Melbourne's Wesley Fuller offers up his first full length album and it's great 70's Pop. A mixture of Bubblegum, Jangle and images of 70's Kids TV shows. There's a real charm throughout the album that is both endearing and admirable.
Both Inner City Dream and It Can Change My Ways are pure late 60's Bubblegum, The Archies spring to mind. Yet, Someone to Walk Around With is all 70's Glam Rock, handclaps and all. Whilst, Morality is like a theme to a 90's Japanese Cartoon series.
It's not all poppity pop though, the moodier Miranda Says is slower and atmospheric, very early 80's before the UK scene was taken over by make up and what you wore, almost BEF. No More Chances could be on a late 60's Film Soundtrack, all trip Beat Pop.
There's also signs of a more New Wave direction, away from the Pop to a darker experimental side, never more so on Biggest Fan. After the excellence of last year's Melvista EP, Inner City Dream moves on apace and promises even more for the future. If there's a better single than #1 Song around I haven't heard it. It's all jingle jangle and even has a cars like keyboard break.
You can buy the album everywhere. Sound samples can be heard on the likes of Amazon here.
Steve Eggers and Bill Majoros were a marriage made in heaven in my eyes. In fact I often have dreams in which they are in a Supergroup with Andy Partridge and Jason Falkner, but enough of my fantasies. On his third outing in The Nines, I still expected that at some stage Majors would turn the band into an Oranges And Lemons era XTC.
Although you get the odd sign of this in for instance, the solo on Maybe If You Stayed, the XTC connections are lesser if you except the chorus hooks. Whereas The Nines started as a sort of cross between XTC and ELO, leaning more towards Partridge, here they are very much more in Lynne Territory.
I remember Lennon saying in his latter days that if The Beatles were still around they'd sound like ELO. At the time, the outcry was deafening, it would be interesting how that would be taken today with Lynne's stock being so much higher. It would be nearer to say that if they were around now they'd be The Nines.
Unlike the previous album, Alejandro's Visions, reviewed here, Colour Radio is far more in traditional Nines Great Pop territory, in fact Eggers's voice is in fine fettle. Straight off with the opener, Crazy Little Girl, the song is all ELO hooks and harmonies with a vocal similar to Jeff Lynne's shouty On The Third Day era.
The McCartney Pop of Maybe If You Stayed has that incredible Majoros solo and again ELO like harmonies. But it's not all Lynne references and there's still XTC nods. We're Alright is classic Partridge and Majoros does his Dave Gregory bit to perfection.
The ballad, Guess I'm Crazy, is pure Eric Stewart and The Nines go funky with You Can Get More Than This with it's great keyboard solo. It doesn't always work, In Our Younger Days is a corker of a song spoilt a little by the Kelly Groucutt chorus.
That's a minor quibble though. For A Lifetime is in Peter Skellern territory, a good thing. Don't Be Losing Your Game is a kind of dancing Andrew Gold and he's nicked Peter Frampton's gizmo. I'm Lucky is one of those ballads that Macca should write and doesn't and hasn't for a long time.
To close it all, we have the Christmas song, Believe In Christmas. Unlike my friend Stephen Schnee, I wouldn't care if I never heard a Christmas Song again, all that forced jollity and celebration of the twee. It's a fine ballad, if a little sickly. But I'll forgive anyone who can write as great a piano romp as On And On She Gets By.
Colour Radio is a great pop album. The Nines are battling with my beloved Rush as my favourite Canadian band. Same again next year please Steve and Bill, can we have more Foreign Films soon. The album is available everywhere. You can listen to additional sound samples at CD Baby here.
Ed Ryan's previous album, Roadmap, was reviewed hereand Furious Mind follows on with all that was great about Roadmap. The songs are beautifully constructed taking up the rockier space in Power Pop.
Loads of hooks, soaring choruses, everything you need from an album. As I mentioned in the previous review, despite being a multi instrumentalist, it is Ryan's playing that deserves special note. It really is outstanding, even when slowed down on the likes of Take Me Home it still stands out.
Songs are largely built to maximise the chorus, but on I Know I Know, there is potentially three choruses. So Hard is almost a Ziggy Ballad and Lullaby has a great vocal, it caught me completely by surprise.
There's a few more chances taken here, particularly on the slower songs, but it's the sure fire Power Pop that Ryan excels on most. Songs like Drifting and Any Time You Want showcase his talent for writing something that hooks you and then there's that Guitar Playing which is exemplary.
The Granite Shore - Suspended Second
I purposely wanted this to appear in The Garden Of Earthly Delights section. Simply because I want this section to be useful to those not looking for the Poppier stuff that I concentrate on, but at the same time for those Pop fans to realise what else is around.
I'm a massive Fan of Nick Halliwell's Occulation Recordings, not only for dragging The Distractions back into public view. Any label that has John Howard on it is doing something right and every sign tells me that this is a label to reckon with.
The Granite Shore's second album is a cracker. Halliwell may have a plaintive vocal, but there is a fantastic structure and melody to the songs and the choruses don't half hook you. The seriousness of the message isn't lost in this follow up, but the debut album, Once More From The Top was a bit too reflective.
