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.
Nicole Atkins "Mondo Amore"
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
Richard X. Heyman "Tiers And Other Stories"
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.
Richard X.Heyman’s site | CD Baby
Moldy Oldies: The Plimsouls "Million Miles Away"
The single is considered by some the apex of the 1980’s power pop sound. Back when Nicolas Cage was a lanky teenager in the film Valley Girl, this was the biggest hit of that original soundtrack. It was rock and roll that combined punk energy with pop melody, and for me became part of an era long gone, but not forgotten.
Caddy "Electric Hero"
Caddy is also known as Tomas Dahl (The Yum Yums) who has been called a Norwegian Dave Grohl, and plays his power pop loud. Really loud – the opening track “Hanging On To Nothing”is chock full of fuzzed distorted chords that belt out right away. Immediately I thought of Superdrag or Coward (Joey Sykes old band). Dahl approaches a pop nirvana with the title track, where the melody works brilliantly with the guitar assault. “Turn Up The Radio” is another three minute gem with the riffs at metal levels and catchy melody. It’s tough to keep that level of quality for an entire album, but just when you think it will get laborious – Dahl hits you with another winning track. “Dumb Angel” is a rare song about Brian Wilson without doing an obvious Beach Boys rip-off (although he ends it with flowing harmonies). And “This Good Feeling” puts it all together in a strong hook filled package that fans of The Posies will also appreciate. Highly recommended, although it could have used a ballad or mid-tempo tune to let us catch our breath.