Wyatt Funderburk and John Dunbar

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Wyatt Funderburk

Wyatt Funderburk “Transients: 1999 – 2009”

A collection of demos and rarities from Wyatt – a few show up in finished form on 2013’s Novel and Profane. There is plenty to sift through, and many of the songs are good. Some snippets like “Only You” and “Alone Again” simply demonstrate Wyatt’s mastery of Beach Boys three-part harmony. “Everything You Are” and “Dear Mrs. Curtis” are great songs, particularly the latter as it describes the struggle of the musician as starving artist, “waiting for that perfect song.”

Wyatt’s demos are so polished, it’s not hard to imagine any of the tunes fully developed. It’s not all perfect, as he hasn’t got the falsetto mastered on “Stand Off,” and he goes experimenting with instrument sounds on “Bross – Please Stop By.” A few songs are fully fleshed out and just deserved release like the brilliant “Why Does He Have To Be So Good To You” and the cocky “One Night With Me.” This is essential for Funderburk fans and others can pick and choose the most polished gems.

Bandcamp only


John Dunbar

John Dunbar “From Expectation To Surrender”

John Dunbar marches to his own beat, his latest self produced album combines influences from The Beatles and The Kinks. Considering he developed The Rutles-like tribute to The Kinks (The Kunks) he’s incorporated the style into the opening title track with its neat chorus and backing harmonies. The production is clean, but fairly basic and unlike his last album Third Guessing, John shows a lot more humor and melodic skill here with “She Walks Her Dog In Pajamas” and “Credit For Not Taking Credit.”

Often the rhythms are infectious enough to carry the songs like “I Didn’t Know I Was Saying Goodbye” along, even if they go on a little long. Worth checking out for sure, if only for “The Old Switcheroo” where you suddenly realize you’re too old to be part of the “In Crowd.”

Bandcamp | Amazon

Book Review: The Death and Life of Mal Evans

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Mal Evans

What if The Beatles never broke up and made a few more albums? Fellow blogger and author Peter Lee (www.hooksandharmony.com) puts in print what Beatle fans have argued and guessed about since that fateful year 1970, when the world’s greatest band called it quits.  Peter’s  narrative is in first person from the point of view of  former Beatles assistant Mal Evans, who in 1976 died from a gunshot wound by police.

Lee magically transports Evans prior to the the band’s breakup at a critical point in John Lennon’s history.  This creates an alternate timeline where Evans stops the break-up and The Beatles continue to create great music beyond 1970. Its all meticulously researched and a blazing good read as you feel like you’re in the room with the John, Paul, George, Ringo and the select group of people who knew them well. Peter sets up these great fictional albums, made up of tracks the solo Beatles produced in the years after their partnership dissolved and lists them in his blog as well. An excellent book that’s a must read for Beatle fans and musical historians will enjoy too.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIpglscU6Jg

“Now and Then” is officially the last Beatle track that can ever be made, as it was part of the Lennon demos that included “Real Love” and “Free As A Bird.” Unfortunately the remaining 3 Beatles agreed to pass on it because of the sound quality, but producer Jeff Lynne and Paul McCartney indicated they might return to it someday.

Smash Palace and The Maureens

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Smash Palace

Smash Palace “Some Kind of Magic” EP

Steven & Brian Butler (the main force behind Smash Palace) continue to put out some of the most pristine rock songs, and they are joined by Fran Smith Jr. (bass) and David Uosikkinen (drums) from The Hooters, plus Wally Smith (keyboards) and fan favorite Cliff Hillis (guitar). What seems new here is a conscious effort to avoid sounding too retro.

The opener “My Mistake” is a contemporary rock song with Smash Palaces’ signature jangle rhythm. “Haddontown” has a California feel; like Crosby, Stills & Nash mixed with Tom Petty and its the standout single here. “Part of The Plan” has a great driving guitar that leads the lyric and the solo at the break is pretty sweet too. This is a short, but sweet EP without a stray note — its highly recommended for fans. Newbies might want to start here.

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The Maureens

The Maureens “Bang The Drum”

The Maureens are a band from Utrecht, Netherlands and they make exciting and melodic alternative pop, but unlike last years debut the band takes a much softer approach on Bang The Drum. The band still has crisp clear harmonies and strong melodies when we start with “Heartbreak” and “Catch Me When I Fall” which recalls Teenage Fanclub or The Pearlfishers.

The slower “September” draws from early ’70s easy listening pop and the arena balladry of “Caroline” is similar to late-era Moody Blues. The softer songs on the albums latter half, while boasting solid musicianship didn’t hook me like the debut album did. But gems like “Bloom” will impress with the guitar and rich choral harmonies similar to Abba. Overall, this is a highly recommended listen and I hope to hear more from these talented artists.

 

 

 

International Power Pop: Cola Jet Set, The Seasongs, and Liquid Breakfast

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Cola Jet Set

Cola Jet Set “Fin Del Mundo” single

In Madrid, Spain Elefant Records has a lock on girl bands with influences in British sixties sound (The School, Primitives) but Spanish band Cola Jet Set is special in that they get the era perfectly. Fans of The Byrds and Jackie Del Shannon will enjoy it immensely.

Guitarras Y Tambores (last album)

The Seasongs

The Seasongs “Buscando el sol “

The Seasongs were featured a few years ago and they have a new album ready. The band decided to record this album entirely in Spanish (with the exception of “Mr. Porfidus & The Dream Bakers”) and a lighter sound is what makes makes this one different. “Alguna Vez” boasts some nice harmonies and chord shifts, and the late ’60s is still a big influence on “Eres Cruel” and “Sin Ti.”

Amazon


Liquid Breakfast

Liquid Breakfast “Let it Be 77 Again/Do it No More”

The states aren’t the only place where old rockers come out of retirement. Ronald “Rebel” Welgemoed is a singer/songwriter from The Netherlands who was in several late ’70s bands (Rotjoch, Rebel) but got together with some friends to form Liquid Breakfast.  Check out the new single! Fans of The Stiffs and The Beat may like this one.

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The Deadbeat Poets “Hallelujah Anyway”

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Larry O. Dean

The Deadbeat Poets “Hallelujah Anyway”

In what has to be one of the most enjoyable listens this year, The Deadbeat Poets return with a fresh guitar pop crunch on Hallelujah Anyway. Frank Secich and crew are in fine form with a visible enthusiasm that seemed to missing from some past efforts. They hit the ground running with the power pop of “In My Iron Lung,” a catchy fast tempo gem. The early Beatle influence is back with “Baby Doll,” a great little roots rocker with farfisa organ. The sixties psyche-pop mode goes into high gear with “The Psychedelic Gas Station,” as its got plenty of cowbell, effects and a tasty guitar solo.

The band also has a more diverse sound, as the modern mid-tempo “Getting Over You” written by lead guitarist Pete Drivere is a real treat with a nice vocal performance. Secich goes the full Cavern Club styled skiffle on the retro “Johnny Sincere” and the Kinks influenced “A Dark-Haired Girl in Piccadilly Circus” plays like a musical diary entry. Other recommended tracks include the Tom Pettyesque “There Ain’t No One But You” and the guitar frenzied “School For Dictators.” Overall a highly recommended return on Pop Detective Records!

Amazon | CD Baby