The Modulators and Joel Boyea

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Modulators

The Modulators “Try, try, try”

New Jersey band The Modulators formed in 1980, released three singles and an album in 1984. They’ve continued to tour (New York’s IPO is a regular spot) and now the band finally delivers the long-awaited self produced sophomore album. The jangle and layered guitar melodies aren’t that different from the bands earlier material, so fans will love it.

Opener “Upper Hand” and the title track are straight forward guitar pop. “What’s On Your Mind” is a wonderful Merseybeat styled throwback, and “Someday” boasts some great vocal harmonies along with a killer rhythmic hook. The vocals are a little deeper, but sung with earnest confidence as evidenced by the ballad “With Your Love.” Fans of old school DIY pop will appreciate the added acoustic textures and roots based influences, and overall no filler here either. If you buy it at Kool Kat you get an exclusive 4 song bonus EP with demos, including the live version of “Down At The Dirt” from 11L RNI Radio NY International. So its definitely Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

We don’t have any samples of the current album to post, but here is the bands original “hit.”

Dave Rave

Joel Boyea “Here Again, and Lost”

Boyea’s opening “Upbeat” is a great marching anthem, full of ringing guitar melody and solid drum work, one of the better opening singles I’ve heard this year.  The lower key “Breaking Up” has echoes of smooth California styled pop about a relationship that’s run its course. Most of the tunes are closer to this mid-tempo style as the album follows the stories of self actualization from differing points of view.

Strong melodies are layered into the “Impossible Puzzle” and “Until It’s Too Late.” But if you delve into the lyrics, it’s got surprising depth for example, “Outwitted” deals with the nature vs. nurture debate about homosexuality.  Sparsely produced by Andy Reed, Joel’s vocal is similar to Lannie Flowers in style and timbre. Definitely for those who crave meaningful songwriting.

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Everything you need to know about: Rick Astley

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Rick Astley’s undeniably huge 1987 hit, ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ made him a worldwide success and resulted in over 40 million worldwide record sales within the next six years. Rick Astley still performs regularly and is available for bookings through MN2S Agency.

Born in Lancashire, Astley began his career in music at just 10 years of age where he started out singing in the local church choir, but, while at school, moved on to performing regularly with a number of bands and eventually came to meet local guitarist David Morris. Having left school at 16, he began work for the market gardening business run by his father and continued to play drums in bands like Give Way and FBI.

It was with FBI that Rick Astley first hit upon musical success in 1985, when Astley was appointed lead singer of the group after the previous singer left and the guitarist Morris chose instead to pursue a career in hairdressing. Astley was scouted by Pete Waterman who brought him to work at RCA Records, where he spent his time as little more than the “tea boy” while Waterman, Mike Stock and Matt Aitken trained him for a performing career in the music industry.

His first single ‘When You Gonna’, with Lisa Carter, unfortunately met with little success but it was followed up with what would become a legendary global hit, ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’. The track was released to the public in August 1987, having been recorded eight months previously on New Year’s Day, and immediately shot to number 1 in the British charts and became the best-selling single of the year. Not only successful in the UK, the song saw success all over the world hitting the number 1 spot in 24 countries, and was eventually voted Best British Single and at the BPI Awards (now called the Brits) in 1988, accompanied by a live performance in front of 100 million viewers.

Astley followed up his huge global impact with a song originally recorded by O’Chi Brown entitled ‘Whenever You Need Somebody’, which shot to number 1 in seven countries in Europe and was number 3 in the UK charts. The single was taken from the eponymous album from 1987 – an album that contained four tracks penned by Astley himself. The record was a great success, hitting number 1 hit in the UK and Australia, number 10 in the US as well as earning 4x Platinum status in the UK and Canada, 2x Platinum in the US and amassing over 15 million worldwide sales.

The album also included a Nat King Cole cover ‘When I Fall in Love’ which was involved in a vicious competition for the coveted Christmas number 1 spot. a tactical move from EMI however, prevented the song from getting to the top spot – the label released the original so as to slow down sales of the Astley version, allowing the EMI represented Pet Shop Boys to clamber to number 1 in the yuletide period.

The single ‘Together Forever’ soared to number 2 in the UK charts after its release in 1988, narrowly missing out on number 1 to Kylie Minogue’s ‘I Should Be So Lucky’, but hit the number 1 spot in the US, cementing Astley as part of only a small group of British musicians to gain significant success across the pond. The album’s last single again performed well in North America, hitting no.10 in the US and no.1 in Canada.

Despite fantastic performances in the charts, Astley was the recipient of a backlash from the british media, accused of being nothing more than a poster boy and puppet of the Stock Aitken Waterman production team. After the negative attention Astley left Stock Aitken Waterman to work on a more soul orientated solo album, having already proved his song writing abilities on his previous album. The 1991 release ‘Free’ enjoyed success in the UK and the US, and included a collaboration with none other than Elton John, but after releasing 1993’s ‘Body and Soul’, Astley bowed out of the music industry and the public attention that came with it.

