Tag: Richard Turgeon

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: Kurt Baker, Danny McDonald, Suspect Parts, Willie Wisely, Richard Turgeon, Francis Lung, Nick Bertling

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The Kurt Baker Combo has been putting out a few tracks over the last few months, including (I Can’t Help) Falling In Love. It’s good to hear the classic Kurt Baker sound after a few punkier projects. Look for a new LP soon I think.

A truly excellent power-pop single by Danny McDonald but it’s so short (1:10) — is it too much to ask for another chorus? Hear more for FREE on the Shake Yer Popboomerang Vol. 3 compilation.

Suspect Parts are a German band with influences coming from 60s pop and the 70s California beach sound, all the way through to 77-punk. Nice three-song EP here.

As previously noted, Willie Wisely does country music as well as power pop. The ballad “No Suprise” has four mixes here, all with steel pedal and soulful vocal performance.

Richard Turgeon just keeps putting out cool tunes, this single has plenty of guitar muscle. He also recently added “Jolene” which is a FREE download. I liked this song better, like a hybrid of The Who and Oasis.

The holidays are fast approaching. This sweet pop treat by Francis Lung is most welcome! Beautiful vocal harmonies join clarinet, tenor sax, flute, bass clarinet, and baritone sax to create this bittersweet seasonal gem. It’s a FREE download too.

Last week we featured Nick Bertling‘s Monkee covers, now he’s doing a faithful instrumental overture from The Who’s “Tommy.” A FREE download, and a fine job, Nick!

Richard Turgeon and The Mike Benign Compulsion

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Richard Turgeon

Richard Turgeon “Go Deep”

San Francisco musician Richard Turgeon goes for the gusto on his third album in three years, sounding like The Gin Blossoms if they were fronted by Robert Pollard (Guided By Voices). This is the final album of his “California Trilogy,” where his songwriting is centered on his life on the West Coast.  Starting with “The One That Got Away,” its a catchy gem with a great hook and layered harmonies that you can sing along to. 

The heavier fuzz on “If You Leave Me” is proof of his solid talent and its another winner. “Next to Me” mines a very Weezer-like rhythmic structure and “Keanu Reeves” boasts some excellent guitar jamming. Some tunes seem influenced by Pete Townshend, like “Lost and Found” and the moving rocker “Lonely Old Man.” Richard then dips his toe in the country-roots waters with “Cowboy Life.”  I think Richard has finally found his sweet spot, as each of his albums gets progressively better. Highly Recommended.

Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

The Mike Benign Compulsion

The Mike Benign Compulsion “Bygones”

Milwaukee-based Mike Benign is at a crossroads. What began as a labor of love for Mike could turn out to be his final album. Musicians Joe Vent (guitar), Paul Biemann (bass) and Michael Koch (drums) join Mike on this journey. And they do not disappoint.

Opening with “Beauty & Pedigree & Bank,” it comes from a acerbic place, a little like Elvis Costello’s early formula of fatalism and resentment. Next “Bonafide Americans” is a pure expression of this country’s Trump fatigue as he points out “…and that’s how they wanted it.” But Mike comes up big with a gorgeous composition “Let It Rain or Let it Be” and you’ll hear both The Beatles and Clapton in this tune.

But mainly Benign is a musical truth-teller. Whether its the media (“Bombs Rain Down”) or the state of the music industry (“These Heroes”) he sings what many just think. We do get interrupted from all this pessimism with the gentle “Olivia Rainmaker,” a jangling Beatlesque gem. Another notable standout is “Manchild” with its prominent guitar twang.  Most of the songs are within 3 minutes; just long enough to get the point across. I just wish there was a glimmer of hope in some of these songs, but they are solidly melodic and worth many repeats in your player.  It’s music that deserves to be heard.

Amazon

Monday Night Singles: Richard Turgeon, Ken Sharp, Ballard, Shake Some Action, and Butch Young

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Yes, Keanu is a popular meme now with his John Wick movies and Richard Turgeon is riding that popularity with his new single “Keanu Reeves.” And a FREEBIE too!

Ken Sharp‘s newest single “Rock & Roll Supershow” is a love letter to Glam Rock with the help of Fernando Perdomo. For fans of T-Rex, Slade, and Sweet this is a “must-buy.”

While I expected something funny from Ballard, “I’ll Drop My Trousers To The Ground” is the bleakest, darkest, and most depressing song I’ve heard all year. You’ve been warned.

Shake Some Action has a new release coming very soon, and here is one of several good singles: “Stanger In The House” has this awesome echoing surf guitar. Check it out.

Nick Lowe

I have to say that Big Stir Records is doing a tremendous job. They have monthly singles out (currently at #32) and the artists keep getting better.
My favorite of the new bunch is Butch Young‘s “Captain Serious” b/w “Beautiful Dreamer”, the first new music from him in three years since Mercury Man. I don’t have a sample to post, but trust me this is good! Visit The Big Stir Digital Singles Page to hear it.

Happy Thanksgiving! Feast on this: The Grand Levè and holiday singles

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TGL

The Grand Levè “The Grand Levè”

Remember Longplayer? Well, Göran Hjertstedt (the lead from that band) has a new project that continues to draw its influence primarily from Electric Light Orchestra and Queen. The slow building “And Light Appeared” is a very majestic instrumental introduction full of pomp that demonstrates the rich orchestration. “Ride The Wind” is a compelling Wilbury-like track with a very sweet slide guitar over a steady strum. “Two to Tango” follows as a blues-influenced number about a love of dancing like Fred Astaire, and “All in The City” is a synth and percussion-heavy melody with all those great ELO stylistic touches.

At times music’s glossy bombast threaten to overwhelm those multi-tracked choruses but thankfully most of the songs are strong enough to let those melodies stick. “What Am I Gonna Do (Lunar City Heartache)” is an excellent mid-tempo power ballad, and the shimmering instrumental “Memory Lane” is a fitting end with its superb guitar solo that reminded me of Boston’s Tom Scholz. Overall a highly recommended album that demand’s repeat listens.

Amazon | CD Baby | Kool Kat Musik

Now have some dessert! FREE Holiday singles from Herb Eimerman and Richard Turgeon



Lastly, but by no means least – a new single by The Weeklings! Get “Running Away”