Dr. Cosmo’s Tape Lab and Dropkick

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Dr. Cosmo’s Tape Lab “Ever Evolving Lounge”
Joe Kane (The Owsley Sunshine, Them Beatles) and Stu Kidd (BMX Bandits, Wellgreen) do a great job capturing the spirit and sound of late sixties bubblegum pop with Dr. Cosmo’s Tape Lab. Fans of The Monkees, The Ohio Express and The Strawberry Alarm Clock will really love this album. The duo faithfully re-creates the swinging sound, but the music itself is something wholly original, so you won’t be simply playing a game of “spot the influence.”

“A Sting In The Tale” has funky beat and a catchy, suggestive chorus perfect for go-go dancing. “Adopt A Rabbit” has plenty of vocal gymnastics and moog effects that one up Syd Barrett, then “Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road?” chugs along like those Turtles hits with silly lyrics and key changes. You can break out the incense for the psychedelic “The Secret Of The Tibetan Grapefruit Is…?” And the fascinating “Trading Time” plays out like a lost High Llamas track. Overall, not a filler track to be found. Highly Recommended to all those with a healthy love of nostalgia and sunny melodies.

Amazon | Bandcamp


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Dropkick “Homeward”
Scotland’s Dropkick delivers their most polished effort to date with it’s strong compositions and heavenly harmonies, it will please fans of The Jayhawks, Wilco, and The Pernice Brothers. “Come Home” starts with simple strums and some steel pedal and sweet West Coast styled harmonies. “When It Starts” has a jarring discordant chord that gives way to brothers Andrew and Alastair Taylor’s sorrowful balladry.Then “Halfway Round Again” bounces in, with its hypnotic, rhythmic riff. The best tune here is the superb “Jump Start” with its soulful organ melody and rich layered sounds.

The remaining tracks on the second half are almost as memorable, the quality musicianship keeps your attention with “Style” the poppiest track on the album and the catchy percussive rhythm of “Wishing” brings a glimmer of optimism to a fairly melancholy album. The band puts its heart on its sleeve here, as one of those great sad albums you listen to in a darkened room.

Amazon | Bandcamp

Mike Barnett and Wesley Wolfe

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Mike Barnett “Everybody Gets to Dream”
Mike Barnett returns with a much stronger display of melodic prowess and Dylanesque lyrical skill. With some help from Salim Nourallah, and team of guest players, Barnett crafts a sweet non-glossy LP that reminded me of a low-fi Traveling Wilburys at times. “Who Loves You Blue” sets the stage with his soft delivery and Harrison-like slide guitar.

“I Could Fall” is the secret to his longevity, with some wonderful guitar work in the break – Mike will just “keep keeping on till who knows when.” And he gets positively Beatle-y on “It Must Be Love” with its slow tempo sparse arrangement. He quickens the tempo on “Heidi Surprise” and one of the best tunes here is the inspirational “Everybody Gets To Dream.” Another gem here is the Jeff Lynne like “Push Me Away.” It would’ve been nice to slip in more harmonies, but despite that its a solid effort that encourages repeat listens.

CD Baby | Amazon

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Wesley Wolfe “Numbskull”
North Carolina’s Wesley Wolfe is an artist you want to keep your eye on. The self-styled musical auteur combines a dazzling array of influences, from GBV, Beach Boys, Peter Gabriel and Weezer. The opener “Lost In My Daydreams” utilizes a strong percussive effect as well as a catchy chorus. And it gets even more impressive on the quick tempo of “Fragment of A Dream.”

And its more than the layered textures here, Wolfe has a mastery of indie pop melody, and like Robert Pollard he tosses off gems with ease, like “Read My Mind” and even the slower title track stays on course. The albums theme is about dealing with life’s big worries and coming to terms with it. “Jesus Eyes” is delicate mid-tempo ballad to a girl “innocent and beautiful to me.” No filler here, as this is one of the better indie rock albums I’ve heard so I’ll be checking out his prior work. Highly Recommended!

Amazon | Bandcamp

Brent Bourgeois first LP in 20 years “Don’t Look Back” releases

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Brent Bourgeois and Julian Lennon

 

Brent Bourgeois will on June 2nd release his first album in 20 years, “Don’t Look Back”. The record features a ton of amazing collaborations, including Julian Lennon, Todd Rundgren, Charlie Peacock, Wayne Kirkpatrick, Rachael Lampa, Chris Rodriguez, and the first reunion in the studio of Bourgeois Tagg in 25 years. After reviewing his son’s LP earlier this year, its great to see Brent doing some unique marketing for this album.

Brent’s website offers snippets of the new songs (along with a commentary) and you can listen to past albums from Bourgeois Tagg or solo albums. He’s involved with Julian Lennon’s White Feather Foundation, which helps deliver clean, safe drinking water to those in need in Africa. You can buy the album here.

The Legal Matters “The Legal Matters”

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The Legal Matters have a pretty impressive pedigree. Consisting of Chris Richards (of Chris Richards and the Subtractions), Andy Reed (An American Underdog) and Keith Klingensmith (The Phenomenal Cats), they have made an album that easily makes my top-ten year end list.

Starting with “Rites of Spring” it shimmers with perfect vocal harmonies and smooth melody similar to The Wondermints. It is the kind of song that guitars were invented for, and will be going around your head for hours after you hear it. There is a subtle soft rock undercurrent to many of the tunes that may put off rockers who prefer a harder edge, but it actually works great here. It doesn’t let up with “Stubborn,” another great song with perfect riffs, and touches all around. “Have You Changed Your Mind” is a softer, mid-tempo track, fans of The Eagles and The Agony Aunts will appreciate.

The hits keep coming, “The Legend Of Walter Wright” is a supremely hummable tune with a sweet balance of harmonies and guitar crunchiness. Even when the band gets stylistically mellow for “So Long Sunny Days” it plays like a lost Beach Boys/Poco track. And just in time for summer, it grabs you and doesn’t let go.

Bandcamp | Pre-Order Direct