Paranoid Lovesick “Tuxedo Avenue Breakdown”
A local Detroit band with an interesting story, lead by guitarist Rick McBrien and Bill Stone who burst on the scene and this album is a culmination of tracks from a debut EP with additional unreleased material. The band was typical of mid 90’s power pop, and fans of Teenage Fanclub or Cockeyed Ghost will be brought back to that period. The first proper album Suburban Pop Allegro has all these hallmarks: tight harmonies, hard guitar riffs and youthful energy. This is continued in Tuxedo Avenue Breakdown, excellent tracks include the tribute based “Big Star,” gorgeous harmony with Lisa Mychols on “Orbit” and solid arrangement of “Marginalia.” The Beatlesque “Don’t Go Away” shows the band’s softer Abby Road side, and fans of Moe Berg (TPOH) will enjoy the solid rythyms of “Starcrossed.” All of these 19 tracks sparkle with ambitious enthusiasm. McBrien died suddenly in 2003 and these 2 albums stand as great examples of the genre and a fitting tribute. The best power pop re-issue of the year. period.
The June Gloom “Wonderland”
The June Gloom are an indie-pop group formed by Cameron Purvis and PD Bennett (co-founders of the Calgary rock collective Wax Poets and prog-pop band The Spartans). Wonderland is a rock album with a touches of blues and country, similar to Old 97’s (it’s no wonder they toured together at one point). “Believe” is a pop-rock mid tempo number lead by a sharp guitar riff. “Cabrini-Green” is a blues influenced rocker with a Pink Floyd “Money” baseline that has a snarling power between verses. My favorites here are the catchy “Omaha” with it’s sing along rhythm (supply your own hand-claps) and the poignant piano lead “Everything Is Grey” draws you into Purvis’ narrative. The bouncy alt-country “County Song” and “Famous” has Purvis at his most Wilco-like, with full twang and a strong beat. Showcasing both styles perfectly I haven’t found a bad track here, and it will encourage me to investigate The June Gloom’s previous releases.
