Late Cambrian and Gramercy Arms

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Late Cambrian

Late Cambrian “Golden Time”

Late Cambrian has changed its sound a bit more toward the club audience, the guitar riffs which dominated in Peach, take a backseat to the increased role of the keyboard. Starting with the angular riffs, and thumping bass guitar of “Throwing Shade,” its very similar to Field Music’s cerebral approach. But soon after we get the pop goodness of the “Golden Time,” a catchy gem that encourages dancing and head bopping. Its one of the best singles I’ve heard so far and a perfect mix of bass guitar/synth melody.

The synth leads “Illamasqua” and it highlights the vocal harmonies and solid drum work. “NOW” goes for a funkier production with the guitar playing a lead role here. Similarly, “DYBIL” an acronym for “do you believe in love” is a dance rock track with a spacey feel. Then “Montauk” is a welcome love song featuring Angie Hart telling her story, and the duet with John is excellent. The ending “Shiny Cars” is stately and a little long, but there is no filler here. John Wlaysewski’s voice and guitar have come a long way from Flying Machines. This is a band that’s on the cutting edge of rock and pop, ready for major fame – its early but makes my 2015 list.  Look out Maroon 5 and Franz Ferdinand, you’ve got a band who’s “Golden Time” has come.
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Bandcamp |  Amazon

Gramercy Arms

Gramercy Arms “The Seasons of Love”

Gramercy Arms is a NYC Collective masterminded by main songwriter/producer Dave Derby (Dambuilders/Lloyd Cole) with a massive guest list: Joan Wasser (Joan As Police Woman), Tanya Donelly (Belly, Throwing Muses), Matthew Caws (Nada Surf), Kendall Meade (Sparklehorse), Claudia Gonson (Magnetic Fields), Doug Gillard (Guided By Voices), Erin Moran (A Girl Called Eddy), Renee LoBue (Elk City), Kay Hanley (Letters To Cleo).

The opener “Always In Love” is a sure fire hit that will brighten your day with sunny horn flourishes to highlight the optimistic melody. The more subdued “Beautiful Disguise” veers into ballad territory, the duet between Lloyd Cole and Joan Wasser plays the male/female insecurity card perfectly. “Winterlight” is another gem of optimism and its a hand clapping ready-made single. “The Night Is Your Only Friend” is another richly woven pop anthem. Fans of sophisticated pop rock like The Eels or The Sharp Things will love this album.  The horns and strings here set the music above the fray, and lead singer works effortlessly with other vocalists of different styles on “Novemberlong” and “The Seasons of Love.” Overall this is music that elicits authentic emotion, and you’ll be glad to revisit it and let it grow on you.
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Amazon

Mothboxer and The Vickers

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Mothboxer

Mothboxer “We’re All Out Of Our Minds” EP

It seems we just finished listening to Mothboxer’s latest LP which made our year end list, when an equally awesome and groovy EP shows up. “We’re All Out Of Our Minds” has Dave Ody doing his Lennonesque pop confection from Sand and The Rain plus three bonus tracks. “One Day At A Time” is a little more measured till we get to the thick chorus. “I’m Working” is a music hall piano melody that fans of the new Dowling Poole album with enjoy. “Laughing Out Loud” is slow tempo epic with a circus like atmosphere and it fits nicely here. Each track shines and overall this is a highly recommended addition to your Mothboxer collection.
power pop
Bandcamp


The Vickers

The Vickers “Ghosts”

An Italian band, The Vickers will take you on a musical kaleidoscopic journey chock full of spatial guitars, keyboards, and whirling bass lines. This psyche pop album starts with the dynamic “She’s Lost,” a good mix of Beatles and Syd Barrett-era Pink Floyd.

The echoing fuzz of “I Don’t Know What It Is” builds as it continues, then trails off into a slow jam punctuated by a guitar solos. The Vickers also have a garage-styled punk sensibility on “All I Need” with its swirling rhythms and fuzzed vocals. “Here Me Now” sounds a little more modern, but its no less hypnotic.  Additional highlights include the Beatlesque “Walking On A Rope” and the lighter than air title track. This is most definitely an album to check out on your best set of headphones in a darkened room. Worth multiple listens it could become your favorite head-trip.
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Bandcamp | Amazon

Comedy: The Shame Game

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Ginny Leise and Soojeong Son host a monthly live game show show called The Shame Game in Brooklyn, in which comedians compete by telling their most shameful stories and secrets. Ginny and Soo also produce biting, hilarious videos each month to promote the show, this one is called “Dude Notes.” Here is my dude note: You are both funny and cute, and the show sounds like a real blast. Check out the other promo videos here:

Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3 | Episode 4

WHERE: The Bell House – 149 7th St. – Brooklyn
 
WHEN: Friday, February 6th, 2015 – doors 8:30pm, show 9:00pm
 
HOW: $10 advance, $12 day of show – Get tickets here!

