Okay, these are the last of my 2023 releases for review. Even David Bash has his list out now. 2024 new releases have been ready for review, and next week we begin that.
No Tears “Heart Shaped Eyes”
Swedish musician Christoffer Karlsson is a one-man wrecking crew with his band No Tears. It’s note-perfect punk pop with “Dreaming,” akin to Kurt Baker with a densely melodic, frantic tempo, handclaps, and screams midway through. Christoffer looks a bit like a 21st-century version of Elvis Costello on the cover, and his skills are evident with the catchy “I Wanna Be With You (Tonight)” and “Electric Eyes.”
The punkier aspects sometimes threaten the melodic structure of some songs (“Same Old Story”), but there are too many great singles here to ignore; check out “Echo in My Head,” “Broken Mirror,” and “On 45.” Fans of the “Boston Mafia” (Geoff Palmer, Brad Marino, Kurt Baker, etc.) and late 70s revivalists like The Uni Boys will love this release, and it would have made my top 25 for sure if I heard it earlier. Highly Recommended.
The James Clark Institute “Under The Lampshade”
Produced by Moe Berg (The Pursuit of Happiness), the James Clark Institute has returned with James Clark on guitar, percussion, and vocals. The band also features electric lead guitarist Tom Gibson, bassist Tim Gall, pianist Greg Condie, and drummer Dean Carl Glover. The opener “Hit Hollywood” sets the tone and theme for the album with its playful melody, and another highlight is the shimmering “Phantom Girl” with its harmonized chorus.
Things tone down with the ballad “Tornado,” but the next song, “Whatever O’Clock In The Morning,” has plenty of optimism as it bounces along. Clark’s lyrics are often thought-provoking, as the angry protagonist exclaims, “Against my better judgment, I’m still waiting for a compliment…” in the song “Remarkably Like You.” The music is consistently good from beginning to end; even if there is no obvious single, “Waiting On The Waitress” is a really good example (with some added Hollywood references). The song hooks are subtle, and this is an album that needs a few plays to appreciate the theme. Highly Recommended.