Tag: Anton Barbeau

Big Star “Complete Third” and Friends & Frenemies

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Big Star

Big Star “Complete Third”

Big Star’s third album is a big deal in that it appealed to fans outside of its loyal power pop base, and its raw emotions cemented the band’s legend. At this point the band was cut in half, with Alex Chilton and Jody Stephens doing what they really wanted, commercial considerations be damned. Chilton’s lyrics showcase deep depression and frustration, and his vision was highly influential in the development of alternative rock, still felt decades later.

Recorded in 1974 but not released for the first time until 1978, Third would be subsequently re-released, renamed and re-sequenced many times over the years. While some demos and alternate versions and mixes of songs have dribbled out on various compilations, all extant recordings made for the album are presented for the first time on Complete Third. This definitive collection boasts 69 total tracks, 29 of which are previously unheard session recordings, demos and alternate mixes made by producer Jim Dickinson and engineer John Fry. The set allows the listener to track the creation of the album from the original demos, through sessions and rough mixes, to the final masters of each song. The box set contains extensive notes from original participants and artists influenced by Big Star. It’s comparable to The Beach Boys Pet Sounds Sessions in terms of its thoroughness.

While this may be overkill for the casual fan, this is a “must have” for serious Big Star fans and music audiophiles. Highly Recommended.

Amazon


Mystery Lawn Music

Assorted Artists “Friends & Frenemies”

Mystery Lawn is a Northern California label that’s home to many great West Coast power pop bands like The Orange Peels, The Agony Aunts, The Corner Laughers, Anton Barbeau and more. But what I love about a compilation like this is I can discover other bands I have not heard before like The Variable Stars on “The Lights Above Los Gatos” and the light airy vocals of Arts & Leisure on “Can’t Breathe.” And its not all rock and pop, examples of classical (Henry Plotnick) or folk guitar (Black Butterfly Gang) are featured too.

If you dig harmonies and female lead vocals you will love The Flywheels (“Counting To Eleven”) and Alison Faith Levy (“Rainbow Tunnel”) who clearly channels Jackie DelShannon. While not everything here is as infectious as “Oh Please” from the brilliant Marshall Holland, I didn’t really find a really bad track among the 18 songs on display here, and many are exclusive – so pick this one up! Highly Recommended.

Bandcamp exclusive

Anton Barbeau and Andy Reed

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Edward Rogers

Anton Barbeau “Magic Act”

Sacramento, Calif. born singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Anton Barbeau is one of those artists who never neatly fit in a single category over his 20 year career, but always knew how to craft a catchy melody. With “Magic Act” he continues to mix unconventional sound textures, weird lyrics and bubble gum rock to great effect – like if David Bowie, Andy Partridge and Adrian Belew had a baby together.

“High Noon” is a great example of minimal melody with a nice hook. But this gem is just a prelude for Anton’s weirdness on “Flying Spider” where “there is no rhyme, only reason.” In most cases his music falls in between the commercially palatable and the Rundgren-meets-Zappa stream of lyric on “Milk Churn In The Morning.” There are plenty of song worthy of repeat listens: “City By The Sea,” “Sit Your Leggy Down,” the psychedelic jingle “Black Lemon Sauce,” and “Swindon.” Like most of Barbeau’s catalog its definitely worth exploring.

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Andy Reed

Andy Reed “An Introduction to Andy Reed”

Andy Reed is a singer/songwriter/producer from Bay City, MI. who’s been involved in many successful music projects (The Legal Matters, American Underdog) and after an initial EP release, Relay Vol.1 last year, the floodgates have opened on Andy’s catalog. An Introduction To  Andy Reed is perfect for those who want to wade deeper into his material.

A perfect cover of Jay Ferguson’s 70s hit “Thunder Island” leads to the sweet perfection of “Dreaming of The West Coast.” Andy slips into pop balladry mode on “Love Is Gone” and then shifts into the strong harmonic pop of “World Of Make Believe,” with its Jellyfish-like melody. His crisp tenor vocals, overdubs and solitary strum fill out most of the songs here. Highlights include “The Show Goes On,” the Elvis Costello styled “Crimes Of Paris” and vaudevillian tune “Always On The Run.” Fans of Wyatt Funderburk and Brandon Schott will definitely want this music. And if you wish to dive further into Reed-land, check out last year’s 22 track Oddities and Entities, a classic compilation of his past work.

