Julian Berntzen “Rocketship Love”
As a Norwegian musical child prodigy Julian Berntzen has been writing and composing his own music at age 14, and as he grew up he mastered the ability to build intricate concept albums. His latest album “Rocketship Love” is a fantastic find that draws you into the atmospheric narrative much like Paul Steel’s work. The title track has a funky clavinet with a Jellyfish bridge to the chorus. Some of the songs have a McCartney-like facination with dance hall instrumentation, as “Johnny” could be the lost companion to The Beatles “Honey Pie.” Another gem is the achingly lovely ballad “Julias Jewerly” with it’s sweet harmonies. The light falsetto and strings of “Clouds Will Pass” and “Sunny Street” will please fans of Sondre Lerche. The orchestration is lavish and other than some nostalgic instrumentals, there is no filler here. In 2008, this album was nominated for the Norwegian Grammy, so pop fans should give this a chance. Julian is also heading down to this year’s SXSW festival, so you may not want to miss him there either.

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Bad Love Experience “Rainy Days”
From Italy’s Livorno underground music scene comes Bad Love Experience. The band’s official line up with Valerio Casini (voice and guitar), Emanuele Voliani (bass and choir) and Gabriele Bogi (drums) has been collaborating with American producer Justin Perkins to bring us a record filled to the brim with solid rock and roll. Full of riffs that don’t quit – it’s comparable with Jet, Rooney or Oasis with big infectious beats and relentless harmonies. The opening “Breakaway” and follow up “21st Century Boy” are perfect examples of this. Throughout the album you hear a combination of influences from the new wave 80’s, garage 60’s, and arena rock 70’s all working seamlessly together. The fast paced song “The Days” is undeniably catchy and an album highlight. “Mr. & Mrs. Beloved” is another winner with an ever increasing tempo and volume. “Knowing All The Things I’ve Known” has echoes The Beatles with it’s pounding drums and organ lead. “Dear Maver Boy” sounds a bit like a really fast organ version of “96 Tears.” Casini’s vocals are excellent without a trace of accent, heard on the album’s harmony-filled finale “All The Heroes, Unfamous People.” Overall, a great album and you’ll have no problem turning up the volume and rocking to the beat.

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This was a facinating process to witness. An album being recorded and contructed over the course of the year and every detail recorded on the artists blog track by track (In fact the song demos are still there for free download). The sound of this band has evolved in the process from the earlier rough garage jangle sound to a sophisticated studio effort. This is more of James Hall’s baby and it shows. Those guitars are still there and he mixes in a few new influences. Opening with “Stand and Deliver” it mixes psychedelic vocals and ringing guitar rhythms that reminds me a little of U2 mixed with The Happy Mondays. Hall’s musical skills are on display with the steady bass and looping guitar arpeggio of  “Touch The Sky.” If you’re a bit nostalgic for those 80’s jangle hooks of  The Mighty Lemon Drops, The Cure and Psychedelic Furs you get a real gift with several tracks like the hook-filled “Fire and Ice”, “Can You Feel?” and “I Wasn’t Born Yesterday.” The trippy “Bottom Of The Sea” sets a real nice Pink Floyd styled mood and “Where is The Sun?” is a shimmering gem with a rich harmonic chorus. But if you’re a fan that misses the band’s older, rougher sound, then Hall throws you bone with “Open Your Eyes” in a Pretty Things garage mode. Fans of the old sound may not warm up so quickly, but I did as the songwriting is more refined and the instrumental work more meticulous.

Shake Some Action | E Music | Amazon

Rubek “Tender Hooks”
Rubek is the not so secret identity of singer songwriter Matt Burke. The debut album is a set of tight melodic tunes along the lines of Jon Brion, Josh Rouse or David Mead. The album title is certainly apparent from the opener “Losing Sleep” and those melodic hooks just draw you into the song. The simple country pop of the follow up “Work It Out” is another excellent tune with strong arrangement and light airy vocals. This slow deliberate approach is what follows on the next few songs (“Hard Land” and “My Best Plans”), and on “The Brightest Star” you figure Burke’s listened to plenty of Gram Parsons and The Jayhawks, with it’s multi-layered rhythms. By mid-album “Reasonable Man” is a rare break with a pure pop approach that works well, and a few tunes are more interested in sonic textures (“Butterfly”) at this point.  The finale “God Help Me Out Here” is a dramatic Big Star-styled orchestral epic. Overall, the album has a big sound but the production is understated enough to let the melodies come through and shine.

My Space | CD Baby

Reno Bo “Happenings and Other Things”
Much thanks to Malin from our Facebook Page for turning me on to this album from last year that slipped by. Reno Bo is a songwriter and musician who spent the better part of the last three years on the road, as a touring bass player for Strokes guitarist Albert Hammond Jr. and NYC garage rockers The Mooney Suzuki. Reno steps out on his own to make this soulful blend of Beatles with shades of Tom Petty, Led Zeppelin and Neil Young. “There’s A Light” is a great big arena anthem full of loud guitars and strong melody. Fans of Oasis will flip for “Off Your Back” with it’s pounding piano and echoing chorus. The guitar work overall is superior with “Sugar Suite Blues” rocking a la Jimmy Page and “Shake Me Up” is produced by Adam Schlesinger (Fountains of Wayne, Tinted Windows.) Nothing groundbreaking here, but it doesn’t have to be. Overall a great album with no filler that appeals to the classic rock geek in all of us. Soak it in and enjoy.

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