The X Factor.

This is no nonsense, Summer Pop, chiming riffs, big choruses, say what you've got to say and move on to the next, no extended mediocrity here. This is an album of a dozen 45's, each brimming with joy about the Power Pop staples of looking for or losing love.






Julian's Tom Petty like vocal suits the material beautifully and the arrangements are spot on, even to that wait for the solo moment. It's hard to pick a favourite song, but I am smitten by the Duane Eddy twang of One Kiss Can Lead To Another.

Lonely Girl is pure New Wave Synth twee, A Double Shot is Merseybeat, All I Want is Bubblegum Ramones. However, it's the straight ahead Power Pop of the title track and In Common With You that appeals most, simply because it's so long since I heard a UK band do it so well.






I've seen mentions that Just Another Regular Summer is a one off. I do hope not. This will be in the end of the year list. Highly Recommended. You can listen to and buy the album here. It's currently available for a bargain £6.


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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2018 : 21-30

2018 has been a fantastic year for the type of music that we like. 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 Top 10 person, I just think what's the point.

However, for the first time last year, I did a Top 50, normally I just say what my favourite album of the year is. I've simply done it again, because those five posts of last year were so popular and the aim of this Blog is to get exposure (and Sales) for the artists.

As I said the standard this year is incredibly high, so much so that I've extended the choice to 100 albums. 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.

For each album, I've posted a song from it and a link to the IDHAS Review if applicable.


No 21 : Jeff Whalen - Ten More Rock Super Hits 

No 22 : The Speedways - Just Another Regular Summer     IDHAS Review here.







No 23 : Checkpoint Charley - Pomp, Twaddle And Bombast : Songs 13 - 24   IDHAS Review here.

No 24 : Summer Magic - Sharks And Other Dangers    IDHAS Review here.

No 25 : Yorick Van Norden - The Jester

No 26 : Salim Nourallah - Somewhere South Of Sane






No 27 : Bill Lloyd - Working The Long Game 

No 28 : Rob Bonfiglio - Trouble Again    IDHAS Review here.

No 29 : Groovy Uncle - Meanwhile Back In Medieval 






No 30 : 8X8 - New Data New Day 

.

The Speedways - Just Another Regular Summer

I get incredibly frustrated with the UK. I've stopped fighting on forums about Guitar Music being dead, Power Pop being irrelevant and that people won't attend gigs. If I see another Classic Band Poll, I will scream. What's wrong with now, build it and they will come.

So I'm delighted to be in familiar Power Pop Territory here and keeping up with a recent theme, The Speedways do not sound like something that comes from Nottingham or Leicester, home of The Junipers and Diesel Park West. We'll forget about Kasabian, because we like to.







Just Another Regular Summer is pure US New Wave Power Pop. Think 1979 - 1983, everything from The Beat and The Romantics to The Plimsouls. The Speedways are the brain child of The Breakdowns' former Guitarist, Matt Julian and I don't think I've enjoyed a Power Pop album as much since The Stanleys outing last year and to emphasise, this is from the UK, home supposedly of Grime and The X Factor.

This is no nonsense, Summer Pop, chiming riffs, big choruses, say what you've got to say and move on to the next, no extended mediocrity here. This is an album of a dozen 45's, each brimming with joy about the Power Pop staples of looking for or losing love.






Julian's Tom Petty like vocal suits the material beautifully and the arrangements are spot on, even to that wait for the solo moment. It's hard to pick a favourite song, but I am smitten by the Duane Eddy twang of One Kiss Can Lead To Another.

Lonely Girl is pure New Wave Synth twee, A Double Shot is Merseybeat, All I Want is Bubblegum Ramones. However, it's the straight ahead Power Pop of the title track and In Common With You that appeals most, simply because it's so long since I heard a UK band do it so well.






I've seen mentions that Just Another Regular Summer is a one off. I do hope not. This will be in the end of the year list. Highly Recommended. You can listen to and buy the album here. It's currently available for a bargain £6.