Andrea Perry and Sam’s Instant Band

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Andrea Perry “Four”
Austin Texas songstress Andrea Perry successfully funded her fourth LP and it highlights her skillful arranging and sugary pop melodies. Playing like a lush twee daydream, “My Lover Said” features Andrea’s willowy vocal as it sails across a bed of acoustic guitars and strings.

It seamlessly transitions into the sweet “Spring,” with its twisting verse, then picks up speed with “Another Bad Idea.” With her delicate harmonies and pastoral imagery, its very familiar territory for fans of Pugwash and XTC.

The mid-tempo ballads here are what you’ll cherish here, “Where Have You Been” is a perfect example with minor chord shifts in each verse. There is an old fashioned sense of love and loss with relationships as a theme throughout the album, and “Flame in My Heart” and “Not A Pretty Pair” were the most articulate for me. Another big standout is the redemptive “Throw Me A Line.” It all leads to the finale “Welcome Home” and the coda “Alight With Me.” Highly recommended.

CD Baby | Itunes | Amazon

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Sam’s Instant Band “Namaste”
There isn’t much on the internet about Will and the Bushmen, an indie college rock band from Mobile, Alabama. The band was founded by Will Kimbrough and Sam Baylor. Influenced by Big Star and Neil Young in the mid 1980’s they made a few albums, got picked up by a major label (EMI), played on MTV and then vanished without a trace. Fast forward about 20 years…

Sam Baylor now returns with The Instant Band. Never mind the crude LP artwork, this is not some kids record, but a thoughtful and personal statement on life. Starting with “Train At The Station” its rich jangling guitar and easy going vocal will please fans of Tom Petty, Neil Young and Warren Zevon. The romantic “Day That We Die” is equally catchy, and profoundly simple in its lyric. The alt. country spin on “Kiss Me I’m Crazy” is charming in a Leonard Cohen meets Wilco sort of way. Equally fascinating is “I Walk Alone,” a depressing ballad with dreamy REM quality. Worth checking out.

CD Baby | Amazon

Darren Sweet and Beady Eye

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Darren Sweet “Pop’s Three Minute Pleasures” EP
If you were around during the Not Lame years in the late 90s, then you remember The Naked Chollas.Led by musician Daren Sweet, his influences ranged from The Knack, The Romantics, The Beat, and Joe Jackson. But just as the band was beginning to catch on, it faded from view. Now Sweet has re-emerged, “I guess I am still carrying the torch for power pop music”, said Sweet. “Pop’s Three Minute Pleasures in my own statement and my own brand of power pop”.

Starting with “Great Big World,” it’s a mint single, jangling verse with a big fat hook in the chorus. Next the homophone filled “Caring More Bout Karen Less” is another energetic gem, and mid-tempo “It’s Not Your Time” has a palpable sense of longing and  a terrific guitar solo in the break. Honestly, almost every song shines here proves Darren hasn’t lost a beat in the past ten years. And even though the last 2 tracks are longer than three minutes, it certainly was a pleasure to listen to.

Get it at CD Baby

 

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Beady Eye “BE ” (Deluxe Edition)
For all you Oasis fans, Liam Gallagher’s Beady Eye returns to go through the routine of developing rock anthems on sophomore album BE, starting with the opening horns on “Flick Of The Finger,” which has a plodding verse buildup that feels like Oasis-lite. Not a bad tune, but without a big payoff in the chorus, it fails to generate real excitement. Unlike the enjoyable debut LP Different Gear, Still Speeding, the production here sounds too clean and antiseptic. So the next tune on BE, “Soul Love,” drones on like a long song intro, instead of a fully complete tune. Read the Full review at BlogCritics.org

Get it at Amazon

Summer Goodies from Shake Some Action and more!

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Shake Some Action “Wait For The Summer”
You know I almost never review singles, BUT once in a while an exception is made and this song is so good I had to spread it around to all of you.  Fresh off of  Full Fathom Five, James Hall has this kick ass single, that’s only a buck and essential summer listening!

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Jose Casas y la Pistola de Papá “Canciones de Kilómetro Cero”
For the Spanish power pop lovers, Jose Casas gives us nice little EP full of power pop covers in español. The EP begins a big way with “Cielo”, an appropriation of the “Heaven” by The Psychedelic Furs,  and continues with the awesome “No Quiero Ilusionarme, ” a bright and luminous adaptation of a song by The Red Button. La Pistola de Papa also do a tribute to Jason Falkner (The Three O’Clock and Jellyfish), transforming “Miss Understanding” into “Que Parezca un Accidente.”

Best of all, es gratis, sin dinero necesario!