Amazon | GetHip (vinyl)

Agony Aunts “Big Cinnamon”

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It’s been too long, but the Bay Area supergroup returns after 2010’s Greater Miranda, with even more harmony-laden psych-pop.  The band is basically The Corner Laughers; KC Bowman, Karla Kane , Khoi Huynh, and Charlie Crabtree. Add to this many guest stars including Gil Ray (The Loud Family), Anton Barbeau and Allen Clapp (The Orange Peels). So can all those cooks spoil this brew? Not likely.

Opening with the kaleidoscopic “Twenty-four Mergansers” it’s a lot like the Laughers with a bit more Magical Mystery Tour thrown in. Then it follows up seamlessly with “Family Drugs,” the lyrics repeating over with crisp harmonies on the “bottle it up” backing chorus. The psychedelic sheen on everything is comparable to The Pillbugs on the title track. And if you ever wondered what a modern day Mamas and Papas would sound like, listen to “Back To Back Bills.”

The second half is more rock oriented, those dual tracked guitars stand out on the perfect “We Got The Jekyll.”  Raspberries fans will flip for the intro on “Uranium My Love,” a riff heavy melody full of hooks about science. Its not predictable either, “You’re So Vague” is like a combo of Todd Rundgren and The Explorers Club. It ends with the mysterious story behind “Cool Fresh Nights” and Barbeau’s quirky country “Trouble Was Born.” Not trace of filler to be found, production is clean and sounds great through headphones, so its hard to not love this album. Multiple listens make it better and it makes my top ten for 2013 easily. Get it now!
power pop review score 9

Bandcamp | Amazon

Three Minute Tease and The Sensibles

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Three Minute Tease “Three Minute Tease”
Three Minute Tease is the collaboration of California psychedelic cult hero Anton Barbeau with Andy Metcalfe and Morris Windsor (Soft Boys, Robyn Hitchcock). Barbeau organized and wrote songs for the band as early as 2010, and they recorded with Kimberley Rew (Katrina and The Waves) at her studio in Cambridgeshire,UK.

Barbeau has that XTC meets Robyn Hitchcock quality, angular melodies with beautiful obtuse lyrics. If you ever wondered who is the modern day equivalent to Syd Barrett — Barbeau fits it perfectly. “Love Is Onion” is a great opener with its paisley 60’s bass line and great guitar solo.  “Milko II” is a  reminded me of Julian Lennon with its slower delicate rhythm. The bouncy “Thanks For Lifting My Leg” is a highlight with its trippy lyric and driving chorus. While not immediately catchy,  it is accessible. From the jaunty “Dig My Bones” with the pastoral “Queen of Apples” its clear mood and texture are equally as important as melody to Anton. Dive right in and savor it.

 

The Sensibles “7 inch” EP
Hard charging Italian punk pop not unlike The Dahlmanns or Vibeke, The Sensibles roar to the forefront on “Open Book” with strong guitars and Stella’s wailing vocal. The accent is really noticeable on “John Bambi” but it doesn’t detract from this hard charging guitar pop. Each tune here is solid, I really liked the proto power pop “Denny” which reminded me a little of Shonen Knife with its overdubbed chorus of “Whoa, whoa, whoa.” At only four songs you can’t go wrong here, they have an even more straight punk sound on another EP.

The Corner Laughers “Poppy Seeds”

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In the liner notes it asks “Who is immune to the charms of airy female vocals and ukulele, with lyrics full of pith (but not vinegar)?” Not me (that’s for sure). Led by the harmonies of Karla Kane, with bassist Khoi Huynh, drummer Charlie Crabtree, and guitarists KC Bowman and Angela Silletto, the indie band’s latest features a who’s who of indie power pop guests (Allen Clapp, Anton Barbeau, Mike Viola). The irresistible melody of “Grasshopper Clock” is full of weaving harmonies sure to please and the “Bells of El Camino” is a little more twee pop, think The Essex Green meets Saint Etienne. This approach follows the next several songs here, and standouts include “Laughing Stars” and the solo ukulele ditty “Twice The Luck” is such quirky fun, you expect it to be the theme song for the next Zooey Deschanel show.

And then it shifts to more catchy themes, all based around San Francisco. The piano led theme to area’s tallest skyscraper “Transamerica Pyramid” is a perfect summer tune with handclaps and Beach Boys styled harmonies. The sunshine-pop melancholy of “8:18” is full of anticipation, and even “Chicken Bingo” has fun with the band’s West Coast image. “They asked us where we came from, we said “San Francisco” –They asked again we said “Outer Space,” and the ending track “The Perfect Weather” is a long love letter to the city by the bay. Fans of The Agony Aunts will also love the composition and tight arrangements. Rarely does such a beautiful pop album arrive, it deserves to make my top ten list this year for sure.