Tag: The Toms

The Weeklings and The Toms

powerpopaholic
The Weeklings

The Weeklings “In Their Own Write”

The Weeklings are one of the best Beatlesque power pop bands out there and after three great LPs, they decided to put together a “greatest hits” album. The spin on this is that The Weeklings started life as a live Beatles cover band, so why not record these songs live? Taken from 2 different shows, the band plays a robust setlist and their banter and audience interaction make you feel like you are there.

From the opener “Little Tease,” it’s got all the Beatle “easter eggs” that people enjoy and done with a verve and energy few can match. The new “April’s Fool” is a welcome addition to favorites like “Morning, Noon, Night,” “Little Elvis,” and “Don’t Know, Don’t Care.” Like most Weeklings albums, there are a few choice covers like “Baby You’re A Rich Man,” the Adam Schlesinger penned “That Thing You Do,” and a re-arranged rocking version of “The Word.” Highly Recommended (what else?)

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The Toms

The Toms “Tomplicated”

The Toms (Tom Marolda) has remained an active DIY power-pop force of nature since his debut in 1979. Last year brought us some “lost” songs from those 1979 sessions, but now he’s back with some new material. In a return to the techniques of his early Beatle-influenced recordings, Tom’s masterful use of contrasting sounds (like a deep bass chord over a light acoustic strum) on “Too Many Yesterdays” make a simple melody stand out. In addition,“Three” has a terrific bass groove, with a psych-pop wall-of-sound, and it’s an early highlight in the massive 16 track effort.

However, many tunes feel more like sound sketches and experiments that fell off the Magical Mystery Tour bus, like the title track “Tomplicated” and “You Shot Me Out Of Your Cannon.” Interesting yes, but when the song has a great hook it works even better. Added highlights include the excellent “Hang On” and the jaunty “Sunday Clothes” with cello flourishes that recall The Move. “Somewhere Over This Rainbow” is another gem, referencing The Wizard of Oz in its narrative and the optimistic jangle of “It Doesn’t Matter to Me” is a fitting finale. There are more than enough tracks to rate this one highly recommended.

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Warren Scott Band and The Toms

powerpopaholic
Warren Scott Band

Warren Scott Band “The New Deal”

Brandon Warren, Scott Tofte, and Will Prapestis have been playing together for many years, but this is their first recorded album. They have a loose, melodic sound comparable to Skeleton Staff, with a host of influences from The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Warren Zevon, and The Barenaked Ladies. The title track is a modern reaction to politics, and Warren’s vocals stand out dripping with sarcasm (Is he talking about Trump or FDR?). While it isn’t quite what I expected, it gets better from here.

“One Hit Wonder” is a fast-paced gem, with horns and quick bass arpeggios. The band opines on musical tastes with “Something 2 Listen 2” and it’s also very catchy. “She’s A Little Bit Off” has a 50’s styled melodic chorus, about the unconventional nerd girl we all admire from afar. Pop culture is often subject matter; ”St. Christopher” is a tribute to the work of the late Christopher Crosby (“patron saint of pratfalls”) aka Chris Farley. “Miss Moneypenny” is a jaunty James Bond-inspired tune and “Saturday Survivor” is a banjo led melody layered with amazing harmonies. While not everything sticks, there is enough bouncing melodies, catchy hooks, and driving rhythms to make it highly recommended. Check it out!

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Lannie Flowers

The Toms “The 1979 Sessions”

Tommy Marolda is a respected songwriter, musician, record producer, engineer, and music publisher. His 1979 debut of “The Toms” is rightly called “One of the finest slabs of D.I.Y. pop bliss ever” by music critic John Borack and it deserves all that acclaim. Tom has continued to record his own material over the years, notably working with The Smithereens and Richie Sambora. But that 1979 debut was special. Now we finally get to hear more music from the session.

The first three tunes are very similar to the style of “The Toms” debut and could’ve made the cut. In particular “She Said Goodbye To You” and “That Could Change Tomorrow” are stuffed with catchy melodies in a jangling package. Things slowly evolve stylistically after that. The quality of “Til The End Of The Day” and “She’s So Lovely” are poor, but the songs are well written. “Love At First Sight” adds some modern funky riffs and disco beats; you hear Tom trying out a new sound. “Angela Christmas” is a lost gem that deserves to see the light of day. Again the sound evolves as “Talk Is Cheap” and “Uptown” sound more like the ’80s power pop. For fans of the first album, this is an essential companion. If you’re not familiar with The Toms, start with the debut. It’s music that deserves to be heard thanks to Futureman Records.

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