It’s May and Matthew Melton (Warm Soda) has a solo goodie out “Gaining On You” and I enjoyed the DIY video-craft here which is a modern take on “Hard Days Night” styled stardom. Onesie also looks to come back with a new album, and the opening single “Twilight Years” is solid start. Patrick Duffin is a touring member of several bands, and his new solo album has many styles, but the opener “Emotional Transatlantic In Flight Entertainment” has very strong 10cc vibes. Mark Ward ain’t playing around, “Point Blank” is a strong political statement about the state of the world, and it hits you right between the eyes. In a similar vein, The Well Wishers add a “Pox On Everything,” with the perfect blend of melody and deep chords. Finally, from Los Angeles is Good Dog Nigel, check out “Transient Touchdown,” as its excellent shoegazer pop.
Tag: The Well Wishers
More singles and EPs: Aloud, The Well Wishers, Tommy Lorente, Cupid’s Nemesis, Dom Mariani, The Modbeats
Cool band Aloud is led by Jen de la Osa and Henry Beguiristain, and the single “The Sky’s In Love With You,” is a Cure-meets-Elvis Costello styled tune about a secret past haunting the narrator. Very nicely done! Get the EP here. The Well Wishers have “lost” single that Jeff Shelton reliably delivers with those guitar riffs. France’s Tommy Lorente continues his retro-themed power pop on this EP, check out “L’Animal” and the surf-guitar of “Voiture Automatique.” IPO sensations Cupid’s Nemesis have a freebie for you, perfect echoey garage pop. Aussie power pop icon Dom Mariani (The Stems) hasn’t lost a step after all these years with “Jangleland,” a place I’d love to spend time at. Finally, The Modbeats have an awesome Beatlesque single “ Fairweather Friends” and you will love it! Get the single here. Enjoy the music.
Sept singles and EPs: Al Jardine, Graham Gouldman, The Well Wishers, The Popravinas, John Wlaysewski, The Cheap Cassettes, Squire
Some music veterans from the golden age are still producing, Beach Boy Al Jardine gives us a poignant “Wish” and legend Graham Gouldman (10cc) reminds us to seize the day with “We’re Alive.” Technically, Gouldman has a new album ‘I Have Notes’ and it deserves to be heard! The Well Wishers continue to deliver great music too with “Missing Person,” as The Popravinas give a us a new album including “The Girl Who Didn’t Want To Hear Any Tunes.” Sounds like someone I don’t wanna date. John Wlaysewski (Late Cambrian) continues his journey across the pop landscape with a new EP with the help of Brendan Brown (Wheatus) and Dave Hill (Valley Lodge). It’s worth the trip, so check it out. The Cheap Cassettes give us meat-and-potatoes rock and roll, and Squire releases focused soundscape in mono with a brilliant mix of the Big Star classic.
More May singles: The Bayonets, The Well Wishers, The Lolas, Scoopski, Kurt Baker
Brian Ray (Paul McCartney) is back with his old-school band The Bayonets. He let loose with his newest video, maybe more suited for Halloween (whatever) but it’s got a nice hook. The reliable Well Wishers are also back with the dense “So Important” and The Lolas have a great single here with “Trick Myself,” one of their best IMHO. Scoopski has a quirky single, like Green Day without the guitars or Billy Joe’s snarl. Honestly, check out the catchier “Double” that came out earlier. Finally, Kurt Baker returns to true form (minus the hair) for “Secrets,” and it’s no secret that Kurt is one of the top power poppers out there. More music to comb through each week, my review pile is growing at a furious clip, so stay tuned.
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The Well Wishers and Ward White
The Well Wishers “Blue Sky Sun”
There are few artists as consistently pleasing as Jeff Shelton (aka The Well Wishers). 12 albums in, Jeff took a break from power pop to work on his fuzzy shoegaze rock project Deadlights, but he has returned, like the prodigal son for his latest, Blue Sky Sun. The pandemic has given his life pause, and allowed him to return to the melodic hook-laden sounds he started his career with (The Spinning Jennies).
Jeff discovers his optimism with the opener “Figure it Out Myself,” and his crunchy guitars are similar to Matthew Sweet. The slow-building verses of “Any Way At All” and “Blue Sky Sun” are supported by layers of jangle and self-insight. But Jeff really lets his power pop flag fly with the irresistibly catchy gem “Idiot Smile.” Comparisons to Cheap Trick are apt for the anthemic political commentary “Radicalized” and “Just Enough” is another great tune with a great beat/riff combo. A cover of Guided by Voices’ “Game of Pricks” fits in fine here, and the ending piano ballad “Blue Water” is likely the best Well Wisher ballad ever. Not a note of filler here and it’s hard to argue that this doesn’t belong in my top ten list for 2022. Super highly recommended.
Ward White “Ice Cream Chords”
Los Angeles-based art-rock crooner Ward White returns with a deft blend of dry wit and guitar riffs. Starting with “Shorter,” he laments on aging as we are all “over and it’s overdue,” to a catchy rhythm. Next “Rumors” is full of overbearing anxiety set to a Cars-like synth refrain. Another standout is “Mezcal Moth,” a song about Juarez with a great chorus and ascending bassline. No matter White’s observations about a bad concert (“Ice Cream Chords”) or even musical metaphors (“Like A Bridge”) it’s always a distinctive tableau.
His fragile-sounding vocals and clever lyrics perfectly fit on some of the more despondent narratives, be it the corruption of “Born Again” or the brilliantly somber “Signore.” While there are fewer hooks in these songs, the compositions contain some interesting chord shifts. The quick guitar arpeggios in the verses and reverb-echoed guitar solo of “Slouch” are an example of artisan details that can be appreciated here. Overall, Highly Recommended.
