If there is anyone with classic pop running through his veins it’s Seth Swirsky (The Red Button). With his sophomore release “Watercolor Day,” it’s a soothing journey into baroque pop stylings that recalls Brian Wilson, Burt Bacharach and Paul McCartney’s solo period. The title track oozes laid back sunshine with a touch of Beatley horns. Assisting Seth is another pop genius, Rick Gallego (Cloud Eleven) whose influence is unmistakable in tracks like “Fading Again” and “Four O’Clock Sun” where the slow flowing Beach Boy harmonies take over. A ton of highlights are on this fantastic album, from the Pet Sounds influenced “Summer In Her Hair” and “She’s Doing Fine” to the 10cc multi-themed magic of “Matchbook Cover.” Some songs are mere acoustic sketches (“Song For Heather”) or XTC-like nursery ryhmes (“Sand Dollar”) but each style fits the album’s overall tone. The rare misfire here is the aptly name “Big Mistake” which sounds too close to Monty Python’s “Lumberjack Song” to take seriously. The Bacharach styled songs “Stay” and the introspective “Twenty Minutes to Myself” both have a simple but satisfying theme. This is also the second disc I listened to this month with a Nilsson love letter track. The piano and lyric describes the childhood worship of this “musical Van Gogh” in “(I Never Knew You) Harry.” The orchestral touches are subtle and the melodies are superb throughout the album. Any way you look at it this disc is pure summer sweetness distilled and I am proud to list it in my year end top ten.
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