I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2021 : 51-60

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 51 : The Stan Laurels - There Is No Light Without The Dark     IDHAS Review

No 52 : Underwater Sunshine - Suckertree        IDHAS Review





No 53 : Marc Ribler - The Whole World Awaits You    IDHAS Review





No 54 : Drew Beskin - Problematic for the People          IDHAS Review

No 55 : The Verve Pipe - Threads       IDHAS Review

   

No 56 : Star Collector - Game Day      IDHAS Review





No 57 : Hushdrops - The Static     IDHAS Review

No 58 :  Galore - Roller    IDHAS Review

              

No 59 : Sandra's Wedding - Pleasure Grounds    IDHAS Review

   

No 60 : Bordello & Clark - Atlantic Crossing         IDHAS Review

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

The Stan Laurels - There Is No Light Without The Dark

 

The Stan Laurels last album, Maybe, was in the IDHAS Top 100 Albums of 2018, so I looked forward immensely to the follow up and here it is. You can read the review of Maybe here and although There Is No Light Without The Dark isn't a major departure, there are changes in emphasis.

This is very much a more riff orientated album, mainly at the expense of keys, although there are two lovely short keyboard themes in Emotions, that provide an interlude to all that more than welcome guitar. Emotions II is dream like.

John Lathrop rocks you gently with his wonderful laid back vocal and that voice allows the riffs to work you over. On this album though it is the solos that catch you be surprise, particularly on the likes of Love Wine And Song and the Jangle fest that is Tomorrow. 

Comparisons with The Explorers Club have been made and where as Red-Handed Puppet and the splendid backing vocals could be aimed that way, this very different. John Lathrop is too good a guitarist with too many licks and runs to reside in that West Coast Sun.

At its heart, this is a Power Pop album, a really really great one. It is incredibly melodic, laid back, but knowing when to break out. Lathrop is never going to raise his voice, he doesn't need to. Why shout when you can captivate calmly?

Mateo's Song is almost lounge and November borders on Yacht Rock, but the most enjoyable moments are the break out ones. This Is Your Life has a hard hitting Intro that gives way to a synth led affair. The likes of Lost And Found and Florida Man reveal how great Power Pop can be, if it is allowed to survive without all the fall outs. This is a top notch album, but I knew it would be. 

You can listen to and buy the album here and on the Big Stir site here.

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

Kool Kat Musik Weekly New Release Update

Welcome to the Kool Kat Weekly New Release Update. Kool Kat are distributed in the UK and Europe by I Don't Hear A Single as part of our aim to keep CDs available and affordable. The Kool Kat Links with each album take you to further details on each release.

THE KOOL KAT 10% OFF SALE is now on and runs until Sunday, February 28!   Over the years the sale has been held traditionally in January, but due to delayed delivery issues within the US Postal system, Kool Kat decided to hold off until the system was running a little smoother.  If paying by credit card, the discount will be applied to your order at checkout.  If paying by PayPal, you will be refunded the difference upon receipt of the order.

PLEASE NOTE: THIS SALE APPLIES TO NEW CDs, AND USED CDs.  ALL MULTI-PURCHASE DISCOUNTS (2-FERS, ETC) AND ALL NEW RELEASES ANNOUNCED IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2021 ARE NOT ELIGIBLE.  YOU MAY WANT TO ACT QUICKLY – WHEN KOOL KAT RUN THESE TYPES OF SALES, A LOT OF TITLES SELL OUT AND ARE NOT RE-STOCKED.  IF THEY ARE OUT OF A SPECIFIC TITLE OR TITLES, THE DISCOUNT WILL STILL BE APPLIED TO ANY THAT CAN STILL OBTAINED IF YOU WISH TO HAVE THEM KEPT ON BACKORDER.

Please place all UK and European orders by following the details here. Links to Kool Kat's Entire Stock can be found here. Without further ado, here are seven new additions to Kool Kat Musik this Week.

Bad Moves - Untenable (Don Giovanni Records) 2020       $12

Washington DC has had a rich punk history, documented by the vast array of bands on labels such as Dischord Records and Teen-Beat Records. Although they’re signed to New Jersey’s Don Giovanni Records, Bad Moves are more than capable of kicking as much ass as those that preceded them. They are a wonderfully unpretentious band. They’ve got power, they’ve got pop and they’ve got punk and they use it to great advantage. 

Kool Kat Link

Bandcamp Link

The Comebacks - Under the Banner of Love (Rock Indiana Records Spain) 2020      $16

                                                   

Developed over the last few years in their rehearsal room, The Comebacks' debut album is finally a very happy reality. and it is the best Spanish beat and power pop album that has been released in a long time.  Plenty of class, splendid vocal harmonies and, above all, sthe songs make it a must if you like the Beatles, Flamin´ Groovies, Velvet Crush, 20/20, The Plimsouls, Spongetones  etc. You can spot the references throughout!.

