Tag: Ex-Norwegian

Eytan Mirsky and Ex Norwegian

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Eytan Mirsky

Eytan Mirsky “Lord, Have Mirsky!”

Eytan has been a master storyteller and on “I Don’t Wanna Brag” Eytan’s self-deprecating persona gets a needed boost of confidence. It’s a simple, low-key start to the album, but on “Half Hearted” he breaks out the hooks and brass, and it’s another Mirsky classic. About a girl who can’t get over a former lover, and can’t commit to a relationship. It’s uncommon to hear this from the male POV. “The Waiting Is the Easiest Part” is a lyrical nod to Petty, but the sincerity is what is so endearing.

“Don’t Be Afraid” is another plea to commitment, and stop playing “those silly games” and some great slide guitar rounds out the melody. This theme is present in several songs, and Eytan brings it all together, notably on “What Took You So Long.”

“It’s Alright to be Alone” is a great reassuring blues tune for the dude to “take some time to clear your mind.” “Your Getting On Me” is a power-pop gem that blasts out with handclaps and a sweet guitar solo. “Smart to Be Stupid” is a father’s advice to his son about not elevating an argument, and playing “dumb” in some situations. Overall, a very entertaining album, but if you have any issues Eytan tells critics in “Watching From The Balcony,” where he notes “if I don’t entertain you, you don’t have to watch this show.” But you’ll want to. Highly Recommended

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik


Ex-Norwegian

Ex-Norwegian “Spook Du Jour”

The trio of Roger Houdaille, Michelle Grand, and Giuseppe Rodriguez is back as Ex-Norwegian. Spook Du Jour continues their vague neo-glam pop with solid classic influences. “Teen Bakery” chugs along with an echoing beat as “Vicious Cycles” and “Paging Lisa” feel like updated Kinks tunes for the new century. The emotional “Ciancia” has a loose composition with its cavernous approach, and “Burn It” boasts another catchy chorus with a sweet guitar break. 

The arty post-punk style of “Thot Patrol” takes over mid-way through the album and lingers. The Berlin-era Bowie influences are visible on “For Your Conveniences,” “Crazy Paving,” and “Fresh ATM,” and while very good, it doesn’t have the hooks we heard earlier on. Still, this remains an album that deserves to be heard and enjoyed. Check it out.

Amazon

August Singles: Ex-Norwegian, Ezrat, The Dowling Poole, Bagful of Beez, Tommy Lorente, Mo Troper, I Was King

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Summer is slowly fading, but we have plenty of good music. Ex-Norwegian is back with an eclectic single “Thot Patrol” which combines so many sounds, it defies categorization. Ezrat presents a light indie-pop that floats on by a bed of synths. The Dowling Poole lays it all down with a bombastic rocker backed by lush orchestral strings about fiddling through the apocalypse. Getting tripper is the melodic stylings of Bagful of Bees “Syco” which brings to mind XTC and I’ll be happy to hear the rest of this LP soon. French rocker Tommy Lorente finds a sweet guitar hook in the sparse reggae beat on “A Mes Yeux.” Mo Troper still has some acoustic demos from Natural Beauty and it sounds great, so check it out. We started with an “Ex,” so let’s end with a real Norwegian band I Was A King, who sounds damn good with those jangling pop hooks, hear “happy.”







Gary Olson and Ex-Norwegian

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Ward White

Gary Olson “Gary Olson”

Gary Olson is the frontman with the band Ladybug Transistor. His first solo album is full of lush arrangements and as it opens, “Navy Boats” recalls early ’70s AOR pop with its delicate horns and strings. “Giovanna Please” has a similar wistful presentation, and the flowing folk-pop of “Some Advice” keeps things moving along. The breezy “All Points North” makes the best use of the brass here, and its a standout track.

