Wesley Fuller - All Fuller No Filler

 

I can't believe that we are in the 7th year since Wesley Fuller's debut album, Inner City Dream. You can read our review here. He's lost none of his accessibility. This second album is as catchy as catchy can be with great big singalong choruses.

This will be labelled as Power Pop, but it seems more Pop Rock, 70s Pop Rock is the base and it successfully treads that line between Easy Listening and great Pop that those great 70s bands did successfully, in fact it does far more than that.

The Velvet Affair does this most successfully. It is great Pop Rock, but with big hints of Psych Pop. Jacaranda follows a similar suit, swapping Psych with Jangle this time. Everything Is Strange, however, is all US 60s Sunshine Pop, brilliantly so.

Trade War rocks proceedings considerably towards 70s New Wave, but All Of My Dreams is splendid UK Top Of The Pops Glam Rock. The gentle psych riff on Inside And Out is countered by great catch all harmonic Pop, particularly on the chorus.

Counting Down The Days is great all together now Pop with a fine arrangement and a chorus that is very ELO. The album is at its best when it is at its jauntiest. Back To Square One is a great example with its 1974-ish vocal matched to a more progressive arrangement and spacey keyboard run.

And if you want a stomping ear worm that will stay in your head all year then you should hear Alamein Line. All Fuller Not Filler is superb at what it does and that is great Guitar led Pop. If I am being hypercritical,I have just one minor quibble and that is the drum sound which is way too mechanical and holds back the overall feel a little bit. But this album is an absolute winner.

You can listen to and buy the album here. It is available on Vinyl. The CD is available on the Kool Kat label here.

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I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2024 : 81-90

 

For the last eight years We 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. A reminder that anything reviewed on I Don't Hear A Single is highly recommended. A reminder that only new albums are included among these 100.

Narrowing things down to this 100 has been really difficult. The 100 albums are posted in reverse batches of 10. For each album, A song is embedded from the album and a link is provided to the IDHAS Review where you can find further details and how to listen or buy the album.

81 Shenanygans - On Monte Verita      IDHAS Review

82 Mothboxer - Timelines      IDHAS Review

83 Lions Of The Interstate - Strange Empires      IDHAS Review

84 The Toms - Rock Paper Scissors      IDHAS Review

85 Bottlecap Mountain - Electric Love Spree     IDHAS Review

86 Them Elephants - Come Calling       IDHAS Review

87 Mountain Movers - Walking After Dark      IDHAS Review

88 Swiftumz - Simply The Best      IDHAS Review

89 Wesley Fuller - All Fuller No Filler      IDHAS Review

  

90 StoneDog - About Time     IDHAS Review

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Wesley Fuller - Inner City Dream

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.

I Don't Hear A Single Albums Of The Year 2024 : The Cut Out And Keep Guide

 

Here's the full list of our Best 100 Albums Of 2024. You can keep it handy to enrich your audio life.

