I’m not sure how I missed the August 2016 release of this 3 track ep from Manchester, UK based I See Angels. The songs are brilliantly melodic, playing in my head long after listening, with cool hooks, and seamless changes. There is a wonderful 1980’s art rock vibe going on, reminiscent of The Psychedelic Furs. This pop-emo rock band, delivers way cool guitar, dynamite keyboards, clever arrangements, and perfectly ethereal vocal tracks. An insanely great listen, that will have you floating along the waves of melodious dreams. Favorite track: ‘Nausea‘. You can stream and purchase at a ‘name your price’ option here.
Out of London, On., comes Running From Daylight, with their recently released 3 track ep. ‘CoffinFor Two‘. I was told when the music was submitted, that this was Rockabilly . I was not however, informed that this was Rockabilly on steroids. I grew up listening to Carl Perkins, Gene Vincent, and a host of others, and this is not that Rockabilly. Call it Psychobilly, but it screams fun. There are 2 wonderfully up tempo tracks, filled with twangy guitar riffs, cool harmonies, and a stand up bass that Joe B. Mauldin would be proud of. The lyrics are insanely dark, but resonate camp and wit. The third track is a throwback to the early 1960’s Teenage Tragedy song, in which the girl will forever be the boy’s “GhostBride“. A wonderfully good time that will have you boppin’ and rockin’ the night away. Looking forward to hearing what these guys come up with next. You can listen for yourselves right here.
The April, 2017 release of the The Counteracts new ep, Counter Punch, delivers much of the same quirky, UK pop on previous releases, but this time it has been blended with an uncanny easy listening vibe. The boys from Kent, give us well written songs, designed to take you back to a simpler time. There are wonderful harmonies, layered over simple, yet elegant melodies, with some unique changes and transitions. There are sweet string sounds running through ‘And ILost It All‘, while ‘If You Only Knew‘ is filed with exciting Caribbean percussive instruments, and some organ. The band continues to amuse, and entertain with a sound that is both soothing & uplifting. Something you should check out.
One of my favorite Toronto Indie Bands, The Nursery, recently released a 6 track EP, entitled Digital Ashes. I have been a fan since the 2013 release of Carnival Nature, and they continue to amaze me with wonderful melodies, and socially relevant lyric. These new tracks, at times, seem more electronic, but, these guys make it work. “She Speaks The Wave” delivers a way cool riff, nice keyboards, and a wonderful 1980’s New Wave vibe. “Digital Ashes“, a wonderful electro-pop track showcases the band’s ability to write great melody lines. I dig the cool harmonies of “Ocean’s Of You“, and the dynamite effects on the instrumental, “Xyloto’s Dream“, are like a trip down weirdly, wonderful lane. “Crystal Beach“, offers cool guitar, nice vocal effects, a dynamite melody, and some sweet keyboards, all with a wonderfully Brit Pop feel. Our Favorite track, “Hexes + Ohs“, has great guitar, and a great feel, with wonderful changes, and a dynamite vocal track, all of which remind me of something XTC. Killer track, and perhaps, a hit single!
An exceptionally fun time created by The Nursery. Wonderful songs, that seem to have grown darker over the years, but with a blend of pop, wave, and synth pop, that they have made a sound distinctively their own. Still eclectic, and eccentric, Alex Pulic‘s angst ridden vocals pull you in, and hold you there. With a flair for the musically dramatic, this album takes you on an emotional roller coaster. Yes, The Nursery continue to march to the beat of their own drummer, and let’s hope that never changes. Check it out for yourselves. Visit them on facebook. Buy the album. Go see them live.
Toronto blues-rockers, The Corsets, recently ( May 2016) released a 4 track ep, cleverly titled “Monta Sanica“. The songs are powerful, with catchy melodies, great changes, and wonderful harmonies. There are way cool riffs, nice keyboards, and some dynamite effects. The rhythm section is insanely good, and the vocals are exceptional. A wonderful time with the blues. Definitely something you need to check out 3 or 4 times right here. Favorite track: ‘Fire Burnin‘.
