Here are some quick reviews of a few albums you may have missed over the summer that I listened to:
East of Fairfax “Nothing’s Different, Nothing’s The Same”
With a Squeeze worthy guitar riff, Brian Spain sings “More Than The Sun” with a slick synth keyboard and a hint of Duran Duran-like gloss. It is the highlight of the album. For fans of Daughtry, Duncan Sheik and Peter Murphy, this is a logical progression into well-written adult radio friendly pop. After this good start, we are thrown off by the melodramatic “Feel This Too” which seems to be missing some conviction. Then the piano lead in “Time + Space” suffers from an arena sized appetite, a la Neil Diamond – but the lack of a melody brings this one down. By mid album, it finally picks up with a spritely written “Letter To A Friend” and it echos John Denver’s “Take Me Home Country Roads.” An even better approach is on “The Damage,” where the guitar riffs work well with Spain’s multi-tracked croon. But even this rougher approach goes too far on “For All This Time.” After listening to “Ready for Descent,” I was reminded too much of Corey (“Sunglasses At Night”) Hart. Despite the rich sophisticated sound, too many songs here missed the mark for me. This band still needs to find itself, but it certainly has the right elements to be successful.
Chester French “Love The Future”
Smart, smart art pop that deserves a listen. In the quiet burg of Cambridge, Massachusettes musicians D.A. Wallach and Maxwell Drummey have successfully created a unique style. The big single “C’mon (On My Own)” is a song that recalls Maroon Five’s beats and guitar mixed with Sparks sonic details. In between the hits here are complete orchestral interludes that lend a European pretentiousness. This sweet combination is pulled off again on “Baby Buell” where he tells his girl “your my Puerto Rican Pamela Lee.” The smart songwriting and inventive instrumentation puts this album above the typical pop faire. The best song here is the hook filled melody of “The Jimmy Choos” with harmonies, synth effects and looping guitar lead in the chorus. The bright composition on “Sleep” is another highlight that kind of mixes Fleetwood Mac and 10cc. Other tracks are not as memorable but there is no denying this groups talent and it will find a welcome spot on any pop fans play list. The band also offers a FREE mixtape with a pile of guest stars on its site.
MySpace | Buy direct from Chester | Not Lame