Schnauser and The Brigadier

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Schnauser “Where Business Meets Fashion”
Welcome to the world of Schnauser – a place where Canterbury prog, 60s psych and melodic pop gently collide. After the impressive Sound of Meat, the band picks up where it left off albeit at a less manic pace. It’s about contrasts for lead singer/songwriter Alan Strawbridge (Lucky Bishops). “Showers of Blood” cheerfully describes a gory scene with a sweet chorus. “Good Looking Boy” is another winner about a computer nerd who sees nothing special in “good looking girls.”

The Byrdsian jangle starts off “Dinner Party,” its a highlight with many key changes to delight. “Pigeons” and “Waterloo Teeth” channel Ray Davies through bright Floydian glasses. A Schauser album is always a treat for listeners who re-visit the album. It’s got a dark psychedelic trip just underneath that sugary coating. You’ll always hear a passage that catches you, or a twist that loses you (often midway through a song). A musical maze awaits for the smart audiophile!

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

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The Brigadier “Suburban Incubation”
Welsh musician Matt Williams (The Brigadier) once gain showers us with melodic pop-rock full of intricate chord changes and lighter than air melodies. He starts with the up tempo “It Needed to be Sunny” chock full of fuzz guitar goodness. The pastoral compositions are still here, “Don’t Want To Think Anymore” and “Little Boba” are perfect for a lazy Sunday in the park.

Some of the songs stick to the theme of getting older, from the insecurities of the love song “Do You Want Me Too?” to the look back at “The Middle Ages.” The Brigadier continues to dazzle us with the excellent “Music Makes The Pain Go Away.” Is there anything else more truthful? Highly Recommended.

Amazon | CD Baby

The Tor Guides “Lots of The Pops! Volume 1: Caught In A Sweet Refrain”

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I have to raise my glass in mutual respect for Torbjorn Pettersson and his band. Not too many groups are willing to carry on the shiny pop torch pioneered by The Merrymakers, but The Tor Guides are thrilled to do so. Their last LP Strawberries & Chocolates was pretty sweet, and things get sweeter (and more polished) here.

The glossy opener “Dynamo” recalls ELO’s grand sweep with the tandem of pipe organ and bass guitar in a catchy head bopping melody. “Things We’ll Do Today” flows in perfectly, as light easy listening pop just made for a sunny day. “When The Stars” plays like a lost Wondermints track with its Beach Boys styled rhythm guitar. The love ballad “Apricote” does feel a little too saccharine, and reveals Torbjorns vocal limitations. Fortunately that’s the only miscue, as “Sentimental Fool” is an infectious pop gem that delivers. “Happy” is another gem that is the closest to The Merrymakers with its harmonies and rolling riffs. Torbjorn leaves the template for the four minute plus “Turquoise” and its a compelling chamber pop composition. Overall very highly recommended.

Kool Kat Musik | CD Baby

 

The Charlie Watts Riots and Any Version Of Me

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The Charlie Watts Riots “A Break In The Weather”
Albany based guitar-pop band the Charlie Watts Riots don’t agree on all their musical tastes—though they do share an appreciation for snazzy suits. But bassist Mike Pauley, guitarist Seth Powell and drummer Joe Putrock can cite one primary influence that brought the Charlie Watts Riots together; a love for rock and roll and that rush of combustible energy when they play. They showed potential on their debut, Long Story Short – but now they sound a lot heavier with even better melodies.

Like a power pop version of Nirvana, the dual layered guitar attack of “Bottom” sets the stage. “Curtains” is a mix of Fountains Of Wayne with Foo Fighters.  “Luanne” has a slow build but quickly becomes a fast paced single that won’t leave your head. Each tune keeps you interested, fans of Superdrag and The Posies are sure to love this. Like The Connection, this band has a command of melodic riffs and minor chords aplenty.

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Any Version Of Me “We Are You”
This is the fifth album by this mysterious Frenchman, and here he slowly moves away from this Brian Wilson influences to incorporate a more rounded sound. The opener “Can’t You See” is familiar, but he shifts with electronic synths on “Six and Three.” The barebones acoustic title track shows us a folkie side, but “No Answer” is a much stronger tune and the up-beat “Why Feel So Blue?” is a real charmer, like a Left Banke tune. My favorite here is is “Goodbye” which is kinda if Sondre Lerche played The Monkees. Lots of fun and best of all the download is FREE.

Metropolitan Farms and Wondernaut/Less Love

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Metropolitan Farms “Our Hero Pleads His Flimsy Case”
That Portland band Metropolitan Farms have an alt. pop sound that veers close to Guided By Voices is no surprise. Lead singer Josh Mayer plays in a GBV cover band (Giant Bug Village) and on the opener “Stars All Fall” it immediately reminds us, although this band has less of DYI quality. Several early tracks are fairly forgettable, but the song quality leaps forward on “Tear Me Apart”  with its Posies-like guitar attack. They hit their stride with the excellent “I Could Be Anything.” The gentle acoustic of “Just Below The Clothes” ignores the fact that we are not porn stars, and the melody is super catchy.

Another highlight is the synth-guitar Weezer like “Beer Commercial” which is a teenage fanatasy about life in beer commercial (Coors Light, is my guess). A few more gems are buried here, like “If You’re Asking” with its the Mod-era Who styled harmonies and the easy going “Don’t Wait Up For Me, Katie” with its hummable chorus. Worth discovering for sure.

CD Baby | Amazon

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Wondernaut/Less Love “Paradigms In The Design”
It is not often two bands share an album release, but Oklahoma City bands Wondernaut and Less Love team up to give us Paradigms In Design. These bands play well together, the starting duet “Like Shaking Hands” feels authentic and compelling. Then Wondernaut give us a mid-western Coldplay alternative on “No One But Me” and Less Love go ’80s syth and crashing percussion on “Lollygagging,” like a Bauhaus-Joy Division clone.

The style shifts are jarring and I found myself skipping the hard stuff for soft collaborations of male/female duet in “If You (UK Surf).” The electro-beat version of the song ends the album. Wondernaut benefits from the slower guitar compositions “Mountains In The Sky” and the solid mid-tempo “The Man Who Hated Man.” I found Less Love a tougher sell and tended to skip those tracks, maybe because they sounded like art-pop, or possibly they just didn’t have any consistency.

Amazon | CD Baby