Southern California’s Vinyl Candy has followed up the stellar “Pacific Ocean Park”with another rock and roll gem. The quartet here is Jim Leber, Matt Corey, Michael “WessC” Wessner, and Justin “JD” Brinsfield. The band has a distinct mid 70’s-era rock sound that mines influences like Queen, Bay City Rollers and Todd Rundgren pretty effectively. This album is also best compared to Imperial Drag with rock guitars paving the way for sticky pop sweetness. Opening with summery melody of “I’ll Be Fine (Part 1)” it has the reverb heavy guitars and Moog synths supporting the chiming harmonies in the chorus. The song moves seamlessly to “Fan Club History” with a Kiss-like ferocity in dense rock guitars and a heavy synth solo. “Chasing Time” is an fine mid-tempo pop example with a heavenly chorus and thick bass lines. “Gasoline & Tangerines” is another gem that tells more of the narrative of a life and possible death on the road. It can get close to the edge when all the varied loud sounds drown out the hooks (“Learn How To Fly”), but this is few and far between. “StarStruck” really comes closest to that Imperial Drag stabbing synth sound. The group has awesome vocal chemistry here, especially on the highlight “Want It So Bad.” The album ends with a slow “pub” version of the opener in “I’ll Be Fine (Part 2).” The theme of the album is the story of a rock star named “Land” and his rise to fame and ruin. It took a few listens to get the full linear story, but it flows nicely. Certainly this album should put Vinyl Candy on the rise to fame for sure.
Listen to “Chasing Time”
Listen to “Gasoline & Tangerines”
I was at this show, the monitor mix was not ggod at all but I have seen this band play many times since that show and they keep getting better and better.
I really like the first two albums and I LOVE the third album. Its so good and the songwriting is amazing.
I never once even thought about how old the band members were because I was too busy enjoying the show and rockin out. That's kind of a strange comment for a music forum but I guess if you consider people in their 30's to be old then maybe Aiyna should go to a Miley Cyrus show where she will be more at home.
Hahaha…Aiyna…that's funny stuff. I'm a band member and i would have to say that in my opinion i don't think that SF show was very good either. I could barely hear the drums or rhythm, just a lot of lead guitar. The stage mix was horrible…but having said that, i was surprised by the amount of positive feedback we got from most of the people in the room that night? I'd like to comment on the rest of your review, but your opinion about age and style of music just don't make sense. What does age have to do with music, really? Paul McCartney is still out there playing his 'pop' songs, Michael Jackson rest his soul would be out there singing his 'pop' songs at 50…I want to be positive here with you, but those thoughts come from a very closed minded place, maybe even more of a childish place really. How can you argue with a child? much love to you and your opinion on the rest of it though.
I saw them at the Rocket Room in SF for the IPO and could not disagree more with Aiyna. These guys kicked serious butt the most rocking band of the night in my opinion! Matter of fact I would go on to say they completely dominated the night. Yeah they had an old black man filling in on lead guitar but who cares the music rocked. Aiyna everyone has an opinion and my opinion is your a little hater, maybe your mommy and daddy should have hugged you more!
Wow Aiyna, to spew such hate almost lends me to believe that you are truly jealous of what we are doing.
It is a matter of art here, art that we love to do with a raw passion. Something expressed from a spark inside. To express a beautiful melody with lyrics that are inspired from a very loving and wonderful place. Love is my God and I wish you all the love in the world. God bless your opinion, but couldn't we spend our time better doing something other than riffing hate filed rhetoric just so you can feel good about yourself?
Although few songs are overproduced, and I have not seen them live, the album has killer riffs and I disagree with your opinion. Give it a few more listens, as Bryan Scary got a similar styled "sounds like a mash-up of everybody else" critique from others. Who is your high school band?
R U kidding? I saw this band at International Pop in SF and they sucked. My friend likes them so I heard both cds and they are totally over produced the lyrics are immature & the music is just a rip off of a lot of other bands all mixed up together. Not original at all. They seem like pretty old guys to be playing such kiddie-pop music.My little brothers high school garage band is more relevant.