There are covers, and then there are The Counteracts doing covers. The latest ep from the Kent, U.K., band contains 4 cover versions of songs by Wings, Radiohead, The Kinks, and The Everly Brothers. After a couple of listens, I realized that the band was not merely covering the songs, but were, in fact, paying homage to them, and the artists who created them. All of the tracks are wonderfully done, staying true to the original, while making them completely Counteractual. The addition of ‘strings’ on The Everly’s “All I HaveTo Do Is Dream” is a wonderful enhancement. Never a Radiohead fan, the cover of ‘Creep‘ recorded here, is far preferable to the original, and this version of ‘Waterloo Sunset‘ (The Kinks), is exceptional. Well done! Fun for the whole family, and I suspect, the whole neighborhood. You can download the ep for free here. What are you waiting for?
I usually do not review hard rock or metal, leaving that for my friend, Joshmetal Figueroa, who is, however, on hiatus, currently travelling the cosmos. So I will endeavour to share with you fans of hard rock, and metal, a band you need to check out. With a 3 track ep released in February, 2016, Italian rockers, Sondag, released a pretty impressive product, filled with cool melodies, nice changes, and a solid rhythm section. There are sweet riffs, and a wonderfully full sound. A solid Ep to help you get your rock on! You need to give this a spin, Check it out on their bandcamp page, and, if you like it, you can download it for free!
In 1964, I was listening to Meet The Beatles.52 years later, I have been listening to The Counteracts ep, “Meet The Counteracts“. Coincidence? I don’t think so. The tribute to The Beatles is evident not only in the release’s title, but the cover design, as well. The duo from Kent, UK, have their heart and soul in Brit pop. A cursory listen to the album will confirm this, however I recommend paying close attention, and give it several listens.There are wonderful pop melodies, cool hooks, nice harmonies, and some dynamite keyboards. I am particularly fond of the piano. The vocal arrangements are sweet, and I dig the hand clapping on ‘The Postbus‘. There is a way cool dreamy vibe and Lennonesque feel (particularly in the bridge) to ‘You NeverListen‘, and ‘Everyone Gets The Chance (To Love)’, has a wonderful The Kinks thing going on. And, as if the album cover was not enough, the homage to The Beatles version of Twist & Shout at the end of ‘I’ve Got A CrushOn You‘, is inspired. I like this band. I like this album. A wonderfully uplifting and fun time, filled with quirky Brit. pop. Check it out for yourself on their bandcamp page, and pay what you can for your very own download….
I’m not certain why it took me so long to discover The Sleepovers, but the recent release of this Toronto band’s final installment of their 3 color ep series, caught my attention. So much so that I went back and listened to the other 2.
The songs are insanely good, filled with wonderful pop melodies and harmonies. There are way cool keys, some slick guitar, and a solid rhythm section. The vocals are dynamite, and there are added bonuses of hand clapping, and cool effects.The changes are great, and the bridges, exceptional. There are influences of 1980’s New Wave, Punk, and Power Pop. There are hints of funk, R & B, and electro-pop. It all works here. The elements of several genres incredibly fused with pop. It is complex simplicity. And they seem to be having a whack of fun doing it! After listening several times, I am a fan. . Our favorite tracks across the 3 EPs: pink-“Friends Without Benefits“; blue-“Bomb“; yellow-“Death By Misadventure“. You need to check this band out for yourself. Really!! You can listen to the entire trilogy-2014’s pink EP, the blue EP of 2015, and the January 2016 yellow EP, and purchase them all, on Bandcamp.
Colin Marshall, ex drummer of The Toniks, has found himself in a new band, Paperwolf. The power trio from Bromley, England, recently released “Been Five Years“, a 4 track ep filled with wonderful melodies, and some cool changes. The guitar centric sound, at times reminiscent of The James Gang, delivers powerful drumming, strong bass lines, and power chords, interspersed with great licks,cool solos, and unforgettable riffs. Wonderfully heavy, straight ahead rock. Definitely something you need to check out for yourself. Pay attention to Paperwolf- a way cool power trio with heart & soul. Favorite track: ‘Jenny‘. Listen here.
I’m not sure how I missed the August 2016 release of this 3 track ep from Manchester, UK based I See Angels. The songs are brilliantly melodic, playing in my head long after listening, with cool hooks, and seamless changes. There is a wonderful 1980’s art rock vibe going on, reminiscent of The Psychedelic Furs. This pop-emo rock band, delivers way cool guitar, dynamite keyboards, clever arrangements, and perfectly ethereal vocal tracks. An insanely great listen, that will have you floating along the waves of melodious dreams. Favorite track: ‘Nausea‘. You can stream and purchase at a ‘name your price’ option here.
