12/25/2023 0 Comments Silverback releaseAlso, check out “Shadow’s Gone” and “The Storm is Coming.” It’s all solid songwriting, skilled musicianship, and unabashed fun that will have you dancing like Austin Powers. The jangling “Wait!” is part Hollies, part Byrds, and “Million Years” recalls The Animals. It starts with the fuzz guitar and perfect echoing vocals of “(I Can’t Live up to Your) Hallucinations” and fans of retro rock will be hooked immediately. The band consists of Helsinki music veterans: Miikka Siira aka Mike Bell (Mike Bell & The Belltones), Pekka Laine (The Hypnomen), Ville Särmä (John’s Children), Samuel Abaijón (The Valkyrians), and Aapee Heinola (Hard Action). The band accurately gives us a love letter to 1960s garage rock and pop. Songs From The Green Couch by Seth Swirskyįrom Helsinki, Sweden comes the Mike Bell Cartell. The ballad “American Bar” is another terrific tune that dovetails perfectly into the opening track. Not everything hits the mark, but enough does - the most insightful being “New Painting,” a simple day-in-the-life that radiates hooks and happiness. But most of the time, Seth takes an influence and turns it into something extraordinary, as on “Making It Up As We Go Along” a sweet Bee Gees styled ballad. Sometimes the influences feel a bit too thick, like on “Every Time” a Brian Wilson styled ode to the “green couch” as a security blanket. Hearing “Cashmere Sweaters” is more baroque chamber pop, similar to The Left Banke, and the follow-up “Whatever Happened To…” adds a little sunshine pop with its layered harmonies. Seth’s Beatlesque tendencies return with “I Don’t Wanna Lose You,” a solid single with a catchy chorus. “Sunny Day” opens this collection heavily influenced by late ’60s psych-pop, loaded with sweet guitar flourishes. Seth Swirsky (The Red Button) is back after an extended absence, with a sketchbook of songs that describe both his moods and meanderings. Seth Swirsky “Songs From The Green Couch” Makes my top ten list for 2022, and the best debut I’ve heard this year so far. This is an album that needs to be heard and savored. The second half picks up with “Runaround” and the jangling “Hilary” and doesn’t let up. “As Far As I Know” bounces along with confidence similar to Elvis Costello, the album’s first half is so strong, that the ballad “The Coming Good” is when we coast a bit - but not for long. The title track is just as strong, with a sticky rhythm, and builds the narrative carefully with layered strings full of emotion. But what Dave does is make these songs work, “Take My Hand” is a brilliant rocker, “Wachet Auf” has great melodic chord shifts and his vocal is both strong and sincere. And collecting these gems is a true labor of love for the genre. His debut Happy Ever After hits the sweet spot right away on the rocker “Catherine.” He’s a power-pop fan with influences from The Raspberries and Cheap Trick, to The Cars and Squeeze. Newcomer from Sioux Falls, South Dakota Dave Scarbrough knows his power pop. Highly Recommended.ĭon’t Go Anywhere by The 1957 Tail-Fin Fiasco Originally a download only in 2021, this release is now on CD at Kool Kat Musik. The band takes a left turn into They Might Be Giants territory with the witty “J is for Genius.” Not a bit of filler and its unpredictable melodies (“Horses & Courses”) are matched with smooth Steely-style lounge production (“Best Bitters.”) The quirky arrangements and cheeky lyrics are similar to XTC or David Bowie. “Here All Week” is an impressive mantra that describes a transition from Miami to Vegas. Starting the bouncy rocker “Reno’s Electric Stairs” it’s a catchy gem that adds a touch of jazzy organ behind the guitars. But The 1957 Tail-Fin Fiasco has that ’70s sophisticated, distinctive sound, and they drive that car along many roads here. It’s way too lazy to simply say that Essex, UK musicians David Myers and Malcolm Moore are a Steely Dan cover band that’s outgrown their main influence. The 1957 Tail-Fin Fiasco “Don’t Go Anywhere” The music succeeds on many levels and doesn’t always rely on those McCartney-like musings of age (“The Odd One.”) Overall, highly recommended. But more often, the band hits the right notes, and the inventive “Unquestionably I-95,” Why Didn’t We?” and “Always In The Past” all channel the bandmembers frustrations with regrets and lost opportunities. The band tries a few different approaches to prevent predictability, and sometimes it doesn’t quite work (“Run and Hide”). The jangle and harmonies are lovely on “Air Heart” and euro-rhythmic “Out My Window” are early highlights. The flowing psych-pop of the opening title track “Suspension” is almost like a “loosen-up” session, and the single “I Just Love to Watch Her Dance” takes hold, with a delicate opening, and then launches into the fast-paced verses. ![]() The quartet of Steve Stoeckel (Spongetones), Bruce Gordon, Stacy Carson, and Joel Tinnel continue the experiment known as Pop Co-Op.
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