Category: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic

Timmy Sean and Mooner

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Timmy Sean “A Tale From The Other Side” Part I

Inspired by Stephen King, California musician-producer Timmy Sean rolls out a “supernatural thriller, monster movie rock opera,” ten years after his impressive debut. The album concept starts off as a fun coming-of-age story (a bit autobiographical) in Part I, with Part II due early 2021.

After the spooky intro “opening credits” the guitar and harmonies flow on “The College Year” a richly produced mid-tempo ballad that looks back after graduating. “In California” bursts out with a fresh power-pop melody loaded with hooks, and it’s the big highlight. “Fortune and Fame” have Weezer and Lenny Kravitz influences, as it marches along to a soulful beat. The music is loaded with bombast, as “My Jaded Love” is a wonderful piano ballad with some overbearing percussion that plays into the anthemic “Over and Over Again.” The sound effects and bits between songs hold the story together but are so frequent that it can be distracting. However, there isn’t a bad song anywhere and the entire production is top-notch. Highly Recommended.

Bandcamp

Mooner

Mooner “The Alternate Universe of Love”

It’s been a few years since Lee Ketch’s Mooner delivered a new album and The Alternate Universe of Love has Lee experimenting with textures and sounds along the lines of Jeff Tweedy, but he still knows how to write a great song, as the opening title track shows. It starts quiet with an acoustic guitar but mid-way through gets funky with synths and drums.

The next few tracks, quietly bring out lots of contrasts. “Can I Be Angry?” has a sedated vocal, as the guitar rhythm gets progressively “angrier.” “Eleanor’s Ideas,” tells a good story, but for all the neat sonic tricks, it doesn’t resonate much. But then we get “I Can’t Tell,” a classic hook-laden melody that draws you in. And then one of Lee’s best-ever songs “Why Don’t You Need Me?” a brilliantly written ballad, that cries out with strings and piano.  “Is This All I Can Do To Love You?” is a solid mid-tempo eulogy to a lost relationship. After this, we get back to atmospherics on the remaining tracks. This is a heart-felt grower of an album, and music fans should grab some headphones and check it out.

Amazon

More Xmas Presents: Another Sleigh-load of Holiday Singles and More!

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Wow! The space under the tree is just packed now. Notable goodies include a full album of music inspired by the classic A Christmas Story by Ralphie’s Red Ryders (a regular contributor to our pages under a new pseudonym) and our annual single by The Slingsby Hornets. Nick Lowe adds his Christmas standards and The Martial Arts do a fine job – check out the brilliant original “Snow Flakes.” Add to this The Decibels, John Dunbar, Stop Calling Me Frank, and The Heatwaves and you’ve got another great holiday mixtape!

The Lees of Memory and Brian Bringelson

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The Lees Of Memory

The Lees Of Memory “Moon Shot”

From the ashes of Superdrag,  multi-instrumentalist John Davis, guitarist Brandon Fisher and drummer Nick Slack formed The Lees of Memory. Leaning more on the shoegaze side of the equation, Davis starts with “Lonely Everywhere,” a symbolic anthem of COVID isolation with layers of guitars, sitars, harmonies, and percussion. Very much in the model of Matthew Sweet meets Bob Mould, it’s got a great hook that stays with you.

The heavy guitar crunch is applied perfectly to “Crocodile Tears” a song that feels like a dark cloud floating above you, and “Free and Easy” drifts along like a classic Pink Floyd guitar epic full of blues and resignation. “Drift Into Dream” is another gorgeous composition, with echoing harmonies resting on those dense rhythmic layers. Most of the songs hit the mark, “Live Without” and “The Wheel” is as good as anything Superdrag ever did, although most of the tunes are pretty downbeat. “The Summer Sun” feels like a eulogy to those sunny days on the beach. Davis throws in the kitchen sink on the 4 minute plus finale “Far Beyond” with a funky break obviously inspired by Prince. An excellent album that stands up to repeat listens and grows on you. Highly Recommended and it makes my year-end best-of list.

Amazon

Brian Bringelson

Brian Bringelson “Desperate Days”

Brian Bringelson, a member of the band Anchor and Bear and a solo artist under the name Paul Starling is back under his own name on Desperate Days. The opener “Losing Train of Thought” is a sweet catchy melody, that sounds much like his early material with slight echoes of early Beach Boys and The Smiths. The jangling guitar of the dream-like title track “Desperate Days” builds with each verse, the vocal harmonies burst through on the chorus.

Bringleson’s music has a very unforced and casual approach, with a Pet Sounds styled production aesthetic, best-exemplified by “Bone Collector,” “The Deep Dark Truth,” and “Rust and Gold.” But my favorite here is “Letting Go Of Arrows,” an epic ballad with smooth echoing harmonies and hooks. Not everything attains this level of greatness, but enough does. This is easily Brian’s most accessible and mature album, it’s definitely highly recommended.

Amazon

A Very COVID Christmas: Ho-Ho-Holiday Singles!

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COVID has allowed many musicians to develop holiday music early, and this year boasts a bumper crop of great singles. In fact, it seems everyone had time to record “Jingle Bells” this year. But I enjoy the variety and originality of most of these Christmas tunes here. Grab them quick before they get as stale as Grandma’s fruitcake in January!

The Nines and FaB

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The Nines

The Nines “Reflections”

Steve Eggers (aka The Nines) returns with his most wistful and solemn album to date. The Nines balladry has often compared to Jeff Lynne, David Gates, or Paul McCartney. Sung and played in his home studio with guitar and piano this album starts with a gem, “Don’t Believe in Destiny” a slow simple expression of sadness that swells to orchestral levels. Dealing with loneliness is the theme here and “Breathe in, Breathe out” contemplates the moment after trauma. Like a diary, the “Song For Red” asks for a fresh start, and the acoustic “Angeline” is a heartfelt folk song with a compelling dual vocal track.

Most of the songs after this are short sketches in under two minutes; the jealous lament at the bar in “I Almost Lost You” or the harpsichord “She Is Waiting” with some sweet harmonies. It would’ve been nice to flesh out some of these a bit more, but the melodic sketches do go in interesting directions like “Linda,” where it starts pretty standard and takes a wonderful detour into Harry Nilsson land. Worthy of repeat plays and highly recommended.

Apple Music

FaB

FaB “This Wicked Pantomime”

This is an interesting offering from Kool Kat Musik. UK bandmates Neil Fitzsimon and Bee Brogan from Pretty Blue Gun are joined by drummer Woody Woodmansey (David Bowie) and Pete Thomas (Elvis Costello) to create “FaB.” The style is hard to pin down, but the group has a wide range of influences from The Beatles, Elvis Costello, Jimmy Webb, Jacques Brel, The Smiths, and David Bowie.  

It takes a few spins to stick with you. Bee Brogan has a very distinct voice and on several tracks, it’s suits the material perfectly, like “Lost Love of the Pixie Girl” with a wonderfully catchy chorus. The bending bass line on “Desolate Angel” builds a sublime new wave ballad and the twisted adult nursery rhyme of “Elsie’s Last Stand” is another standout. The oft-kilter chords on “Seven Seconds of Summer” and the title track recall Martin Newell at his wistful best.

In several cases, the material is a little too ambitious for Bee’s vocal (“A Bullet for Cinderella,” “The Tears of Scarlet Murder”) but the songs are still fascinating. Overall, this is definitely a unique offering that deserves your attention. Check it out.

Kool Kat Musik