Saturday Night Special: A few of you may remember Michigan-based Zach Curd from The Pop Project last year. Well, he also runs one of the Midwest’s most prolific indie record labels; Suburban Sprawl, and recently dug up some old songs that he recorded for this new digital EP that is FREE for download. Take a listen right here:
Download BLOGEP here.
Visit Zach on My Space
Only recently did I get to enjoy Cheap Star’s debut album “Speaking Like An Elephant” released earlier this year. It’s an obvious mix of Cheap Trick and Big Star in the name, but the sound is The Posies, Teenage Fanclub, Byrds, and Velvet Crush. In fact, this is almost a Posies album with Ken Stringfrellow and Jon Auer deeply involved here (producing, mixing, playing, etc.) . The other members from France are Remi, Thomas and Vincent and they are very good musicians that carry over the style perfectly. With the second album, Jon Auer formally collaborates with the trio and includes vocals. “Northern Sky” builds into a first class single with Auer’s vocal a smooth as ever. The other tracks are a bit more low key, as “Pop Music” and “You Got It All” sound like outtakes from the first album. “Changing Heart” is a robust, country tune that would make Gene Clark proud. It ends with the strong guitar work on “Josephine” and Auer projects the intensity of a doomed relationship and dueling harmonies of “I guess I’ll never know why.” For fans of the first album, this is a no-brainer – I would have most pop fans start with Speaking… first, as it’s another strong contender for my top ten of 2009 list, so don’t let it slip by you.
Scott Warren “Quick Fix Bandage”
My Space | Scott Warren’s site
Brian Jay Cline “Nashville Tracks”
My Space | Not Lame | Kool Kat Musik
John Lefler spent the last seven years playing guitar/keys in the band Dashboard Confessional. But with a handful of friends somehow had time to create this finely crafted pop album. The album gets off to great start with “Dream Your Life Away” which has flowing melody lines and pounding piano similar to Sun Sawed In Half and Jellyfish. The title track follows with an ELO-styled bridge and it’s steady beat will automatically put a little bounce in your step. “Lucy” is transitional song that leans toward a softer styled jangle pop. The rest of the album can’t quite keep up with those superb opening tracks, but the mid tempo “Afraid Anymore” and the excellent piano guitar interplay of “Hard Act To Follow” will hold your interest for sure. The latter album tracks “Start Me Over” and “Helplessly” remind me of The Rembrandts (okay, maybe Danny Wilde solo). But the album does not lose it’s footing, and gives us a Rooney-esque guitar and melody on “Better Than You” which leads us to the punchy “Ordinary Guy.” Even the ending ballad “Up My Sleeve” has a sweet multi-dubbed harmony that recalls John Lennon. For most power pop fans, this will be more than enough to put it on their “must have” list. Overall, a great debut and I hope we hear more from Mr. Lefler in the future.
The Singles “Can You Go Out Tonight?” video, directed by Chris Chynoweth. As much as I like the corny way they show three part harmonies, I think I’m in love with both girls here even more.