Warm Soda and Paul Starling

Warm Soda

Warm Soda “Symbolic Dream”

Matthew Melton’s band Warm Soda wears their late ‘70s, early ’80’s power pop influences quite proudly on the new LP Symbolic Dream. The band would not sound out of place on a double bill with The Romantics or The Beat. The fast tempo of the opening track “I Wanna Know Her” is a pure sugar rush with its simple power chords.

Elements of punk and glam are thrown in on “Just Like Me Before” but unfortunately this approach without much variation gets too formulaic (even for me). Songs repeat the same lo-fi riff and drum beat, with minor changes to chord progressions. And it really could have used a slow ballad here to break things up. Melton’s cool, almost detached vocal works great on “I Wanna Go Fast” and the title track, but like eating too much Halloween candy, starts to loose its sweetness halfway through the album. Still recommended, but in small doses.

Amazon

Paul Starling

Paul Starling “The Wild Wolf”

Paul Starling is back with a vengeance, on the title track of “The Wild Wolf.” It’s a magical combination of Brian Wilson and Lindsey Buckingham with an inventive percussive rhythm. Its the big standout as “Endless Waiting” is a pleasant, but more predictable tune as he pleads “goodbye baby” in front of a fast tempo strum.

Starling carries “Midnight Turns Into Day” and “Seven” and both tunes have a catchy dream-like quality. He gets a lot of mileage with a simple melody, gentle harmony and chord strum on the easy going “Waiting” and he’s mastered those Beach Boys-like ballads with multiple instruments (banjo, ukulele, bass) on “Broken Bones.” Paul describes this as “nautical pop,” and I guess that works as these soothing tunes float into your conscious effortlessly.

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The Cry and Paul Starling

The Cry “Dangerous Game”
The Cry are back with a terrific power pop album, as the opening chords of “Discotheque” are part Lou Reed, The Soft Boys and Ramones wrapped up in those strutting lead riffs. The pop punk vibe of “Hanging Me Up” keeps up the quick uptempo pace, and “Nowhere To Go” adds a touch of greaser doo-wop styled vocal harmony.

“Shakin'” is particularly catchy with the wicked chorus “Shakin’ like a vibrator..” Similar to The Connection, the party continues through all 10 tracks meant to be played loud. And although it would be nice to toss a ballad to give us a breather,  you’ll find this a fine workout that’s filler free and a sure-fire contender for my top ten list this year.

Bandcamp | Amazon

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Paul Starling “Suit Of Armor”
Paul channels the nadir of 60s singer-songwriter era with “Natale Wood Reciting Lines” and the catchy chorus of “Watching The Candles Burn” makes it another standout. He has some wonderful shifting keys in “We’re All Becoming Policemen” and the echos of Brain Wilson’s melancholy are all over “If,” a yearning love song that really hits the mark.

“The Push & The Pull” gets inventive lyrically with a line like “I love you much more than anything/you’re the Benjamin Franklin to my kite string.” The production is pretty sparse which suits most songs, with Paul’s strumming guitar leading the way. It losses stream towards the albums end, but fans of melodic retro folk pop will surely enjoy this.

Bandcamp