Suspended Second contains songs that seem a bit more jolly, even if the lyrics are not for Brexiteers. I defy anyone to write a song as beautifully melancholic as Someone Else. Ditto the nine minutes plus of The Performance Of A Lifetime which features completely addictive Backing Vocals.
Halliwell describes the album as Angry Pop, that's too easy a tag. The depth of the songwriting shows that he is being way too modest. The inclusion of Occulation label mates allow the vision to be reach fulfillment.
The Distractions' Steve Perrin is present as is The June Brides' Phil Wilson. The dulcet tones of John Howard are here as is that extraordinary piano playing. Arash Torabi and Ian Henderson complete the sextet.
Nick Halliwell has offered up an exceptional album on an exceptional label. You can listen to and buy the album here.
Bad Badger - Serpent Mother
Wichita Falls's Bad Badger have fashioned up an excellent album. The band are labelled with the all encapsulating Indie Rock. I mean what exactly is that these days? It would appear to be anything that is potentially Rock and not on a major label. Does it have quite a few synths on it, is there much guitar, no, oh that'll be Indie Pop, yes, oh that'll be Prog.
Serpent Mother is pure Rock and on something like New Pigs, the instrumentation is Caress Of Steel like, it's wonderful psych prog. Then there's Band Of Wagons which you'd expect to be on the Fruits De Mer label.
Lucid Livin' is so laid back it is almost asleep. Anna too is more of the same, mesmerising. Indeed the whole of the second half is far more dreamy and trippy than the pulsing of the first half. The two halves are divided by an interlude, all albums should make this mandatory.
This is a corker of an album, extremely mature, as well as grabbing the Nada Surf and Lemon Twigs crowd, Bad Badger should garner a much older following. Indie Rock indeed!!!!!! This is pure psych and all the better for it. I'll pass this on to my good friend, Chris Sirett at The Perfumed Allotment. I know he'll want to cover it too.
You can buy this everywhere including CD Baby hereand Amazon here. Listening samples are at both places. Ignore the categories though. Blink 182?????
Trent Reznor And Atticus Ross - The Vietnam War (Original Score)
The Garden Of Earthly Delights section was always meant to be something away from what I generally cover on IDHAS. It was intended to be away from the Power Pop and Pop Rock and from now on, it will appear regularly and do just that.
Nine Inch Nails which is essentially Trent Reznor have been known largely for Industrial Rock, really enjoyable but hard listening. Reznor's soundtrack work with Atticus Ross, who is now also a NIN member has been largely different.
Although Reznor had worked alone with Scores for David Fincher, since his collaboration with Ross on 2010's The Social Work, the projects have developed considerably. Their scores fit the films beautifully, yes this is ambient, but it is also effective. Not as up itself as some ambient music can be. Think Bill Nelson, who also makes wonderful albums in that field, although there are perhaps too many.
Ken Burns and Lynn Novick's excellent Documentary series, The Vietnam War, is a big watch, 10 episodes taking up 18 hours. So although there are two different albums to accompany it, there is room for both.
The alternative soundtrack will be the one people naturally gravitate to. That is a bit obvious with it's Simon And Garfunkel and Creedence Clearwater Revival. All a bit Now That's What I Call Classic Rawk. Surely most people have this stuff already.
This double disc is the gem. It's very moving, can be listened to as background music or in depth. If you are composing an Electronic Music score, you have to make it interesting, it can't just rely on a Prog like repetition of the same theme.
Reznor and Ross manage that. It's a fine listen briefly or through all 95 minutes. This score can be compared to a modern day Classical Composer's work and there is still more than enough room for this and three minute love songs.
You can buy this everywhere. The likes of Amazon have sound samples here.
Artful Dodger - The Complete Columbia Recordings (2CD)
I rarely cover Back Catalogue on here unless it is something dear to my heart. A number of reasons. I cover a bit elsewhere, I've spent far too long over the last two decades, listening to and writing about the past, but mainly because I prefer IDHAS to be about the new and unappreciated.
However, if the right band come along, I'll say a few words and this is a few words. Artful Dodger are one of the great lost Pop Rock bands, akin to Liverpool Express in the UK. Their self titled debut album and the follow up, Honor Amongst Thieves have appeared on CD before, but the masters were dreadful and they fetch very high prices these days or did until perhaps not.
1977's Babes On Broadway has never appeared on CD and although it's not a patch on the previous two, it's great to have it available again. These three CBS albums have Single Versions of Scream and Can't Stop Pretending added to the two disc package.
Sadly 1980's finale, Rave On was on Arista and so the wait for that continues. Big In Cleveland, I suppose describes Artful Dodger with their Raspberries Pop. But this is great Pop Rock. Don't confuse the band with the UK Artful Dodger or you will get a nasty surprise.
This can be bought at Amazon here and everywhere else. Sorry for the quality of the song examples. There's not a lot available.
Crime Scene's Alter Life slipped out without fanfare at the start of the year and it deserves much greater attention. It pushes all the right Pop Rock Buttons and enhances Sweden's reputation as purveyors of great pop.