Kool Kat Link

You Tube Link To All 12 Songs

John Dunbar - Oh Wellness  (Kool Kat Musik) 2021      $13

NEW RELEASE ON THE KOOL KAT LABEL – AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 12 – ACCEPTING ORDERS NOW!!     The John Sally Ride were in the studio finishing up a new album at the time the international pause button was pressed. They record albums in the same room, so when it became apparent that lock-downing was going to become a long time thing, John Dunbar decided to record the album himself. The result, as expected, is a wonderfully melodic Pop Rock joy.

    

Kool Kat Link

Bandcamp Link

The Explorers Club - Rarities Volume 1 (Goldstar Recordings Australia)        $15

Fresh off the heels of not one but TWO critically acclaimed album releases in 2020, retro pop wunderkind Jason Brewer, along with the musical collective he’s dubbed The Explorers Club, are releasing their third collection in less than a year. The result is an 11-song collection of rarities from the band’s vaults. With a brand new full studio album set to follow in 2021, ‘Rarities Volume 1’ is another shimmering slice of retro pop that will thrill and delight their ever-growing fanbase.

                              

Kool Kat Link

Bandcamp Link

Trevor Beld Jimenez - I Like It Here (Curation Records) 2021        $15

The fantastic solo debut from a guy who’s been involved in a lot of projects (we only knew of him from GospelbeacH), but you gotta check out his rather impressive discography.  Some of LA’s finest dropped by to lend their talents to the record.  The album is AM radio gold, a fine example of Californian Pop.. We know that Trevor is a hell of a songwriter and musician. He put words and empathy into GospelbeacH’s ‘Another Summer Of Love’ and ‘Let It Burn’and that talent is underlined here.

   

Kool Kat Link 

Bandcamp Link

The Stan Laurels  - There Is No Light Without The Dark (Big Stir Records) 2021       $12

The fourth studio album from John Lathrop under The Stan Laurels name.  It's a watershed follow-up to his acclaimed and award-winning 2018 Kool Kat Musik collection. This is muscular power-pop that slides completely off the end of Teenage Fanclub sweet and into  muscular Pop Rock. It’s a sound that is the final point of Power Pop and one that stays just the right side of Garage Rock.

Kool Kat Link

Bandcamp Link

Shindig! Magazine – Issue #112 February 2021 (US Buyers Only)      $13

 

The tres chic ‘n kool Nancy Sinatra graces the cover: The singer, actress and go-go icon reflects on her career.  Other features include The Ventures: How America’s biggest pre-Beatles act changed with the times, and Steve Ellis: The 10 years that followed Love Affair.  Featurettes on: Dana Gillespie, Dave Cousins, and much more are contained within.  Reviews of the best in reissues, new releases, DVDs and books, and other news titbits we all can use!

Kool Kat Link  

Shindig UK Site

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

I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2018 : 41-50

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 41 : Cinderpop - Bricolage       IDHAS Review here.







No 42 : The Stan Laurels - Maybe      IDHAS Review here.






No 43 : The Supahip - The Two Sided Face      IDHAS Review here.






No 44 : Hurry- Every Little Thought 






No 45 : P. Hux - This Is The One      IDHAS Review here.

No 46 : Phil Yates And The Affiliates - Party Music!      IDHAS Review here.






No 47 : Dot Dash - Proto Retro      IDHAS Review here.






No 48 : William Duke - Quatro      IDHAS Review here.






No 49 : The Yancys - The End       IDHAS Review here.






No 50 : The Cleaners From Venus - Life In A Time Machine






.

The Stan Laurels - Maybe

Austin Texas's John Lathrop is The Stan Laurels. His Third Album is the Soundtrack for Lex Lybrand's Maybe Shower. Don't be fooled by the Soundtrack label though. These are not snippets of instrumental twaddling, all nine offerings stand up alone and combine to make a fine album.

There's a lot going on in the songs and considering Lathrop played everything himself, the greatest compliment you can pay is that it sounds like a band recorded them. Guitar Solos burst out, combined at times with an 80's synth sound. all suiting his laid back vocals.






Maximum Zen edges into Psych, Door #1 is classic Fountains Of Wayne type Power Pop and maybe the best song on the album. In fact, the FOW comparisons are often to be heard as are hints of Sloan. The harmonies on Where I Want To Be hint at Teenage Fanclub.

Maybe is probably most people's choice of single, I've only not embedded it here, because there's a couple of songs that I really want you to hear. Maybe is a mixture of Cars like synths and out and out harmonic Power Pop. The riff just hooks you.






The album is another plus, yes another, on Ray Gianchetti's Kool Kat Label. The label has been prolific in the number and quality of releases lately. You can buy the CD from Kool Kat here. You can listen to and buy the album as a download here,