Surf School Dropouts “Summer is a State of Mind”
Mid-summer and another Beach Boys clone is revealed by the light of the sun, and the title track says it all. These four guys from Denmark are worshippers of those Wilsonesque harmonies and hooks, Amen.

“Baby, I Long to be Yours” continues the Pet Sounds parade, in fact the compositions and lyrics are so close, only the vocals give away that these aren’t the real Beach Boys. The Dropouts also recall The Zombies on “We’ll Follow The Sun” and those lovely harmonies soak every inch of “Beach Bound.” And things are broken up nicely by the ballad “The Road Ahead Of Me.”  My only critique here is that the vocals are pretty innocuous, the lead singer doesn’t really stand out enough, compared to the others. Highly recommended to fans of First Class, Jan and Dean, The Sunrays and  lovers of 60’s surfer pop.

Jeff Larson “The World Over”
If you grew up listening to the Southern California soft rock, then Jeff Larson’s newest is pretty essential listening. With willful consistency Larson gets together with his buddies Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell (America) once again and he records those gentle strums and sun-soaked melodies.

What makes this album stand out is the chemistry between Larson and the backing vocalist Jeddrah Schmit, the daughter of The Eagles bassist Timothy B.Schmit. Her solid assist on “Your Way Back Home” and “One Good Lie” make these laid back tunes extra special. The only curve ball is the country twang on “Point Of Rising.” The songs are all radio friendly for most AOR and even we get a sweet ending in “Reason To Be Near You” with Jeffrey Foskett of Brian Wilson Band doing the backing vocals. A real charmer of an album that engages you, even when you thought you’ve heard it all before.

Italian import The Sunny Boys are a punk pop band cut from the same cloth as Bowling For Soup. Playing the part of the eternal optimist on “Brian and Bubblegums” its full of quick harmonies, fast tempo and is a ready made TV show theme.

The dizzy pace and overly sweet melodies make this the ultimate musical sugar high, fans of Sexy Heroes and Ocean Grove will love “Shauni has a Boyfriend” and “Double Whammy.” The latter is like a Beach Boys tune on speed. The heavier guitar riffs come out on “Summer in Punkadise” and “Backstage Boom Boom” but the harmonies remain light. Every song here is a charmer, “Surfin'” once again is the California dream of Brian Wilson updated for todays’ modern pop audience. The lack of any ballads does tend to exhaust the listener – but the true enthusiasm and lack of cynicism make up for this. A perfect album for the beach if you are tired of listening to those old men.

If you were a big fan of last year’s Electro De Perfecto,  then Mike Viola’s newest is the perfect “bonus disc” companion to it. It’s got half new songs and half stripped down interpretations. The opener “Secret Radio” is a love letter to fans,”for people like you. Who keep it turned on. for people like you. I’ve been singing to all along.” The album is sparsely constructed with the help of LA-based violists Eric Summer and Kate Reddish. The string arrangements are clean and simple, lending warmth to Viola’s unmistakable croon.

“Happy & Normal” benefits from the plucked strings and its melody is a mantra of frustration that sticks to your brain. “Primary Care” is an even more personal song that  is part confessional, part therapy. One of the best tracks here is “I’m Your Dog” a perfect 2 minute ode to unconditional love that rivals anything Stevie Wonder ever wrote. The previously released material from Electro De Perfecto also works well, especially “El Mundo De Perfecto” with the lines “It’s been a bad day for the whipping boy…” sounding even more poignant than the original. The album creates a soft intimate atmosphere that’s a real treat for Viola’s fans.