1 The Armoires - Octoberland

2 The Mommyheads - One Eyed Band

3 Teenage Frames - Everything Has Led To This

4 King Black Acid - Victory For Mad Love

5 Emperor Penguin - Gentlemen Thieves

6 Silk Cut - Silk Cut

7 Amateur Ornithologist - Hide

8 Silent Forum - Domestic Majestic

9 Ward White - Here Comes The Dowsers

10 James Sullivan - Vital Signs

11 Custard Flux - Einsteinium Delirium

12 Feet - Make It Up

13 Log Flume - Splash Hit

14 Quivers - Oyster Cuts

15 Tom Minor - Eleven Easy Pieces On Anger & Disappoi...

16 Tamar Berk - Good Times For A Change.

17 The Vegetarians - Space Age Pagliacci

18 Custard - Suburban Curtains

19 Steve Robinson - Window Seat

20 The Trafalgars - About Time

21 Aerial - Activities Of Daily Living

22 Sykofant - Sykofant

23 Mothboxer - Twelve

24 Nick Piunti And The Complicated Men - Up And Out O...

25 Motorists - Touched By The Stuff

26 The Low Sixes - The Oshawa Tree

27 Willie Dowling - The Simpleton

28 The Nature Strip - Domesticated Beast

29 Derrero - Breezing Up

30 James Clarke Five - Zoom And The Gadflies

31 Lunchbox - Pop And Circumstance

32 Pulse Park - First Second

33 Rural France - Exactamondo!

34 Supermilk - High Precision Ghosts

35 Velvet Attack - Visions From Inner Space

36 Alex Pester - Boy

37 The Society Of Rockets - Tough Trip Through Paradise

38 The Smashing Times - Mrs Ladyships and the Cleaner...

39 The Special Pillow - Meets The Space Monster

40 Sharp Class - Welcome To The Matinee Show (Of The ...

41 Gentlemen Rogues - Surface Noise

42 Macseal - Permanent Repeat 

43 Mt. Misery - Love In Mind

44 I Do You Do Karate - III

45 Caddy - Caddy

46 The Junipers - Imaginary Friends

47 Steve Conte - The Concrete Jangle

48 Nick Frater - The Rebutles 1967-1970

49 The Resonars - Electricity Plus

50 Extra Arms - Radar

51 Gustavo Warnunk - Semi​-​Detached Tales Vol. I

52 8X8 - Life During Wartime

53 The Reflectors - Going Out Of Fashion

54 Lava Fangs - Sub Auroram

55 Dave Cope And The Sass - Hidden From The World

56 Hoaster - Everything Is Great 

57 Brent Seavers - Exhibit B

58 The Martial Arts - In There Like Swimwear

59 Pantomime Horses - Forever Polyester

60 The Drywall Heels - Today's Top Hits Playlist

61 Dan Miraldi - Ulysses

62 Ian St. George - Emergency Index

63 The Phase Problem - The Power Of Positive Thinking

64 ahem - Avoider

65 The Shop Window - Daysdream

66 The Violet Twilight - Above The Clouds

67 Mark & The Clouds - Machines Can't Hear You

68 Raised On TV - Make Time To Make Time

69 The Real Numbers - Thank You

70 Spiral Heads - 'Til I'm Dead

71 Evening Standards - The Shining

72 Mythical Motors - Seven Is Circular

73 The Rare Occasions - Through Moonshot Eyes

74 Wild Yaks - Monumental Deeds

75 Mythical Motors - Upside Down World

76 The Dynamo Hymn - The Dynamo Hymn

77 Joy Buzzers - Shake On It!

78 Boyracer - Seaside Riot

79 The Blackburns - The Blackburns

80 Your Academy - #2 Record

81 Shenanygans - On Monte Verita

82 Mothboxer - Timelines

83 Lions Of The Interstate - Strange Empires

84 The Toms - Rock Paper Scissors

85 Bottlecap Mountain - Electric Love Spree

86 Them Elephants - Come Calling

87 Mountain Movers - Walking After Dark

88 Swiftumz - Simply The Best

89 Wesley Fuller - All Fuller No Filler

90 StoneDog - About Time

91 Day Dreems - Day Dreems

92 The Duke Of Surl - Borneo

93 The Proctors - Snowdrops & Hot Air Balloons

94 The Duskwhales - Strawflower Lane

95 The Hard-Ons - I Like You A Lot Getting Older

96 The Successful Failures - Enemy Sublime

97 Radio75 - Screaming Out

98 Love Fiend -Handle With Care

99 Neon Bone - Eager To Please

100 Young Scum - Lighter Blue

I Don't Hear A Single Radio Show Episode 21

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.

You can listen to it here.

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

IPO Liverpool 2018 Preview : The Stanleys

The Stanleys are dear to my heart for a number of reasons. I'd always looked upon the Power Pop strength to be in the US and Australia despite it's roots here in the UK. That strength seemed to have diminished in Oz until The Stanleys reminded us it hadn't gone away. Plus they are honourary members of the Big Stir crowd.

The single, Amy, featured in my Top 10 singles of 2017 as you can see here. The debut album set a IDHAS Radio record. The Stanleys became the only band to have the whole album played on the weekly show. The review of the debut self titled album is here.

So it has been nice to chew the fat with Mark Di Renzo about the band's history, the scene and that extraordinary debut album.







What made you start as a musician / band and who were your influences?


"I guess you could say music was in my blood and I grew up around music so it was unavoidable … but a very good unavoidable!  My grandfather, Giovanni (on my dad’s side), played bugle in the Italian army in the Second World War.

