Category: Power Pop Review

Combining cheap keyboard fuzz and sparkle with down home folk guitar, Jeff Suri (aka The Oculist) creates melancholy orchestrations that musically strive to bring hope to the hopeless and tone to the toneless. It starts with a wonderfully spacey opening on “Hold On” and “The Plan” that instantly brings to mind Beach Boys “Smiley Smile,” The Beta Band and Radiohead’s sonic textures, with low horns and high percussion. “Principles” has a monologue over an obscure instrumental, and will test your resolve, as it’s either weird poetry or performance art. However, if you pay attention it’s a fine Zappa-styled commentary on public loneliness. “Break The Bank” is a relaxing mantra in the mold of Pink Floyd’s psychedelic peak. “Chlorine In My Eyes” is another soothing song driven by electronic beeps and a strong drum track, and really grows on you. The melody is buried just below the surface and it’s very impressive. Fans of more recent High Llamas and Pedro The Lion will also enjoy this for sure. The album ends with patter of water and the fine synth keyboard work of “Buckets Of Saddness” and then an instrumental reprise. The album’s theme addresses common but poorly understood human conditions. It’s most definitely a “headphones” type of album that you can get lost in easily.

My Space | CD Baby

In 2008, Dylan Connor, a Latin teacher and musician from Berkeley, CA, was at Burning Man Festival wandering the streets with a guitar and singing songs for anyone who needed the gift of music. Breakaway Republic is the result of this adventure and it’s full of uplifting melodies and gentle harmonies. Opening with “Breakaway and Burn” Connor’s soft vocal and gentle chords bring to mind John Mayer. The next song “Stunning Insights” is a pure pop treat with humming minor chord changes similar to McCartney or maybe Evan Dando. “Blood Like Fire” is a Johnny Cash styled blues track that has lots of soul here. Every song here is pretty good, and some of my favorites here “Don’t Let Me Wash Away” and the rocking “Pave Me.” It isn’t too flashy, and the smart lyrical approach avoids most songwriter cliches about relationships. Worth picking up with some great melodies and it’s all very accessible to even the most jaded music fans.

My Space | CD Baby

Squeeze stalwart, Tilbrook has always been one of my personal favorites (and my best concert experience), so I am happy to review his first full album with his band The Fluffers. Unlike earlier solo works, Glenn goes everywhere with this set, but it’s far from “Pandemonium.” Starting with the jaunty Cajun melody of “Best of Times” it starts off a bit like a Dan Zanes album for grown ups. The songs are short and sweet, and even Fluffer bassist Lucy Shaw gets to sing lead on “Product.” Glenn is back with an angry rant on “Slaughtered Artist” but it doesn’t sit right. However I enjoy his mid-tempo melody much more on the compelling “Still.” The soaring group harmonies of “Relentless Pursuit” are pleasing, but again I enjoy solo Glenn more on “Melancholy Emotion.” He still has that awesome pop vocal and songwriting smarts. Another ballad “Little Ships” is another quality song where Glen again explores the transient nature of performing. More highlights are on “Happy Disposition” and light breezy pop of “Black Sheep” but if you are still longing for a Squeeze record, you’ve arrived about 12 years too late, as this is more of an ensemble piece. The Fluffers include Johnny Depp (yes, the actor), who speaks over a lot of psychedelic effects and spacey instrumental keyboards in “Too Close to The Sun” and while it’s interesting in a Syd Barrett sort of way, it’s ultimately forgettable. There are enough Tilbrook signature tunes to keep fans interested here, but for others it may fall flat.

The Injured Parties are Chicago based rock band lead by Larry O. Dean (guitar/vocals) and assisted by Jimmy DeLauriea (bass) and Mike Ebersohl (drums). Opening with chugging and driving guitar on “American Comfort” they remind me of Tom Petty or The Lemonheads if they were lead by Lou Reed. “Been There, Done That” has a weary Neil Young approach that suits the song just fine. The descriptive story of characters inside “Zingerman’s Deli” is a lot of fun to listen to, with charging piano and guitar rhythms. The low key vocals in “Dogwalker” are enhanced by the female harmonies in the background and the Ray Davies-styled narrative. Unique subjects include a love song to actress “Linda Fiorentino” and getting so stupid you “Walked into a Wall.” Colorful lyrics aside, this will also appeal to fans of Dylan, Roger Waters and The Kinks. Lovers of classic guitar sound will gravitate easily to The Injured Parties.

My Space | itunes | Emusic

Being a New Yorker has it’s advantages. Nearly forty-five years after the Beatles first appeared on American television on the Ed Sullivan show, Sir Paul returned to the Ed Sullivan theater and performed atop the marquee of the Late Show with David Letterman. I think that’s Brian Ray on lead guitar here.