BLOODY RED BARON
Late April
by Mike Baron
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KEVIN LEE AND THE KINGS: Breakout
Kevin Lee wears his power pop heart on his sleeve and knows his way around a bridge and a hook. Hailing from the same territories as Archie Powell, Chris Richards and The Goldbergs, Lee and his band offer straightforward power pop that is nothing if not literal. “Burn It Down,” “Gold Digger,” “Can’t Believe You’re Gone” are exactly what the titles indicate–straightforward anthems about everyday life.
Three and a half stars.
www.kevinleeonline.com
RADIO DAYS: Get Some Action (Rock Indiana)
Following their astonishing debut, C’est la Vie, this Italian quartet returns with eleven new tracks that mine their original inspiration for sloppy seconds. Every song reprises sounds that seemed fresh and invigorating on the original, but seem warmed-over leftovers here. Which is not to say the boys don’t know how to write. Every song also features a bridge and a hook. It’s just that we’ve heard it all before, only better. I cannot recommend C’est la Vie too highly.
Three and a half stars.
A FRAGILE TOMORROW: Be Nice Be Careful (Piewillie Records)
This North Carolina quintet offers wholesome organic power pop with a strong Buffalo Springfield/West Coast sensibility. Co-produced by Mitch Easter, the band charms its way through fourteen very good songs that display surprising range within their chosen parameters, from the U2-ish “Crooked Smiles” to the elegant tom-tom beat and bridge on “Loyalty Lies.” The harmonies are straight out of the Springfield. You would swear Steven Stills wrote “Intentions,” while the outstanding “Kernersville” harks back to the superb Parties, another band out of the west coast country rock school.
Four and a half stars.
CALIFORNIA TRANSIT AUTHORITY: Sacred Ground
This is Danny Seraphine’s group, and the only band carrying on in the tradition of Chicago and Blood, Sweat and Tears, to my knowledge. Guitarist Marc Bonilla did the horn charts and they sound A LOT like early Chicago, although the band has its own sleek sound. Bonilla is easily the equal of Terry Kath. Will Champlin, son of Bill Champlin, sings on “Sacred Ground” and many other tracks sounding nothing like his father delivering spot-on emotional vocals.
The third song is Al Kooper’s “I Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know.” I wish they would record the entire first B,S&T album. Larry Braggs is a better singer technically than Kooper and where Kooper landed on the beat Larry lags behind which makes this a very interesting and worthwhile interpretation. Will Champlin’s “Strike” encapsulates this band with its passionate vocal and horns. The instrumental “Prime Time” shows off the horns. Bill Champlin sings the vocals on “Full Circle” with his characteristic tensile steel yet somehow warm voice. There are a couple other guest singers on the record and for the most part they knock it out of the park.
Four and a half stars.
