Dan Israel “Social Media Anxiety Disorder”
Minneapolis singer-songwriter Dan Israel is back with his 15th studio LP, and he’s better than ever. While always a reliable roots rocker in the tradition of Tom Petty or Steve Earle, on Social Media Anxiety Disorder he hits it outta the park. “Be My Girl” is a gem that blasts out the horns and guitar riffs with abandon and a solid hook that will stick in your head quickly.
Next “125” is a mellow psych-pop tune that comfortably grooves, and “Just Can’t Take It” is a catchy gem that sounds like Bob Dylan playing with Mark Knopfler. “I’m Still Lost” is a soulful examination of anxiety and facing it head-on. “Another Day” and “Alright” are uptempo rockers that resonate, and he revisits the earlier theme on “Just Can’t Take It Revisited,” and its a clever deconstruction. No filler here, each song brilliantly captures Dan’s emotions and insecurities. This LP is built for multiple listens and highly recommended.
Fastball “The Help Machine”
Platinum-selling band Fastball is known for smart catchy power-pop and its latest LP is another strong effort that leans heavily on the great songwriting from Miles Zuniga and Tony Scalzo. However, the musical hooks so prominent on past albums are in shorter supply here. While the quality of the music remains excellent, the mood is mainly dispirited.
The world-weary “Friend or Foe” projects a sense of angst with all the uncertainties of life. Scalzo’s “White Collar” is an early highlight, with some terrific shifting chords and tight harmonies, along with its organ melody. “Redeemed” is a bluesy mid-tempo gem that plays like a sermon with a jazzy guitar solo. One of the few uptempo tunes “The Girl You Pretended To Be” is like a bouncy early Elvis Costello song with a steel pedal country vibe. But most of the songs are lovely ballads like “I Go South” or “The Help Machine,” which focuses on that empty existential feeling as Zuniga croons “I don’t want to spend my life chasing money.” A downer, but so well done. Highly Recommended.