Big Sunset “Big Sunset”
Portland musicians, Jay Caruso, and JP Ramos are the core of Big Sunset, a five-year collaborative project. Both worked with a band called The Contestants, then Caruso explains “I really loved the way JP Ramos wrote and that our voices worked well together. I reached out to JP to see if he wanted to write some songs together. Both JP and I are huge Jellyfish and XTC fans.” And that comes across on this labor of love.
Starting with the swirling rhythm of “My Head Is Attached,” Big Sunset boasts a variety of instrumentation from strings, horns, organ and sets up the carnival-like atmosphere. “Beautiful” is a waltz-timed tune with a Jellyfish-like approach, but the melody isn’t as sticky as the hypnotic “The Night I Was Murdered” with its delicate acoustics and deep cello strings. This dream-like approach also works on “Wolfing” and “Invisible Men” is another highlight featuring Beach Boys-like harmonies and musical subtleties that recall ELO. While technically brilliant, it lacks the hooks that their influences possess. Still a worthy LP for fans of the genre, and it certainly deserves discovery.
Richie Parsons “Black Throated Blue”
Boston musician Richie Parsons is back with his new Kickstarter funded LP (produced by The Posies Ken Stringfellow, who also sings and plays on everything.) A full band is in the studio featuring Doug Harper (guitar), Frank Dehler (bass), Malcolm Travis on drums, and Parsons on lead guitar and vocals. Parsons approximately sounds like a combo of Jonathan Richman and Chris Stamey. The hi-energy opener “Beverly” captures Parson’s pop-rock sound perfectly. “Winter’s Dream” is another winner, a love song with a chugging melody and hook-filled chorus. And “Six Hours Ahead” name drops The Raspberries, as he goes to “a punk rock show.”
The album takes a somber turn mid-way on “Rainy Day” which has Bacharach-styled orchestration with horns and strings. The twang of “Here I Am” is a rootsy Western blues tune, and the Farfisa organ of “Tomorrow” is reminiscent of The Doors. The production is strong throughout the album, although it runs out of hooks toward the last few songs. Overall a very good album that’s highly recommended.