Ulf Holmberg may be known more for his guitar excellence instrumentally, but he's also been involved in some great Pop. The self titled Longplayer album lit up 2011. It was very much in Jeff Lynne mode but worked beautifully.
As well as being a part of the splendid Manticore, Holmberg is in the four piece from Upsala, Crime Scene. The resultant album is still very much in the 70's or even latter day Beatles, but this is great melodic pop. Think Badfinger or The Raspberries.
All the hooks are there and the tricks, hippy Eastern guitar on Old Sage Moon, the Harrison like slide on On A Limb. The title track is one of those big 70's anthems that close Alan Parsons Project albums.
If it does get a little ELO in the odd moment, it's more ELO Part 2 than Jeff Lynne. Mother Of Troble is all Glam Rock with a Keith Emerson like organ opening. This is excellent Pop Rock, nothing out of the ordinary, but beautifully done.
You can listen to sound clips and buy the album at the likes of Amazon here.
Dublin's Shrug Life are tied in with Seattle's excellent Jigsaw Records and this would appear to be a match made in heaven. Jigsaw do not get enough praise for their contribution to Guitar Pop and the world would be a much poorer place without them.
As for Shrug Life, well they are 2017's answer to The Housemartins. The same glorious lo-fi, the rapier wit about the mundane and the chirpiness of the material. The trio are just the thing in this Post Brexit Trump World. Forget about it for a bit and celebrate the every day rubbish and nonsense.
There is seriousness here though, again Paul Heaton like, the chirpiness delivers a serious view. Your Body is about Pro Choice in a Proclaimers style delivery. At Times, this wit about the mundane can be compared to Half Man Half Biscuit and there are the similar folky tones around some of the songs.
Never Bored rocks out as much as you could expect Shrug Life to and that song still returns to a calypso like rhythm. Skype Calls has a lyric that you would expect from The Bordellos or Colin's Godson.
I'm not sure what Free Bird II is meant to be, but it's wonderfully anarchic, all jangly with lo-fi budget versions of Guitar solos at either end, a sort of Pound Shop Skynyrd. The hilarious closer, Japanese Bonus Track, is a country folk summer with an almost Morrissey vibe.
This album is an absolute joy, One of the best things that I've hears all year and probably the most satisfying. Wit, lyrical depth and all done in a charming poppy manner. It's an absolute corker, well done Shrug Life.
The I Don't Hear A Single Radio show hits Number 21 tomorrow.
Some great stuff as always. Apologies for the delay in reviews, they'll be appearing across the next three days. It's been busy with other stuff that you'll hear about in the near future.
Broadcast on KOR Radio at 8pm UK Time on Fridays, repeated at the same time on Saturdays. Due to increased popularity, a Monday Night Repeat has been added at 8pm.
Also, a reminder that the show is archived the following week on Mixcloud. You can listen to the first twenty shows here.
Here is this week's playlist :
01 The Zutons - Tired Of Hanging Around
02 The Sunset Spirit - No Time To Pretend
03 The Nines - Maybe If You Stayed
04 P76 - Postcard from Bondi
05 Richard Thompson - Valerie (Andy Kershaw Session 1987)
06 Sitcom Neighbor - Your Turn Next
07 Mothboxer - Get It Right
08 Daisy House - Desdemona
09 Doctor And The Medics - Burn
10 John Howard - From The Morning
11 The Brixton Riot - Little Spark
12 Wesley Fuller - All the Colours Of Sadness
13 Jeremy Neale - Averse To Try It
14 Red Cabin - Garden Walls
15 Dirty Fences - Teen Angel
16 Worriers - Not Your Type
17 The Red Plastic Buddha - Cosmonaut
18 The Morning Line - All Mine
The I Don't Hear A Single Radio show reaches the Number 20 tomorrow.
It's another good 'un, a bit of extra Psych Pop this week and so a cut down on the usual three archive songs. You'll know the opener though which was my teen anthem and is still probably my favourite single ever.
Broadcast on KOR Radio at 8pm UK Time on Fridays, repeated at the same time on Saturdays. Due to increased popularity, a Monday Night Repeat has been added at 8pm.
Also, a reminder that the show is archived the following week on Mixcloud. You can listen to the first nineteen shows here.
Here is this week's playlist :
01 Eddie And The Hot Rods - Do Anything You Wanna Do
02 Third Of Never - 18 Strings
03 Martin Carr - Damocles
04 The Screens - Jennifer Jones (Radio Edit)
05 Telyscopes - Alcoholics (The Last Drop)
06 The Ragamuffins - Oxygen
07 The Luck Of Eden Hall - Reflected
08 The Yellow Melodies - The Urban Cyclist
09 Idle Jets - Atomic Fireball
10 The Tomboys - Always After You.mp3
11 The Condors - Matter Of Fact
12 The Zags - A World Away
13 Ed Ryan - You're My Kind Of Fun
14 Titty Citty - Granny Got Game
15 Rockford - Tuck Me In
16 The Bordellos - Genre And Gender
