Penguin Party and Lousy Robot

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Penguin Party “Sex furniture warehouse and other stories”
Dave Milligan has a lovable quirky attitude on this third Penguin Party album. “Mike Leigh-on-sea” is an impressive XTC styled single, and the album goes off on the theme of senior citizenship with typical British jangle and whimsy. The production is sparse compared to the last album, and it brings us a homey intimacy on “She Was Only A Roofer’s Daughter.” It’s like Martin Newell doing a sing-a-long in the pub, especially on the charming “Song For My Old Lady.” Sometimes it looses it’s way getting too jokey (like an old Monty Python tune) or experimental. But there are more than enough gems here (like the terrific “Whatever Happened to Tomorrow’s World?”) to make it worth your while. Fans of Mr. Newell and Mr. Partridge shouldn’t miss this one.

Sitting Target Music | Bandcamp

Lousy Robot “Hail The Conquering Fool”
If you mixed The Eels and Apples in Stereo in a blender you might get Lousy Robot. This Albuquerque indie band knows about quirky synth hooks and fuzzy riff based pop. Listening to the hand clapping goodness of “Andy Warhol’s Gone” it sets expectations high. The album balances out tight melodies in songs like “The Peacock” with low key filler (“A Not Quite Perfect Film”). Some of the stream of conscious lyrical musings work well on “Christmas In Berlin” and it sets you up for sweet tracks like “Sugarsweet Me.” However the band wears its slacker badge with pride, as “A Man On A Weird Horse, Pt. 1” teases us with a single bridge. And that’s the issue I have – a few good songs surrounded by a pile of loose snippets. This 12 track album felt more like an EP, so I hope the band makes more pop and less “corn” on the next album. Pick out the choice kernels here.

MySpace | Bandcamp | CD Baby

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The Bigger Lovers and Marisa Levy

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The Bigger Lovers “Little Giant Maxi Single” EP
After 7 years, The Bigger Lovers re-emerge from self imposed exile and according to drummer Patrick Berkery, these tracks were recorded in 2005 with the help of Tony Goddess (Papas Fritas). “Talon Show” is superb jangle ballad and the follow up “I’m Not The Sort” has a Brill Building pop feel. “Little Giant” is nice guitar single that recalls the band’s past. This release will be followed by the 10th anniversary reissue of the 2001 debut How I Learned to Stop Worrying. I always wondered what happened to The Bigger Lovers – now I can look forward to more new material.

Marissa Levy “63 Songs About Joe” EP
With a big voice, a talent for witty lyrics and the ability to write a damn catchy melody, she is so much more than just a small girl with a big guitar. Her latest EP is a mature leap from her earlier works. Produced by the great Mike Viola and engineered by Ducky Carlisle, 63 Songs About Joe draws on such varied influences as The Beatles, Prince, Harry Nilsson and The Beach Boys. “A Love Song” has a fresh confident vocal and bouncy tempo that will easily make you smile. The acoustic guitar strums of “Growing Up To Do” builds with layered harmonies and Mike does some backing vocals here. In fact, it was so catchy, that I will begin to explore Marissa’s past LPs.

Pre order at Marissa Levy.com  | CD Baby
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RIP: Gary Moore leaves us

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Guitar legend Gary Moore passed away. Best known for the pop hit “The Boys Are Back In Town” for Thin Lizzy, he had a much more prolific career as a rock blues guitarist and in my opinion rivaled Eric Clapton. I wish I could have interviewed him — in any case, I highly recommend ‘Still Got The Blues‘ to hear Gary’s signature sound in all its glory.

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Nicole Atkins "Mondo Amore"

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Nicole Atkins has a burning passion to rock. After her successful major label debut Neptune City in 2007, she was inexplicably dropped by Columbia and started rebuilding her musical career. If there was any doubt about her rock cred, Mondo Amore puts them to rest very quickly.

Her sound is like the midway point between Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks, and the rich orchestration in the haunting “Vultures” starts us out.  Her soulful wail supports the excellent instrumentation. And the hooks are sharper than ever on the funky single “Cry, Cry, Cry.” It helps to have lighter moments here, because the album’s focus is bleak sadness best exemplified by “Hotel Plaster” where Nicole bares her soul as her strong vocal builds. Led Zepplin is an obvious influence on  “You Come To Me,” a driving fast-tempo gem. The zydeco flavored “My Baby Don’t Lie” is another winner, and has a nice classical bridge between choruses. “Heavy Boots” booming drum beats and slow organ chords are a melodically gorgeous dirge. Nicole’s focus on struggle, survival, and heartbreak culminates in the epic “Tower.” This is an album that resonates long after the last note. I was also fortunate enough to interview Nicole for the Rock and Roll Report.

Mondo Amore site | Amazon | Kickstarter

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Richard X. Heyman "Tiers And Other Stories"

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Veteran power pop legend Richard X. Heyman heads in a new direction on the massive 31 song pop opera Tiers And Other Stories. First, don’t expect the same ol’ RXH three minute gems of the past. This is a deliberate and eclectic concept album that acts as a biography in 2 acts. Act One (Tiers) are songs about Richard’s relationship with his wife Nancy Leigh and how it’s shaped him into the man we know today. Starting with the understated “Hot On The Trail of Innocence” it’s an appropriate overture to the journey. The piano led “Golden in This Town” is filled with soulful optimism and a real standout. From there we have some other musical experiments; “Good To Go” is a country tune that accurately puts forth RXH’s view “I’m getting tired of the same old, same old.”

Some of these tracks to resemble musical scenes of a play, “Last Thought In My Mind” and “Horizon” remind me of Passing Strange meets Warren Zevon. A spirited piano solo lifts “Fire In The Country,” and “One Thing I Still Have” has a great chorus, but other tracks here don’t stick as well. However,”Everyone’s Moving In The Wrong Direction” is an impressive ballad that showcases Heyman’s songwriting skills. Act Two (Other Stories) focuses on life in New York City, and things are less linear. You do get the impression that RXH is conducting mini symphonies here (Aaron Copland’s influence is clear) but until we get to the excellent “Branded In The Sky” it doesn’t always resonate. More standouts here are the wistful “The Day Before Tomorrow” and his tribute to Doughboy guitarist Willy Kirchofer on “When Willy Played Guitar.” Each disc has it’s share of great tracks, experiments and impressions – fans will want to wade in deep, newcomers may want to start with Basic Glee.

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