The Golden Needles, Rob Fetters and John Dunbar

The Gold Needles

The Gold Needles “What’s Tomorrow Ever Done for You?”

UK band The Gold Needles gets ambitious with this new release. The title track is a fantastic start with its earworm chorus and country rhythm. The band’s sound is akin to The Grass Roots, Sweet and late-era Moody Blues updated to today’s era. “I Get The Pressure” is another gem with its neat bassline and spacey synths. The band takes the Hollies “Have You Ever Loved Somebody?” and owns it, nearly outdoing the original. The band proves its rock creds with “Dead Man’s Hand” and “Susie Is Sorted (She Doesn’t Care).” While the chugging rocker “Billy Liar” references the classic British flick, I was really impressed with “Realm Of The Black Dog,” an awesome psych-pop gem about depression that sinks into your soul. Overall, not a single note of filler here and highly recommended. Don’t miss it!

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik


Rob Fetters

Rob Fetters “Ship Shake”

Rob Fetters is an immense talent and although it came out last year, it’s always a welcome addition to your playlist. “Turn This Ship Around” is all about changing your destiny and making your own luck. It’s a great message and richly delivered – very much in the Tom Petty mode. “Artichoke” is another impressive song, with its sweeping synth and guitar lines that bring to mind late-era Genesis. From here Fetters gets a little esoteric on songs like “Prophets” and “Me & Eve.” But there is the kick-ass single “Can’t Take It Back” with a riff that grabs you right away. You also get weirdness with “Dog Is God” and a few near misses like the self-pitying “Nobody Now.” Greatness pokes through again with “Queer Year,” likely the best song about gay acceptance I’ve heard. Definitely check this album out, it deserves to be heard.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

John Dunbar

John Dunbar “Oh Wellness”

Another late 2020 album I missed that deserves your attention. Dunbar’s music has evolved over the years to become more melodic and catchy, and Oh Wellness does a great job of mixing his cynical style with a simple hook. “Born To Bore” is a sweet mid-tempo gem all about the clueless friend who just won’t shut up. Dunbar has several personal irritants set to music, like the lack of appreciation for punctuality on “The Problem With Being On Time” and job insecurity on “Easy to Replace.” The songwriting is great throughout, and John keeps these songs simple and to the point. Subjects like dating and relationships are all part of “The Girl Who’s Heard It All Before” and the excellent gem, “A Sentimental Heart And A Skeptical Mind” and it makes this LP a great listen. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

More Xmas Presents: Another Sleigh-load of Holiday Singles and More!

Wow! The space under the tree is just packed now. Notable goodies include a full album of music inspired by the classic A Christmas Story by Ralphie’s Red Ryders (a regular contributor to our pages under a new pseudonym) and our annual single by The Slingsby Hornets. Nick Lowe adds his Christmas standards and The Martial Arts do a fine job – check out the brilliant original “Snow Flakes.” Add to this The Decibels, John Dunbar, Stop Calling Me Frank, and The Heatwaves and you’ve got another great holiday mixtape!








Verskotzi and John Dunbar

Verskotzi “Lemon Heart”
This came out under my radar last year, but I’m glad I found Joey Verskotzi’s debut now. A young singer-songwriter with terrific vocals and an aggressive power pop sound. “Luck” is solid evidence that he’s got potential with a great guitar hook in the chorus, and the echoing guitar strums of “Brain Rack” is another gem about obsession. “Heartless Songs” is pretty good analysis of the state of soulless corporate rock, as he sings”Doin’ it wrong. Slavin’ away to heartless songs.”  “8th Street Train” is another excellent rocker with a infectious beat and “Honey” is jangle-lead pop single that’s gotten some airplay.

Occasionally we get examples of Joey’s vocal range on the folky “Burnt Yuppies” and crooning “Blue,” both demonstrate his vocal skills and smoldering sex appeal. Holly Hansen of Zoo Animal lends her vocal support on the track “Abandoned Love” and although it loses a little steam at the end, there is more than enough here to have me highly recommend this album.

Amazon


20px_spacer

John Dunbar “Third Guessing”
New York musician John Dunbar was the man behind the Rutles-esque tribute to The Kinks called The Kunks, and this is his third solo LP. Dunbar has immersed himself into 60’s era singer-songwriter folk rock with some nice Byrdsian guitar flourishes on “Putting An End To What Hasn’t Yet Begun.” The lyrics address doubts and self examinations on “Strangers Will Tell You The Truth.” The Turtles-like “Consider It Considered” is another standout — it sounds both apprehensive and compelling.

The sparse instrumentation occasionally works against the songs for example “Sullenly” takes its time taking about depression and regret, but doesn’t build any atmosphere with its light guitar strums and “Reagan/Fagen” is an annoying couplet that sounds really forced. What stood out for me is the psychedelic “Longing For What Never Was” with a message to you aging hippies out there “Watch out for what nostalgia does… You’re longing for what never was.” While some tracks just don’t have the compelling hooks, this does provide some interesting therapy for fans of P.F. Sloan. Give it a try on Bandcamp.

Amazon