Small Yards “Small Yards”
Seattle’s Small Yards creates a style that straddles the boundaries of post-punk, garage rock, and power pop. The new self-titled album demands some attention with its opener “Heartache,” with a garage rhythm and a multi-lead vocal by Jenn Miller that sticks with you. Then “Realize” has continues the fun, with more of bar room jam. Quick songs like “Downtown” and “Shake Me Loose” recall The Ramones with its tight guitar and drum interplay, it’s also very catchy.
The band is very consistent, and the combination of male and female vocals will please fans of The Muffs and other similar bands, “She Comes” is another big highlight with great vocal harmonies. The guitar work is also memorable, check out the riffs on “So Far Way” and the power pop gem “Strawberry Summer.” Overall its a little too short, but their is no filler here either. Highly recommended.
Tomas Nilsson “Inside My Universe”
Tomas Nilsson (The Mop Tops, ANC4) is a songwriter, singer and guitarist from Sweden. Tomas wrote all of the songs and sings lead while he is assisted by Janne Borgh on bass, acoustic guitars and backing vocals, Niclas Österberg on drums and Lisa Sydhagen on backing vocals and keyboards. Overall, this is fine jangle pop with the opener “Oh What A Shame” sounding very much like a Byrds outtake. The reverb is heavier on the Tom Pettyesque “Guess I’m In Love Again” and “Tired of Being Tired” with a solid hook here.
Tomas has an older sounding vocal that suites these blues influenced songs best. Higher energy singles like “Wonder Girl” benefit from the addition of a female vocals in the chorus. And it really helps on songs where Lisa is out front more like the dense melody of “Inside My Universe.” The songwriting is a bit uneven, but it includes great standouts like “Stupid Friends” and “Give It All I Got.” Uninspired “Desert Island Holiday” and “I’m Lost In Her Eyes” are a bit ho-hum. Despite this, fans of jangling Rickenbacker guitars and Tomas’ other bands will enjoy it for sure. It’s music that deserves to be heard.
