Mom “Pleasure Island”
This trio from Sweden has a lot going for it. The guitars sound like a mix of The Raspberries and The Cars, the songwriting is also pretty great with hooks all over the place, especially in singles “Better Than You” and “Ordinary Girl.” No filler here, it’s a terrific celebration of retro power pop at its finest. Fans of The Bay City Rollers, Nick Gilder, and The Records will enjoy each cut.
Out of the three guys (with obvious pseudonyms) the vocals are the band’s only weakness. Even double-tracked, the lead vocal is very nasal and seems better suited for new wave more than power pop. It prevents this debut from taking a top spot, but thankfully the vocals are receded in the mix compared to the guitars. Still, this album is highly recommended.
Richard Turgeon “Sea Change”
Richard Turgeon has been working at a manic pace compared to his peers. On top of regular album output, he’s produced multiple singles. Sea Change explores themes of transformation, from COVID to political revolution. Opening with the anthemic rock of “Never Leaving California” it resonates with influences from The Who to Pearl Jam.
The percussive “Summer Revolution,” “Still Not Ready To Die” and “Car Crash” are also standouts. The hooks and harmonies are added to the excellent “Higher,” and “Sunset” recalls Richard’s earlier works. Not everything sticks, but enough does and the production is highly polished. Despite the volume of work, Turgeon never compromises quality. Highly Recommended.
Geoff Palmer & Lucy Ellis “Your Face Is Weird”
Geoff Palmer (The Connection) has found an ideal collaborator with Lucy Ellis (Lucy & The Rats) as they create a series of songs that combine power pop with a rootsy rock feel. The opener “In A Town This Size” has very much the Connection-styled chugging guitar lead and climbing bassline, with Geoff’s low gruff tones contrasted to Lucy’s light sweetness.
The big single here is “SWIM” featuring a catchy chorus and makes the best use of both artist’s style and talent. Occasionally they harmonize, but they are more effective trading verses within a song. Overall a fine short album that fans of both Geoff and Lucy should check out.