Following a long hiatus from music, Astley returned to the fray in 2002 with new material and a world tour, enjoying warm receptions in countries all over the world, and is available for bookings via London based music booking agency MN2S.

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Michael Carpenter and The Speak

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Michael Carpenter

Michael Carpenter “The Big Radio”

You’d have to go back almost six years for Michael Carpenter’s last big solo release. Few artists are as reliable as the Australian singer-songwriter, producer, and engineer. You’re just guaranteed to get excellent power pop and he doesn’t disappoint here.  The opener “Don’t Open That Door” is another classic melodic gem, with layered guitars and harmonies underneath a catchy hook. The pounding drum starts “She’s In Love With Herself,” a fast paced put down that breaks into guitar nirvana between each chorus. And the gems continue with “Blind,” the powerful “I’ve Been Lovin’ You” and each tune that follows (not a note of filler here). He gives a shout out to a major influence “Chrissie Hynde” and even a deep bluesy rocker with “Too Late.” Right now its a download only, but CDs are coming in January.

There is a rumor that this may be Michael’s last album, and I can only hope that he doesn’t permanently hang up his recording hat (I’ll wait another six years or more if he keeps giving me music like this). Even though Michael is often dubbed “a one man dynamo” who runs his own label, works as a recording engineer, writes for an Australian recording magazine, etc. I selfishly want more of his great songwriting and performing. Like his last solo album, this easily gets a spot somewhere in my ever crowded top ten list for 2015.

Bandcamp


The Speak “Beautiful People” EP

The Speak are from Brighton UK, led by singer-songwriter Nick Conroy who “takes up where the sixties left off.” While clearly starting with those classic influences (The Beatles, The Who) The Speak are not some slavish retro band, but a modern pop group that concentrates on melody, synth and solid guitar craft.

“I’ll Be Fine” starts with a rousing Lenny Kravitz-like riff, and gets you moving with a catchy chorus (try to spot all those sixties references). “Beautiful People” and “Sorry” have their moments of slickly produced psyche-rock. “Invisible” reminds me of of Trevor Rabin-era Yes in spots, and “Life” is another highlight with plenty of arena rock grandeur. The band self produced and distribute this one, so pick up a physical copy on their website.

CD Baby

Tuesday Goodies: Cliff Hillis, Lee Ketch and Steve Rosenbaum

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As this is a holiday week, I’d love to start giving out the musical goodies in advance of Thanksgiving. I am so thankful for all these artists, so pass the gravy and a few free downloads:

Philly singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Cliff Hillis has released a new song, “Love Not War,” from a forthcoming EP out in February. Love And War is Hillis’s followup to the power popster’s 2014 release, Song Machine. Download “Love Not War” from iTunes. Visit itunes.apple.com/us/album/love-no…gle/id1055385972

Contorno and The Obleeks – Chicago guitarist Lee Ketch (Mooner) has few musical projects here. His brother Andy plays drums and does vocals too. Check it out – its all a FREE download!

Steve Rosenbaum was a pleasant surprise in the new IPO Vol. 18 compilation. He’s got an three song EP out there “Making A Mess Of Fun” and its a got earnest melodies and plenty of great jangling guitar. It’s not a free download, but it’s easily worth the 3 bucks. Hopefully we’ll see more from Steve in 2016!
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Elvyn and Cleaners From Venus

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Elvyn

Elvyn “Valley Of The Kilowatt Hour”

Elvyn is another artist we haven’t heard from in several years. This Toronto band still knows how to expertly craft a solid melody with catchy hooks as evidenced by the opener “Ellie.” Lead vocalist/lead guitarist Ryan Beerman is in fine form as on “Here We Surrender” is part Alan Parson Project and part Fastball. “Landslide Cities” has an infectious beat with great call-and-response harmonies in the chorus.

And as soft as much of the melodies are, it still can rock with the intensity as “AM” is chock full of vibrant guitar riffs. Other highlights include the Beatlesque sweetness on “True Luv Can’t Hide” and the Everly Brothers styled ballad “Robins Song.”  Overall, each song is a very soothing listen (with just enough riff accents) and highlights the bands wistful approach. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | CD Baby


Cleaners from Venus

Cleaners From Venus “Rose of the Lanes”

Martin Newell (aka Cleaners From Venus) is still going strong, and for the Anglophile there are few musicians who can compare. Newell is the self described “poet laureate of late summer melancholy,” and the songs are all simply produced using a Tascam DP-006 Pocketstudio. But even stripped down Newell is  joy to hear as he makes his way through these 15 tracks.

The high addictive jangle of “Rose of The Lanes” is a song that lyrically references the BBC’s Doctor Who. “Little French Blue” is a fuzzed-up gem and the acoustic melody of “Isn’t She The Biz” are what you listen to Newell for.  A series of songs look loving back to Newell’s youth with “Third Summer Of Love” and “Liverpool Judy.” The “nite-club” styling of “Tatterenalion” is another charmer.  He runs out of steam a little towards the end, with the exception of the Davies-like “Denmark Street,” but this is still a highly recommended collection of tunes.

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