Tag: The Bye Bye Blackbirds

Bye Bye Blackbirds and Astral Drive

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Bye Bye Blackdirds

The Bye Bye Blackbirds “August Lightning Complex”

The Bye Bye Blackbirds really hit an emotional and musical home run with Boxer At Rest. Their 6th album, August Lightning Complex continues their journey. The production continues to be compelling, as leader Bradley Joel Skaught, utilizes each band member judiciously; Kelly Atikins, Jozef Becker, KC Bowman, Lenny Gill, and Aaron Rubin. One can hear many folk influences, Big Star, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, and the addition of Kelly’s vocal recalls a similar dynamic to The Armoires.

Starting with “Want Show As Young,” the riffs and brass work seamlessly to drive the melody. Good start, but the early standout here is “Mechanics,” with great harmonies and a hook that really sinks in. “Something From The Old World” has a thematic element that reminds me of those late 60’s Sly Stone classics like “Everyday People.” The mid-point instrumental of the title track is a marker where the approach changes. “We Got Lost” is another great track, with an epic melody akin to Wilco, full of its sustaining guitar fuzz. “Favorite Stars” has plenty of guitar muscle and the aspirational harmonies again mesmerize. The album then goes into the jam 9-minute+ “Marching” where it loses its way a bit, but it comes together on “Don’t Wait.” Highly Recommended.

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Astral Drive

Astral Drive “Astral Drive”

Phil Thornalley’s new Astral Drive album follows up from his last self-titled debut release. The new eleven-song follow-up still is heavily influenced by Todd Rundgren but with Phil’s optimistic attitude and stellar production, it’s poised to take you on a pleasant ride.

“I Can Dream” opens with a bright, lush piano single and from there Phil follows his muse, as “Waterfall” continues the happy vibes and irresistible energy. “Star Gazing” and “One Big Love” seem to channel the A Wizard /A True Star era of Todd with its spacey, hippy lyrical theme. The Todd-worship comes back on the lush cover of the Nazz “Open My Eyes.”

But Phil broadens his sonic scope beyond those mid 70’s influences. “Water Lillies” boasts some soulful harmonies, and “For the Dreamers” is a terrific single that bounces along and pays tribute to anyone who dreams big.  The trippy “Wish U Well” is a personal message for anyone who enjoys his music, it’s the musical equivalent to a big hug. Highly Recommended.

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The Bye Bye Blackbirds and Tommy Ray!

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The Bye Bye Blackbirds

The Bye Bye Blackbirds “Boxer At Rest”

It’s been a tense time for the band The Bye Bye Blackbirds, reflecting on the passing of friends, and loved ones — the band’s founding member Lenny Gill required a heart transplant and months of hospitalization and rehabilitation. The band patiently worked on the album and waited for Lenny to recover and contribute. The result is a more personal take on loss and an extremely strong album. Add to this producer Doug Gillard (Guided By Voices, Nada Surf) and engineered by power-pop legend Chris von Sneidern, and you have a potential classic. The production here is flawless.

“You were All Light” is an excellent start, with a driving beat and heavier riffs, and notable horns overlaid onto the lead melody towards the end of the song. Lead singer Bradley Skaught and Kelly Atkins add some rich harmonies on “So True” to go with the simple rhythm and the jangle-tinged rock of “Baby It’s Still You” is another winner. The acoustic ballad “Words and Signs” bring to mind Big Star, and “Watch Them Chime” is a rare burst of optimism with its climbing major riff. That feeling continues on the 7-minute groove-fest “If It Gets Light.” It’s got an infectious beat that gives way to wild guitar theatrics. “All Our Friends” is a fitting and uplifting end. This LP makes my top ten for 2020 list, so it’s super Highly Recommended!

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Tommy Ray

Tommy Ray! “First Hits Free”

The Cry! had a pair of great glam-styled power-pop albums over 5 years ago. Lead singer Tommy Ray’s solo LP is the long-awaited follow up and will not disappoint fans, as it keeps the gritty punk energy and layered guitar riffs with an even harder edge. “Aint No Use” sets the fast pace, a song that recalls The Damned, The Real Kids and The Only Ones.