The songs do tend to blend together as the tone and tempo barely change much. A few moments like the guitar instrumental “Initials DC” break the pattern, and the chiming jangle of “A Dream For A Memory” and “The Old Twin” quicken the tempo a little, but the lack of hooks can be an issue with these songs. There is only so much that fine musicianship can accomplish here. Still, fans of The Pearlfishers and Belle & Sebastian will definitely enjoy this album. It’s music that deserves to be heard.

Amazon

Ex-Norwegian   Ex-Norwegian

Ex-Norwegian “Hue Spotting/Spotting Hues”

Ex Norwegian chugs along with their 10th studio album “Hue Spotting.” Like the cover design suggests, its a modern psyche-pop collection that utilizes synth beats, echoing guitars and Mellotron keys. Starting with “Fear Backwards” it’s driven by a solid rhythm and lead singer Roger Houdaille’s layered vocals. “Comfort Sands” incorporates these older influences (Farfisa organ, sitar) with modern guitar and bass structures to create something unique. “Bloody Parrots!” is another standout with its warbling vocal about an occult crime scene over an organ solo. It can stray into some quite trippy moments that bring to mind Pink Floyd, Spaceman 3, and The Resonars. But there are still great hooks here, as evidenced on both “Something” and the amusing gem “Post Post Malone.”

As a bonus, Roger also released “Spotting Hues,” an album that covers rare nuggets from the psychedelic era. Songs from The Nice, The End, West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band, Billy Nicholls, and more. Many of these songs are so obscure, for most it will be like “brand new” material, making it a perfect companion album to the originals. Both are highly recommended.

Amazon (Hue Spotting) | Amazon (Spotting Hues)
Kool Kat Musik (Hue Spotting) | Kool Kat Musik (Spotting Hues)

Singles and Freebies: The Empty Hearts, Ex-Norwegian, Kai Danzberg, Chris Catalyst, Richard Turgeon, Rozwell Kid and the TM Collective

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What can I say? The Empty Hearts are a kick-ass power pop band and they’ve got a Beatle on the skins for this nostalgic look back. It’s awesome to see Ringo here, but I liked the B-side “Tell Me Reasons Why” even better. Can’t wait for the album!

Ex-Norwegian is back after his greatest hits LP from last year, and we’ve got this sweet marching tune to chew on.

Kai Danzberg is joined by Drake Bell on this slick pop tune. It’s got some nice orchestration, a cool guitar break and worth a listen. Maybe it’s part of an upcoming album?

UK musician Chris Catalyst gives us a good example of teenage angst played into a positive theme that is really catchy. “Happy” will make you smile for sure, and its a FREE download.

Richard Turgeon gets into Jackson Browne territory with this mid-tempo guitar song. Another FREE download, and totally worth it.

Rozwell Kid is more punk-pop, check out the Weezer-like “Letterman” is loaded with melodic fuzz and  “Let The Spider Chill” is cool and the brilliant closer “Dr. Doom” is another winner. This EP is a FREE download.

Atlanta based TM Collective has been creating a lot of cover albums over the past few years, just a group of musicians getting together to sing and play favorite artists and soundtracks from Devo, Amy Winehouse, to Rocky Horror. The Beach Boys tribute caught my eye and its got plenty of charm. A big FREE download — explore the band’s catalog!

Singles: Kai Danzberg, Chris Church, Ex Norwegian, The Cheap Cassettes, Oscar Tango and Amoeba Teen

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A freshly minted follow up to Kai’s new LP Not Only Sunshine – get it at Big Stir Records


A Freebie! Chris Church’s single is very much a lost 70s-styled gem

This is a super fun single with its acapella beat, rock rhythm, and innocent lyric.

The Ramones-like chords and handclaps are awesome here.

Toronto band Oscar Tango is the brainchild of Ryan Farley, and this is a 4-song EP featuring classic power pop guitar.
Amoeba Teen (Stourbridge UK) new A-Side “Suit & Tie” is a supercharged preview of the band’s upcoming Medium Wave album, and the B-Side “Caught in the Middle” is a completely exclusive release from the same sessions as the album. “Suit & Tie” delivers power and never stops!
Get it at Big Stir Records