Sunday Sun and Fernando Perdomo

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Sunday Sun “DAY” EP
The Amsterdam band Sunday Sun comes out with it’s second EP. “DAY” once again highlights those gorgeous harmonies on “Ordinary Love” and “Now Is Now.” The sweep of the compositions are grander than the first EP, for example “Summer Holiday” has a fast guitar rhythm with handclaps building layer upon layer of drums and vocals. The slow ballad “You” tones things down quite a bit, but the band roars back with “Take A Left,” a 70’s inspired funk-rock song. Fans of Sonic Executive Sessions and The Beach Boys need look no further, and combined the 2 eps make a top ten LP in my opinion. And a free one for the next 2 weeks! No excuses, just get it.

Free on Bandcamp for 2 weeks only!

Fernando Perdomo “Home Is Wherever You Are” EP
Mr. Perdomo ( Dreaming In Stereo ) is a strong singer/songwriter/producer and with a delicate piano and strum, Fernando brings us orchestral pop with sweeping strings on the opener “Home.” Its a nod to both Burt Bacharach and Nick Drake, expressing both beauty and sadness. The another great song “Smile” is a sweet affirmation similar in tone to the grandiose hit “We Are Young” by Fun. “Fill My Sky” is another winner and the love song “In A World Without You” is both moving and brief, with a catchy “do do do” coda. If you love chamber pop and a change of pace from guitar heavy rock, this will do the trick.

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Honeymoon Stallions and King Washington

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Honeymoon Stallions “Moonlighting”
Andy Goldberg (The Sun Kings, The Goldbergs) returns with a new band and a new album. The Honeymoon Stallions gallop out of the gate with the opener “If It Wasn’t For You,” a terrific melody with a layer of organ under the guitar riffs. “Radio Song” has a touch of Nick Lowe with its solid hooks. “Driftin'” is a slightly mellower Andy, similar to Jeff Larsons bluesy mid-tempo jangle pop. This newer texture continues on “By The Moon…” and the Beatles bounce with Harrison-styled slide guitar surfaces on “Every Now and Then.” Every song is strong here, and its on par with his previous albums. Overall, a welcome autumn present for lovers of great guitar pop.

 CD Baby | Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

King Washington “The Gears”
L.A. powerhouse vocalist Tyson Kelly has the best rock vocals since Ed Roland, and proves it with this superb debut. Joined by lead guitarist George Krikes, bassist Dylan Cronin and drummer Kyle Turek, The Gears is a triumph of sparkling musicianship and high gloss production. You’ll hear Badfinger-like harmonies and hooks aplenty on the title track, its just mesmerizing. And the Helter Skelter opening on “Fourth Of July” leads to snappy melody full of awesome harmonies and guitars. But despite the nods to rock gods of the past, the bands sound is totally unique. More potential “hits” are “Animal” and “Anybody Home” but it runs out of gas by the albums end. However you can’t deny the great tracks on the albums first half, so I’d highly recommend this one.

 Itunes | Amazon | Kool Kat Musik 

The Blood Rush Hour “Shrink”

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The Blood Rush Hour “Shrink”
Welsh combo lead by Robert DiStefano, The Blood Rush Hour  is a carefully crafted pop album that draws from 10cc, Jellyfish and Andrew Gold. But this band doesn’t just take influences, it twists them in knots. “The Way Back Home” is a smart opener with keys, horn accents and a little theatrical guitar solo. A great example of the shifts in tone is “Into The Fire.” It starts with a beatnik beat and sax, then shifts into a harmony filled chorus with a guitar heavy hook. My favorite “Came To Believe” is a gorgeous melody, that sounds a lot like Supertramp mixed with Roger Manning Jr.

Nothing here is predictable, and its simply hypnotic. “Delme” and the bright “Portrait of Jane” are reminiscent of Klaatu. The fact that you have two distinct vocalists here means, that you’re taken a back when Peter Tomlinson’s “The Nancy Song” and “Upon Losing A Kindred” prove to be a pleasant surprise. The jazzy swing undercurrent is throughout the album, with brass and brush drum and piano – it pops up occasionally. Another gem here is “The Tale of Lancelot” with its minor chord melody and it all comes together on the end track “Show Me Yourself” which ironically is the most power poppy song here. Definitely one of the most inventive albums this year. Fans of the mentioned influences, Martin Newell and Spygenius will love this. Highly recommended.

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The Connection and Kurt Baker

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The Connection “Seven Nights To Rock” EP
Those boys from Portsmouth NH continue to burn through classic rock and roll with a little rockabilly bend here on the title track.  “I Think She Digs Me” is a simple retro rock tune that’s all about teen innocence, with it’s “yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah” chorus.  If you loved the debut album, then this will be a great addition to your track list.

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Kurt Baker “Want You Around” EP
Another young gun in power pop circles is Kurt Baker and he continues to impress with this EP, the title track cracks with energy and bouncing riffs – part Elvis Costello, part Paul Collins.

Kurt’s faithful cover of Billy Joel’s “Sleeping With the Television On” is so good my ears did a double take. The other tunes,”News At 10″ goes at very rapid tempo and the defiant “Hollywood (Down On Your Luck)” adds some angular guitar and synths. Say hello to the new “Angry Young Man” of melodic rock.

CD Baby | Amazon

He’s Back! Jeff Lynne’s new single…

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Jeff Lynne (ELO front man, fifth Beatle, Wilbury Brother, etc.) will release a new solo album Long Wave on 10/9.

He also will release Mr. Blue Sky: The Very Best of Electric Light Orchestra, a collection of ELO hits that have been re-recorded by Lynne. Why re-record these classics? According to Lynne, “When I listen to the old versions they don’t sound the way I thought they did when I first wrote and recorded them. I wanted to use the experience I’ve gained producing records ever since and have a completely new try at them.”