The songs all have a fun anthemic punk quality, “Life Goes On” is a sing-along that rumbles to its catchy chorus. The storytelling aspect of the lyrics is emphasized more than the previous work. Highlights include themes of obsession and hard luck rejection on “Suzanne,” “Tuesday’s Girl” and “Take A Chance.” Tommy Ray finally turns things up a notch on “No Better Than This,” with an impressive composition and multi-instrumentation that I wish he did more often. Like Geoff Palmer (The Connection) recent solo work, Tommy Ray’s music is meant to be played loud, so crank it up. Highly Recommended.

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The Bye Bye Blackbirds and Sven-Erik Olsen

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The Bye Bye Blackbirds

The Bye Bye Blackbirds “Take Out The Poison”

Bradley Skaught, leader of The Bye Bye Blackbirds takes his traditional power pop band in a new direction with this album, and what you get is a combination of great melodic rock with other genre explorations. The band has several guests including KC Bowman, Brad Brooks and Khoi Huynh (Corner Laughers). “Earl Grey Kisses” is a bass-line led pop confection with a catchy chorus full of “do-do-dos.” The prominent horns added to “Let Your Hair Fall Down” make it a solid hit as well. It then takes a country pop detour with “Duet” as Bradley is joined by Lindsay Paige Garfield. The other pairings with female leads work well too, although the tunes feel like they belong on a different album.

The album’s diversity in rock stylings will appeal to fans of Robert Harrison (Cotton Mather) and Crowded House.  The best songs here are flowing with power pop energy, like “Wasted” with guitarist Brad Brooks, the brilliant “Alfred Starr Hamilton” and the Rockpile-like “Poison Love.” Overall, a welcome return for this highly recommended band.

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Sven-Erik Olsen

Sven-Erik Olsen “Sketchbook Traces”

Classically trained Sven-Erik Olsen’s debut album features acoustic-based pop that evokes a baroque style, as the opening track, “Pop Bottle Green Eyes” sounds like a lost single from The Left Banke or The Rain Parade. The title track is another harmonically inventive highlight, with influences that range from Brian Wilson to Game Theory.

The tempo slows as the album moves forward, “Lost and Losin’ It Fast” and “Distant Summer” have a sad, daydream-like quality. Fans of the latest Any Version of Me will also appreciate Sven-Erik Olsen for his echoing vocals and dense production style. The last two songs “Sunny Dream” and “Childhood Blur” are not as old school, but more of a textured ’80s style similar to Bauhaus or Joy Division with its heavy reverb jangle. Definitely, music that deserves to be heard.

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Agony Aunts “Big Cinnamon”

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It’s been too long, but the Bay Area supergroup returns after 2010’s Greater Miranda, with even more harmony-laden psych-pop.  The band is basically The Corner Laughers; KC Bowman, Karla Kane , Khoi Huynh, and Charlie Crabtree. Add to this many guest stars including Gil Ray (The Loud Family), Anton Barbeau and Allen Clapp (The Orange Peels). So can all those cooks spoil this brew? Not likely.

Opening with the kaleidoscopic “Twenty-four Mergansers” it’s a lot like the Laughers with a bit more Magical Mystery Tour thrown in. Then it follows up seamlessly with “Family Drugs,” the lyrics repeating over with crisp harmonies on the “bottle it up” backing chorus. The psychedelic sheen on everything is comparable to The Pillbugs on the title track. And if you ever wondered what a modern day Mamas and Papas would sound like, listen to “Back To Back Bills.”

The second half is more rock oriented, those dual tracked guitars stand out on the perfect “We Got The Jekyll.”  Raspberries fans will flip for the intro on “Uranium My Love,” a riff heavy melody full of hooks about science. Its not predictable either, “You’re So Vague” is like a combo of Todd Rundgren and The Explorers Club. It ends with the mysterious story behind “Cool Fresh Nights” and Barbeau’s quirky country “Trouble Was Born.” Not trace of filler to be found, production is clean and sounds great through headphones, so its hard to not love this album. Multiple listens make it better and it makes my top ten for 2013 easily. Get it now!
power pop review score 9

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