Tag: Smash Palace

Jeff Larson and Smash Palace

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Jeff Larson “Close Circle”

Like an old friend visiting, Jeff Larson’s new album is another comforting pop tonic. Larson’s regular crew include Jeff Pevar (CPR, Crosby, Stills & Nash), Gerry Beckley & Dewey Bunnell (America) and Jeffrey Foskett (Beach Boys). The opener “Rescue” is a pensive plea about aging and hope, sung with an earnest and simple guitar strum. “Following The Echoes” is a bit closer to that Eagles/America light rock sound. The layered vocal chorus of “Every Hour On the Hour” is a real treat with added backing vocals from Jeddrah Leiterding.

My favorite song is “Rain Soaked Cloud,” about a broken relationship with a great instrumental break here by Jeff Pevar. Larson tends to get so mellow on “Even When The Rains Come” or “Goodbye Ocean Street Beaches” that I tend to drift off, but we pick up the pace with “How Long Running.” Often the love of people and places is the theme, like on “Arizona” and “The Lay Of The Land.” With his “close circle” of friends Jeff invites us into his comfort zone. And its a nice place to be.

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Smash Palace “Extended Play” EP

New Jersey natives Smash Palace are back with an EP  that’s a perfect summertime soundtrack, chock full of guitar themes and catchy hooks. It’s notable that along with the Butler brothers is Fran Smith Jr. (bass) and Dave Uosikkinen (drums). And this 5-song set stands alongside their best work.

We start out with “Isn’t It Just Like Me” a strong jangling rocker in the mold of Tom Petty, with the self loathing lyric “Isn’t it just like me to cause all this pain and misery.”  Next, “Walk Alone” is an aching reflection of a lost love, layered with so many wonderful Rickenbackers in the chorus — it’s just amazingly tight. Another highlight is “Hold On” with its steady beat and statement of faith, to “hold on to what you believe in.” Really each track is great here and its one of the best EPs of the year, you’ll want to listen to it “Again and Again.” Highly recommended (of course)!

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Smash Palace and The Wheel Workers

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Smash Palace “Live at The Auction House”
Live concert albums are not so easy to pull off, but this one by Southern New Jersey band Smash Palace proves you can capture the “live” sound with great clarity. Recorded for a PBS broadcast, the 12 songs featured here represent a good mix of the band’s long and prolific career. This line up includes Stephen Butler (lead vocals/guitar), Phil Rizzo(guitar), Wally Smith (keyboards), Fran Smith Jr (bass) and David Uosikkinen (drums). Special guests include Brian Butler who lends vocals to “Count The Days” and DyAnne DiSalvo, who sings on the acoustic version of “Give You My Word.”

If you don’t have the last Smash Palace Greatest Hits, this makes for an even better hits album as it takes from the band’s more recent (and stronger) material. The Butler brothers are master musicians and this highly recommended live performance is a treat for the ears.

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The Wheel Workers “Past To Present”
There are plenty of good “protest message” albums out there (i.e. The Sharp Things) but its rare when the music is as impressive as the message. The Wheel Workers are an indie rock band from Houston, TX with a sound that invites comparisons to “OK Computer”era Radiohead and Midnight Oil. The title track is intense orchestral pop-rock with a wild synth lead that’s both brooding and catchy. Masterminded by singer/guitarist Steven Higginbotham, his environmental messages are overt, but its the melodies that win you over. The best one here is the snappy “Chemicals” which reminds me of Peelgreems a ltttle bit.

Then we shift to the grim, fast paced “Starve The Beast” that ultimately become a defiant theme, as Steven chimes “Let’s get together and occupy the world over.” Nearly all the other tracks work well, fans of Guided By Voices will like the driving melodies of “Drone” and “Compromise.” The musical textures and swirling rhythms throughout also make this album a great listen, although the slower tunes “Animals” and “Want” overstay their welcome. Highly Recommended.

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Smash Palace and Jonathan Rundman

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Smash Palace “Do It Again”
Brothers Stephen and Brian Butler continue to weave melodic magic with this excellent release. The super catchy jangle of “Living It Lonely” starts us off,  then we get the muscular riffs of the Tom Petty-like “It’s Easy.”  Another favorite here is “Do It Again,” as Butler recalls the compulsion to rock from his past influences (The Beatles, Stones, CBGB’s) “before the music was all for free.”  It’s a desperate plea to bring back what made rock and roll matter to so many lives. His vocal reminds me of Ray Davies – both “21st Century Boy” and “Tell Her Now” sounds like a long lost Kinks tunes.

Talk about infectious – both “She’s Never Coming Back” and  “Dreamer” will stick in your head and stay there for good. The chord progressions and organ of “Sympathy Runs Deep” are classic as well. Not a mediocre note here as this album makes my top ten for 2012 list easily. After last year’s “7” made my 2011 list I didn’t think the band could get better — I was wrong. Super duper highly recommended as essential power pop.

Smash Palace website | Amazon | Kool Kat Musik

Jonathan Rundman “Jonathan Rundman”
I last listened to Minneapolis-based Jonathan Rund­man back in 2008, and he’s one of the most down-to-earth musicians I’ve heard.  This is an overview of his career from the past 10 years, so it’s a “greatest hits” package of sorts. It’s also a great introduction if you’re not familiar with Jonathan’s work. Rundman has a great knack for melody and hooks as evidenced by excellent rockers “Smart Girls” and “Carol Of The Bells.”

His simple harmonies and straight forward pop arrangements are an easy fit with anyone who enjoys early REM jangle, and Old 97’s styled Alt. Country with the smartly written “Librarian” and “Ashes.” His music does have a Christian point of view, but it’s not the type to put off any secularist. It’s all about the music – and Rundman easily weaves between indie rock (“Surgical Precision”), low key country (“581”) and fast paced honky tonk (“747”) with adept precision. No filler here as the long track list bounces along from start to finish.

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