Tag: Chris Price
Chris Price and The Rallies
Chris Price “Dalmatian”
After last year’s brilliant Stop Talking, Price collects a few songs written during these sessions and added some new ones. Price continues to deal with contrasts and character studies of damaged people early on in Dalmatian. Starting with the chugging beat of “Sick Boy,” its a catchy ode to a remorseless killer who “likes his gun, it turns him on.” The piano ballad “Fever Dream” is a flowing emotional melody with delicate harmonies about “going down the rabbit hole” of love.
The tone shifts on “Roller Coaster,” a rocker that boasts a tasty baseline and beat sure to be a favorite, its the definition of a power pop classic. “The Dream is Over (But We’re Just Waking up)” is a self-reflective piano tune with some great layered harmony lines, and “Discount Love” has rocking dance beat and a Beach Boys-styled “umm-bop-ditty” backing that would’ve been a huge hit if it was released in 1976. I found no filler anywhere, and even though this album isn’t as thematically unified as Stop Talking, it strikes a more balanced tone. And despite the “odds & ends” approach, it sounds like Price is having a lot of fun here as well. Makes my top ten and appears at the top of that list for 2018 so far. Don’t miss this one. Super highly recommended!
The Rallies “Serve”
There will always be great music that slips through the cracks, and The Rallies Serve is one of those albums last year I wish I heard earlier. The Rallies are a tight four-piece band from Tacoma, Washington fronted by Steve Davis (vocals/guitar), Lee Brown (drums), Jeff Weidman (guitar), and Rick Jones (bass). Fans of The Rembrandts, Matthew Sweet, and Crowded House will really enjoy the Rallies sound.
The opener “Don’t Give Up” is a solidly strummed melody in the tradition of Tom Petty that speaks of hope. The jangling gems “Whatever You Thought,” “No One Knows,” and“Every Now and Then” all feature solid songwriting and easy on the ear melodies. The catchy “So Right” boasts a great rhythm and harmonies that drives the song forward. The style and tone of the songs are all very consistent, and if you wanted to nitpick – it would’ve been nice to see a little more variety. That mentioned, The Rallies are a force to pay attention to, and I hope to hear more from them in the near future. Highly Recommended.
Chris Price and Eric Matthews
Chris Price “Stop Talking”
Chris Price’s sophomore album took over 3 years to create, recorded in-between his work as a producer on the albums by Emitt Rhodes and Linda Perhacs and his role in the quintet Bebopalula, which released an EP last year. Bob Dylan once said “Behind every beautiful thing, there’s some kind of pain,” and Chris Price’s Stop Talking is mostly about pain and loss, but told with an elegance and beauty that’s impossible to ignore. The vignettes of each song reveal something disturbing under the surface of each catchy melody, done through Price’s sober singer-songwriter stylings.
The title track is a response to all the noise and anxiety out there, as he begs “stop talking about love I don’t think it’s real/stop talking about the pain I don’t want to feel.” It’s followed by “Hi Lo,” one of many depression-themed songs (“Once Was True,” “Anhedonia”) even the strong uplifting melody of “Man Down” is in contrast to the lyrics sung from a killer’s point of view. The bleak storyline continues on the creepy “Pulling Teeth,” like an evil Lee Hazelwood tune, with distorted strings backing a slow chorus. Highlights also include the frustration of “Father To The Man” about putting your dad in a nursing home and the ballad “You and Me (And Everyone Else),” a heart-wrenching goodbye to a loved one.
It takes a psyche-pop turn with “Algebra In The Sky” which sounds like a lost Lenny Kravitz tune, and then the album finishes up with a series of apocalyptic songs; “One of Them” and “Just In Time.” It took a few listens, but each macabre tune sticks with you and haunts your subconscious. A unique vision and highly recommended.
Eric Matthews “Too Much World”
For me, Eric Matthews has been equally brilliant and frustrating over the years. A big fan of his debut, I grew disillusioned with his ever increasing esoteric chamber pop albums after 1997’s Lateness Of The Hour. With Too Much World, some of the things that drew me to Eric’s music are back as his meticulous production work is matched by some well-written gems, like the opener “Pink” and piano-led “God Loves His Children.”
It’s nice to know the years have not dimmed Matthews abilities, no matter how far he goes down the rabbit hole of orchestral instrumentation on “Dragonfly” and Matthews statement that this album is “about having consumed too much world, that is choking out my connection to the world of spirit, of people..” One of the better songs here “Exactly Like Them,” has a great guitar riff alongside Eric’s trademark vocals, a driving pop force that deserves attention. This approach is repeated on “Never Mind Now” and its stands out too.
Several songs are more spiritual, like “Shadows Fall” and they often run over the four-minute mark, and meander along till we get to the epic title track which asks “who’s hand is in control?” with a catchy bossa nova rhythm. If you’ve ignored Matthews career in the aughts, this is a good one to bring you back into his world. Highly Recommended.
What’s coming in 2016… Part 2
The Honeydogs are back in the studio and if you’re an old fan of the band then you’ve come to expect great music with each release over their 20 year career. Adam Levy’s solo debut was a rare non-power pop LP that I added to my top 25 for 2015 list. The band is funding the new LP on Pledgemusic, and I encourage you to support this great band.
The biggest anticipated release has to be Emitt Rhodes first new full-length release since 1973. Producer Chris Price has assembled a village of power pop superstars to assist: Roger Joseph Manning Jr, Jason Falkner, Taylor Locke, Fernando Perdomo, and guest appearances from Aimee Mann, Susanna Hoffs, Jon Brion, Nels Cline & Pat Sansone (Wilco), Bleu, Probyn Gregory & Nelson Bragg (Brian Wilson Band). Omnivore Records has set the release date of February 26, 2016. Visit Emitt’s Pledgemusic page here.
Also in the works: Sonic Executive Sessions sophomore album and a new Vegas With Randolph album. And after he’s finished with Emitt Rhodes big re-introduction, producer Chris Price will follow up his debut album. Right now we only have this one song, “Uncle John” he made with Fernando Perdomo. Stay Tuned!
Jim Camacho and Chris Price
Jim Camacho “Everywhere” EP
Once again the talented Camacho gives us a bright shiny pop with flamenco styled jangle on “Big Little World.” His insight lyrically is like a power pop version of Jackson Browne, on “Hold On Ariel.” Next “Everywhere” has a big hook with an expansive chorus, then slows the tempo down for a the next two tunes. Highly Recommended.
Chris Price “Homesick”
Los Angeles singer/songwriter Chris Price is proof you don’t need Auto-Tune or even a recording studio to craft perfect power pop. Chris downloaded a four-track app on his iphone and like One Like Son, created a sophisticated vintage sounding LP. It also helps that the melodies are darn near perfect, similar to Mike Viola on the title track, and “Suicide” is a fast paced gem with jangling riffs. The ballad “For All We Know” is a lot like Big Star’s “Thirteen.” The gorgeously crafted “That’s Your Boyfriend” and “Up In Flames” are more timeless baroque compositions. I wish I found this last year, it would definitely make my 2012 top ten for sure. Get it now.