Recently saw the movie Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, and one of the funniest parts of the movie is when Dewey goes through a Brian Wilson phase, complete with a Smile-era parody suite called “Black Sheep” – what suprised me is that’s actually written by Smile co-writer Van Dyke Parks! The movie misses as often as it hits, but the music is what is makes it memorable. Lots of tunes here were written by Mike Viola, Marshall Crenshaw, Dan Bern and Charlie Wadhams. The soundtrack was nominated for both a Grammy and Golden Globe Award and was nominated and won the Sierra Award for Best Song in a Motion Picture from the Las Vegas Film Critics Society.
Shplang "My Big Three Wheeler"
Shplang is an alternapop band with a variety of musical influences from alternative, folk, soul and psyche-pop, but they really have a talent for catchy melody, as evidenced by the sparkling jangle of the most accessible song on the disc, “Spanish Galleon.” It begins it’s strange turn with the Zappa flavored “Pound Cake,” but it keeps your ear interested through all four minutes. It then takes a country western trip with “Right On Time” full of strange characters in the lyric and that sweet Rickenbacker. “The Word is Love” is curious mix of Tin Pan Alley and narrative soul. In fact, the weird stories are all over this disc and forces the listener to pay attention, just to see what comes next. “No One Knows” recalls Sopwith Camel’s “Hello Hello” with trombone accents and vaudeville beats about a transgender fetishist. There are also several instrumental tracks, here notably “Tokyo Go-Go” which even has Godzilla-type dialog in the background. More straight forward tracks here are “Keep It Down” and “When Jesus Looked In The Eyes Of God.” With so many cooked up pop formulas, at least one track here will end up a favorite. If your tastes run eclectic, then this is the album for you — it is totally unpredictable.
CDBaby| Kool Kat Musik | Not Lame| Jam Recordings
The Secret Powers and The Electric Family Choir "s/t"
If you believe Jeff Lynne to be Almighty, then “Praise be to Mr. Blue Sky, ’tis a Strange Magic that allows the Evil Woman to leadest thou to Xanadu.” And listen to The Secret Powers. The last time I heard such a great mix of retro influences was Andrew Gold’s “Fraternal Order of The All” — and the last time I heard true ELO worship was Bleu’s supergroup “LEO”. Well here we have the two types of worship combined into one pretty fantastic album. Ryan “Shmed” Maynes made the move to Missoula, Montana. He built a recording studio in his backyard in the hopes of making a living as an engineer, producer, and musician. Lots of “historical” data about the group is emerging, but one thing is certain — this album is totally entertaining. The production of each song is chocked full of layers and layers of detail. “Orange Trees” is vintage Lynne and sounds like it fell off the “Out of The Blue” album. In between songs are quick odd “podcasts” from Uncle Shmed. Then comes the wonderful bouncy Jellyfish-like “Maryanne” full of ascending chords and waltz timing changes and carnival-like ending. Then “By The Sea” is a perfect companion for Harry Nilsson’s “Think About Your Troubles.” A theatrical multi-part harmony on “Lazy Men” would make Bryan Scary fans jealous. This leads us the then penultimate ELO ballad “Misery.” I could go on, but you get the gist. The group keeps the story moving until the end when they break character. Along the way you are treated to musical roller coaster ride. No weak spots either, as every track sparkles with great melody and multi-instrumental greatness and easily makes my top ten this year. So remember to wear clean underpants and all hail Shmed!
My Space | Not Lame | Kool Kat Musik
No song here, but a “history” of The Secret Powers.
The Campbell Stokes Sunshine Recorder "Makes Your Ears Smile"
Pop virtuoso, Andy Morten (The Nerves, Bronco Bullfrog) has put his twenty+ years of musical knowledge to the test on his solo effort known as The Campbell Stokes Sunshine Recorder. He’s rediscovered his love for British 60’s sunshine pop, and you will too, after you hear it. This starts with a very sarcastic outline of a lame emerging power pop artist (wink, wink) in “Track One” where he starts out “I’m too sloppy for power pop, ’cause I never know when to stop and all my chord progressions sound the same.” Then the sunny “She Looks Good in the Sun” covers the period as well as The Parade or The Merry Go Round with delicate guitar riffs and psyche-pop rhythms that are just magical. Next we are paying lip service to 60’s wannabe pop star with “Tony Hazzard” complete with kazoos and conceited lyrics about a fop who thinks “if Paul McCartney does it why can’t I?” Next, both “Bye Bye Mrs. Bumble” and “Everybody Loves the Good Times” are a light Beatlesque hodgepodge. The wonderful title track “Feel The Sunshine” has a strong hook and uptempo beats sure to put a spring in your step. “TV Jingle Man” mixes Brydsian jangle and Kinks storytelling styled lyrics. Every track is a winner here – even the bonus track on this disc gets better with repeat listens. It’s a perfect gift for the musical anglophile, and I am a sucker for this retro stuff when it’s done so lovingly with such self-deprecating humor.
MySpace | CD Baby
Terry Anderson and Brass Bed
Terry Anderson and The Olympic Ass-Kickin Team “National Champions”
Terry Anderson has a world class band with The Olympic Ass-Kickin Team. A real treat that keeps the energy throughout, the band has a sound that combines the Dave Edmunds, Tom Petty and the Stones in one tight package. The guitar attack of the opener “Goin’or Comin’” chugs along with a great hook and rhythm guitar riff. “Wille Mays” is playful sarcastic rip on Barry Bonds, and would not sound out of place on YepRoc’s Baseball Project. It’s a great song full of power and fury. It’s hard to make domestic violence funny, but it works with “You Had Me At Get Lost” and Terry channels’ classic Who with “Is We Or Ain’t We.” He continues to bust chops on redneck life with”Pow’ful “Merka” and rockabilly sweetness with “Indy 500.” Other songs deal with sex and sexy women — and the OAK team really sounds like it’s having fun playing all this. Every song here cracks with excitement and hooks, and even Terry’s inner Jerry Lee Lewis comes out with “Found Missin’.” If the first album was merely very good, “National Champions” gets elevated to greatness. Don’t miss this one.
MySpace | CDBaby| Doublenaught Records
Brass Bed “Midnight Matinee”
Brass Bed is like digging through a record bin and discovering an unknown album by a favorite artist, only to find it better than the one’s you’ve already heard. So say the press notes. It’s fair to say that’s partially true. After a very Wilco-like opening “BBC Midnight Broadcast” with strange percussion it begins to kick into gear with catchy “On The Road” lead by strong guitar strumming and drums. The mix of instrumental styles and effects is similar to those great Elephant Six bands like Olivia Tremor Control, with the strange but compelling “Olivia.” The punk rhythms and jangle guitar work well on “Split Decision” too. Standouts here are “Make Me Cry,” a piano and vocal harmony duel with a quirky doo wop texture and the excellent “Polar Birds” with amazing guitar skills at the songs end. However, there are too many odd fits and starts to keep the intensity of the album afloat. Often songs like “Killer Bees” seem calculated to be “weird” for weirdness sake. Otherwise this is a band to keep your eye on.