My dad, Charlie, built his first guitar when he was 16 and still plays a little guitar, but more keyboards now. He ran a music business for many years with music studios, his own brand of speaker enclosures (which I use – Di Renzo Custom Sound), road cases etc and at the age of 74 he still is active in some of the aforementioned activities.  My older brother John plays guitar and has been a member of The Stanleys live band since our first ever show.


I started on piano as a kid, but to this day, only really dabble in the playing of black and white keys.  I played and sang in school bands in primary school and graduated to the real stuff in senior school, but only took up bass guitar when I got to university.

Initially my influences were more of the perhaps classic rockier bands, growing up listening to the likes of Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, The Rolling Stones, Kiss and The Beatles. I probably discovered Power Pop more in my teens with bands like Cheap Trick, Hoodoo Gurus, The Posies, Fountains Of Wayne and Perth’s own DM3.  I still think all that music is great!"







What are your thoughts on IPO and Liverpool?


"IPO has a special place in The Stanleys' hearts since we played our first ever gig at IPO LA back in 2011, before playing anywhere else in the world.  We hadn't even played my home town Perth before.

My previous band Gigantic had spoken to David Bash about playing his International Pop Overthrow Festival, but despite touring the US three times we never quite made it.  David and Rina are wonderful people and the IPO community of bands is one that shows each other much love and support the world over.  We've made so many friends around the world through IPO.

As for Liverpool, ask me again after my first visit there to play IPO.  But all reports from others are good ones and to play a venue that has hosted The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Queen, The Who, Oasis and so many more is an absolute honour.

I also love traditional UK food – Fish And Chips, Shepherd's Pie, English Breakfast etc, so I want to try Liverpool's Scouse, which I hear can be quite a delicious stew.  I'm very excited for the visit!"


What are your current and future plans?


"We've been lucky enough to have had quite an overwhelmingly positive response to our debut album so we're still busy touring it.  We've had a recent visit to the US and Europe and we're back to Europe again for the "Everybody Dance Tour".

This time we're playing the UK, Sweden, Germany and Spain, where our European label is based.  We've even learnt a few songs from Gigantic (most particularly for the Spanish audiences), but I'm sure we'll bust out a couple for the UK and other shows also.

After that we'll take a breather.  Tomas is busy finishing off another Caddy album, which will be one to listen out for later this year and Jamie has had his second child so is taking time out for family commitments.

I've been the only lucky one from the studio band who has gotten to tour the album along with my brother on guitars and some other great musicians from Perth and Italy.  There will be a video coming out for Everybody Dance a little after the tour.

I imagine that I'll be ready for a break from gigging by then.  Amongst other things I'd like to improve my cooking skills.  I make a mean Lobster Pasta, but outside of that my food production repertoire is rather limited!"







What appeals to you about Power Pop?

"I think it is mostly about the melody for me.  Great melodies that you can sing along to, together with some crunchy guitars played with gusto and presto musical magic!  I feel the "Power" part of Power Pop is really important for me. The "Power" is the passionate part and a very essential ingredient."


What's The Oz scene like at present and how do you and Power Pop fit in?


"The Oz scene, like most scenes around the world, is pretty healthy as far as talent goes across many genres.  We have the same problem shared by other countries in that there are way more bands than venues and opportunities for exposure for those bands.

As far as Power Pop goes, it's been a dirty word down under for quite a few years now.  There are actually very few bands playing Power Pop down here.  That said I feel Aussie Power Pop had a great 2017 with fantastic albums from the likes of Wesley Fuller, The Naturals, The Wellingtons and The On And Ons. It's just a matter of time until Power Pop is cool again.

Our fan base is certainly bigger Overseas than it is in Australia. We've played way less shows here than we have in the US and Europe  That said, since we released our album, we've been asked to play more shows in Australia in the last few months than we have in our entire 7 or so years of existence and the gigs have been really fun.

We're kicking off the Everybody Dance Tour with two shows in our home town with a great Sydney based rock band called Front End Loader.  I'm sure it's going to be good times, followed by even more good times making new friends across Europe and catching up with some old ones too.  See you soon!"







You can listen to and buy the band's album here. The Stanleys play The Cavern Pub on Thursday 17 May and The Cavern Club on Friday 18 May.