Tag: Galileo 7

Galileo 7 and Grahame Steinberg

powerpopaholic

The Galileo 7 “False Memory Lane”
The Galileo 7’s new album False Memory Lane is loaded with acid-tinged pop goodies across its 11 tracks. Lead by bassist-singer-songwriter Allan Crockford, he proudly displays his love of late sixties pop influences. The opener “Don’t Follow Me” demonstrates this with vintage Farfisa organ and fuzz guitar across a snappy melody. The slow building “My Cover is Blown” reminded me a bit of Schnauser’s psychedelic power pop. Each tune makes its mark, including “You’re Not Dreaming” with its catchy rhythms and “Nobody Told You” with its swinging “ba-ba-ba-da-ba” chorus.

The excellent “I’m Still Here” dials down the fuzz, with its Byrds meets Hollies chorus sure to stick in your head. “Don’t Want To Know” is another gem that soars with some excellent vocal/guitar interplay. Fans of The Creation and Dukes of The Stratosphere will dig the riff heavy “Little By Little.” Overall not a wasted note here and a very worthy addition to your retro music collection. Highly Recommended!

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Grahame Steinberg “Grahame Steinberg 2”
The supremely talented Lane Steinberg and reclusive pop genius David Grahame delivered an amazing first album with indelible melodies. So what happened? Unlike their first effort, the lead vocals fall on Lane Steinberg, which isn’t a problem but the compositions are maddeningly inconsistent. This sounds like a collection of 23 demos and ideas polished up for release, most of them less than a minute and a half. Some of the songs work, but several fall very flat.

“Do Nothing Day” shambles along with discordant piano and guitar feedback. I guess that’s the song’s concept, but its not enjoyable. Better is Lane’s vocal styling of “Are You Inside,” almost like Stevie Wonder meets R. Stevie Moore. “Flash Flood” finds Lane doing his best Lou Reed, with a great combination of banjo and electric guitar. Highlights include “Evening Swim,” the soulful “Heirs To The Throne,” and “Interceding Hands.” I would have loved these songs to go longer than a single chorus, and eliminate crap like “Eternal Chicken.” There is enough here for me to recommend to fans of the duo, but I’d direct newcomers to the debut or Lane’s other collaboration, 8×8.

Exclusively at Dog Turner Records

The Galileo 7 and Amy Gore

powerpopaholic

The Galileo 7 “Staring at the Sound“
Opening with crunchy retro riffs on “Anne Hedonia,” its a solid throwback to 60’s British bands like the Kinks, The Strawberry Alarm Clock and The Creation. Fans of The Action and Len Price 3 will also find a lot to like here. The compositions are clean and harmonies crisp on the organ-guitar combo of “Paradise.” Lead guitar Allan Crockford makes it all an easy listen on the ears, the swirling guitars and psychedelic synths that The Moody Blues have mastered are done with equally dazzling effect on “Waiting to Cross.”

The songs seem to get stronger as the album progresses, “Hiding From The Sun” starts winsome, and builds to a rich melodic chorus. “Not Gonna Miss You” and “Don’t Fly Too High” groove pretty hard and I didn’t find a single throw away track on the album. If anything it adheres too close those flower power sounds, and will easily fool anyone under 30 that this wasn’t a classic album from 1968 or part of the Austin Powers soundtrack.

 

Amy Gore  “In Love”
As leader of garage rock darlings The Gore Gore Girls, Amy Gore wears her classic pop influences well. She sounds like a mix of Karla Kane (Corner Laughers) and Chrissy Hynde (Pretenders) with an sharp romantic wit. “Driving Around” is perfect crusin’ music, a hummable melody that sticks in your head for the whole trip. Continuing with The car theme, “Cadillac” has some neat guitar licks and “Just A Dream” is another memorable single. Amy shows us a softer side on “I’m Addicted” but it doesn’t stay that way, as the love obsessed chorus plays on.

Some great guitar work is heard throughout, especially on “Static” and the blistering riffs of “You Won’t Lead Me On.” Overall a solid debut that should put this former Gore-Gore girl from the garage into mainstream pop success without straying far from her rock roots.