Ben Auld “Loserdom”
Ben Auld, out of Norwich UK is has a neat little album here. Ben works alongside guitarist Conor Etteridge, drummer Duncan Baker, and bassist George Witty. The “Opening” track is an ADD medley of different melodies and time signatures, all sounding like a short mix tape that skips around. Obvious influences are Weezer, Teenage Fanclub, and Tony Molina. “Chalice” marches forward into that melodic breach. The guitar solos here sound like a variations of a classical (Bach?), then it runs into the deep fuzz chords of “Red Bandana.” Like Molina or 2nd Grade, the songs are very short. Most under 2 minutes.
The twin guitar attacks keep things moving along with a restless energy like on “Talking Dog”, while Auld’s soft vocal harmonies keeps everything grounded. The feedback signals the next song, with those guitar riffs giving the record its identity. In a few spots, a soft acoustic guitar starts the melody, I enjoyed this on “Long Before I Felt The Grace,” where it really comes to a great crescendo. But each song does a fine job here, despite the quick timing and jarring shifts in tone. Sit through a full listen, it’s highly recommended.
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Various Artists “Just Look Inside The Cover – Songs Of Pete Ham”
The late Pete Ham, songwriter and co-founder of the legendary power pop band Badfinger, has remained remarkably prolific through posthumous releases, with eight albums issued. “Just Look Inside the Cover” is the second tribute album dedicated to his songwriting. Its predecessor, “Shine On,” focused on the songs Ham wrote for Badfinger’s studio albums. This new collection places the spotlight on the exceptional demos Ham recorded, but never fleshed out into full songs.
With 22 tracks, several artists do an excellent job bringing Pete’s compositions to life. Mike Delevante’s “A Lonley Day” is a great start with his warm inviting vocals, and several well known performers include Mimi Betinis (Pezband), Bill Lloyd, and Tobin Sprout (Guided By Voices) lend solid entries here. My favorites here are Eric Dover (Jellyfish) doing a perfect “Leaving On A Midnight Train” and Rob Bonfiglio really shines on the gem “Hand In Hand.” The last living members from the Badfinger family also contribute; Bob Jackson doing the title track, and an 80-year old Ron Griffiths sings “Take Good Care Of My Baby.” While this was a labor of love, some artists here just are just not that good, as well as unknown to me. But for Badfinger and Pete Ham fans, this is an essential part of your collection.
