While not Christmas-themed, I wanted to feature this Syracuse University freshman, Callan Nagel-Dubin, who covers The Flashcubes with “It’s You Tonight” for his project in a recording class at the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. Ironically, the first time The Flashcubes ever recorded was as a student project for a musical recording class at Newhouse in the spring of 1978.
It’s easy to dismiss, but I love original Christmas music. Honestly, I’m tired of the old classics (the constant repetition is what makes some people hate Christmas songs) and would love to hear new stuff on the radio. Not only are all these great examples of new Christmas music (Joe Algeri’s JAC is more of an outlier here), but most of them are also “Name Your Price,” so this is also a bargain. I have one more week of reviews left, and then on New Year’s Eve, we let fly our top 25 albums for 2023. So enjoy the egg nog while it’s still fresh!
Chris Lund (Lund Brothers) releases his sophomore LP after the highly acclaimed debut Great Event Syndrome. Lund’s style is certainly an updated take on late 20th-century rock tropes. “Everything Is Fine” uses everything and the kitchen sink with key shifts, harmonies, and hooks, and the title track “Indian Summer” and “Mary Jane” are catchy throwbacks to The Raspberries and Badfinger. Lund’s skillful guitar leads each tune with gusto and melodic brilliance.
The songs vary in quality after the first three, but the universal themes of girls, groupies, and angst are common themes. The fantastic “Down The Line” would’ve been perfectly at home on a Van Halen album. “Please Me” is a well-written ode to the misunderstood high school dropout, with a soulful guitar break over an acoustic rhythm. Overall, a great album that power pop & guitar fans will really appreciate. Highly Reccomended.
Much like last year’s Dilettante, Portland’s Mo Troper likes to capture pop songs spontaneously and often in “demo” form. He takes a catchy bedroom hook on the opener “Between You and Me” and buries it beneath layers of fuzz and percussive distortion. “I’m the King of Rock and Roll” is a little clearer, and says more about his state with its fine guitar solo. “Waste Away” is another quick pop gem that sticks.
But there is more experimentation here, and while dark self-humor is there (i.e. “The Only Living Goy in New York”) it often is at the expense of listenability (“Royal Jelly,” “Coke Zero”). Using a chipmunk vocal filter sometimes helps (“I Fall Into Her Arms,” “No More Happy Songs”) but its charm wears off quickly. The unintelligible “Power Pop Chat” and “Final Lap” make it more of an art statement, and that’s where you’ll either love it or hate it. Still, Mo’s talent shines through each raw unpolished nugget. It’s music that deserves to be heard.
Chris Lund is best known for his work with Lund Bros, who have an impressive discography of excellent guitar-oriented rock, so it’s no surprise that Great Event Syndrome boasts all the right influences. Although a DIY record was done in his home studio, it sounds amazing due to Lund’s attention to detail.”Tell Me” is a very Cheap Trick-styled opener with its thick guitar hooks and overlapping solos. “The Path” is loaded with musical ideas and almost prog styled, anchored by the acoustic strum and “Glimpse” is a solid Badfinger styled rocker with a jangling chorus and sizzling solo. But the golden nugget here is “700 Miles,” a perfect amalgam of Beatles/Big Star sound, and one of the best songs of the year IMHO.
Chris packs a lot into each song, so repeat listens are required to fully appreciate the juxtaposition of chords, solos, and harmonies. The next several tracks all have great moments, especially “Remember The Daze” with its reminiscing chorus and terrific solo break. Other standouts include “What’s Her Name,” the Led Zeppelin-like folk song “The Juice” and dense pop closer “Fare Well.” Overall, a great power pop album that is highly recommended.
Roots rocker Rich McCulley is still finding new inspiration as he writes of both love and loss, good and not so good, hard and better times. With his distinctive gravelly voice, he opens with the emotional “Hey Trouble” about the “broken ties that bind” and the fine guitar melody of “Eventually” really grows on you.
The strong “Burn A Hole In The Sky” recalls Tom Petty with its defiant attitude. McCulley leaves his Americana style and tries blues-pop on “Pilot,” jangle pop on “Sinking Sun” and the brilliant look back at NYC “Midtown” and wondering where all the record stores are. Another satisfying album that deserves to be heard.
Re-issue Spotlight: The Spinto Band “Nice and Nicely Done”
Wilmington, Delaware’s The Spinto Band is possibly planning a comeback, but in the meanwhile it has re-issued 2006’s Nice and Nicely Done, chock full of B-sides and rare tracks. Their geeky pop sound has been influenced by The Talking Heads, and fans of Field Music, They Might Be Giants and Neural Milk Hotel will enjoy the quirky energy.
Vocalist Nick Krill does have a David Byrne-like vocal he uses to great effect on the mandolin heavy “Oh Mandy.” A lot of highlights, including “Crack the Whip,” “Direct to Helmet” and Pavement-like “Trust Vs. Mistrust.” If you missed it back then, I would revisit it now as it has aged very well. Highly Recommended.
