From the ashs of power pop favorite The Orange Humble Band, comes The Forresters. Singer-songwriter Anthony Bautovich gathered up some of Sydney’s finest players to create the debut “Skindeep”. The album is full rock and roll goodness and very much like Teenage Fanclub, the band’s opener “Are You Ready” has a pile of jangley guitars and harmonies that flow easiliy through the headphones. Bautovich’s soft vocals and the rhythmic guitars are suited well to the alternative country ballad sound as well, as “Tremblin'” illustrates. There are many layers to each song with several chord lines overlapping on some songs, like “Fool in Love” with a female vocal trailing in the background. “Missing You” has a yearning optimism, like some of Gary Louris’ poppiest compositions for The Jayhawks. I hear a bit of George Harrison guitar on the intro to “The Way You Do” and some rockin’ blues stylings are present in “Wake Up.” In fact, this entire album is full of incredible guitar work and flawless musicianship. Every song here is great with no throwaway tracks. It even takes a very adult spin with the song “What You Want” reminding me of Jeff Larson (lyrically and musically). It also has a good balance of rockers (“Outtamyhead” and “Rescue Me”) with ballads (“Don’t Leave Me Down”). Overall this is an album of intricately crafted and emotionally honest pop music.
The Forresters Site | My Space | CD Baby | Not Lame
Listen to “Trembin”
Listen to “Are You Ready?”
Great blog. You just keep on coming out with all these bands that are brand new to me.
Keep up the great work!