Assorted Artists “Beyond Belief: A Tribute To Elvis Costello”

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SpyderPop Records releases a compilation paying tribute to the words and music of the incomparable Elvis Costello. Costello is truly one of the worlds greatest modern songwriters, so I was stunned that a tribute disc took this long to come together. Liz Phair put it best “Elvis Costello writes novels in three minutes. He gets inside your head, and doesn’t let go… His songs about women and girls are devastating, like arrows to the heart. He’s a poet with a punk’s heart.” This collection gathers just about every power pop artist I can think of interpreting his massive songbook.

It’s hard to highlight standouts, but I’ll focus on a few of my favorites. Starting with disc 1, you have Chris Richards and The Subtractions doing a crunchy but faithful version of “No Action,”  Gail George makes the “Deep Dark Truthful Mirror” her own. “New Amsterdam” by Parallax Project is another gem of an arrangement with its unique rhythmic texture. Jaime Hoover & Steve Stoeckel do an amazing a Capella version of “Blame It On Cain.” Of course Kurt Baker’s synth version of “High Fidelity” is another highlight.

Disc 2 boasts a stripped down version of “Alison” by Matthew Sweet and a truly beautiful arrangement of “Riot Act” by Brandon Schott. Another fave is Hans Rotenberry’s “Tear Off Your Own Head (It’s A Doll Revolution)” and Paul Myers tragic “So Like Candy.” Disc 3 continues with the high energy “Strict Time” by The Anderson Council and the always amazing Lannie Flowers doing “Radio Sweetheart.” With the huge amount of songs I was a little surprised no one took on the fan favorite “Oliver’s Army.” Many of the artists do a great job with the songs, so ultimately its worth the wait.

Co-produced by longtime Costello fans Olivia Frain and John M. Borack, with all proceeds from the release benefiting the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, a non-profit organization that donates musical instruments to under-funded school music programs. Highly Recommended.

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CD Baby

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R. Stevie Moore, Jason Falkner and Matthew Shacallis

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Mothboxer

R. Stevie Moore and Jason Falkner “Make It Be” Limited Edition

This hidden LP was a real gem of a find only on Bandcamp. Prolific and iconic DIY musician R. Stevie Moore collaborates with Jason Falkner (Jellyfish, TV Eyes) on this 17 track mix of polished pop and artistic styles. “I H8 Ppl” is a true collaboration, with Jason’s hook filled guitar licks and Stevie’s vocals bringing it home. Being a Falkner album you get his unique melodic DNA in the musing “Another Day Slips Away” a brilliant mantra about the quick passage of time where we “Sleep, Eat, Love, Work and Play.” This fades into the dreamy psyche-pop of “I Love Us, We Love Me,” with its layered production and trippy vocal overdubs. This also being a R. Stevie project, you get plenty of experimental tracks like the instrumental “Gower” or poetry of “Prohibited Permissions.”

Jason’s melodic genius comes through on several tracks like “Sincero Amore” and “Play Myself Some Music.” Then “That’s Fine, What Time?” was a bit like a TV Eyes song. I also loved the thick Cheap Trick riffs on “I Am The Best For You” allow Stevie to yell along with a cacophony of guitars. But I was also totally drawn to the boogie of Stevie’s cover of Huey “Piano” Smith & the Clowns “Don’t You Just Know It” and listing to Stevie’s brainstorming ideas like “Falkner’s Walk.” The title is a smart play on the Beatles title, where you “make it” not “let it” happen. Highly Recommended.
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Bandcamp Only


Matthew Shacallis

Matthew Shacallis “Reach The Stars” EP

Shacallis is from Sydney Australia, and his sound is pure power pop gold. “Summer Sun” and “Tell Me Girl” both have a sweet jangling melody and vocal style similar to Teenage Fanclub.  “Nothing To Show” is a bit rougher, like classic You Am I. “Do You Love Me” is a little more retro sounding, a little like The Animals but with a poppier sound. The title track is a slower acoustic guitar ballad, with some overdubbed harmonies, and overall its very well done debut. I look forward to more from Matthew!
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Bandcamp only