SEPTEMBER 2019 REVIEWS

by Mike Baron

THE ANDERSON COUNCIL: Worlds Collide (Jem)

Elegantly orchestrated hooks and harmonies, somewhat reminiscent of The Posies and the latest Vegas With Randolph, with forays into Jellyfish and ELO territory. “Lord Cornelius” in particular could have come off the latest Vegas, while “Camden Town” radiates Britpop, with the charm of “Penny Lane” and Kinks kick. “Your Devices” subverts expectations in an interesting way, but satisfies our natural craving for balanced dynamics. “When I Fall” recalls Silver Star, “Into The Clouds” very XTC with a stately vocal and howling guitar, an extended mini-suite. “Mrs. Kirby’s Refrigerator” is so Britpop, and why should it not, with Peter Noone singing lead vocals. Not that the Anderson Council apes any of the groups mentioned, but if you like them, you’ll like this.

ELIAZ: High In Low-Fidelity (Independent Artist)

You’d never guess this was a one-man operation judging by the superb production, which sounds like a band. Eliaz is a modernist reminiscent of many great bands but always his own man. “Stray Hearts” grabs you by the throat. It could have come off D.L. Byron’s This Day And Age, while “Makeups & Breakups” summons Jellyfish with joyful melodic invention. “Need” is in Jason Falkner territory. McCartney might have written “Goodbye, Goodbye,” “This Time” is Beatlesque, and “Hush” offers masterful minimalism.

THE GOLDEN NEEDLES: Through A Window (Jem)

Golden Needles trades in Byrdsian jangle as in “Here She Goes Again, but tap many tributaries, such as the harpsichord-driven, prog rock “The Shoemaker of Leatherwear Square,” and “Sunset Girl,” which recalls the great Quarter After, themselves a Byrds-driven band. “I’m Gonna Try” has a break that is pure Hollies.

DANA COUNTRYMAN: The Joy Of Pop (Sterling Swan)

Countryman trades in pitch perfect recreations of sixties/seventies sunshine pop, from the Brill Building to the West Coast, with echoes of Carole King, the Shangri-Las, the Riptides, and the Carpenters. Countryman shares most vocals with Matt Tyson. “Perfect Sunny Day” is swoon-worthy pop craft suggestive of early Rascals or the Sunrays. The Neil Sedaka like “No Other Guy” features a Beach Boys doo-wop chorus. It’s like one of those Whitman samplers with no bad choices. The rising chorus of “Hang On Little Girl” summons Brian Wilson by way of Explorers Club, while “You Are My Rock” is SO Carpenters. May be too saccharin for some, but I loved it.

THE ARMOIRES: Zibaldone (Big Stir)

Quintet musically travels between Sweden and Ireland, Larysa Bulbenko’s violin defining a sound that fans of Fairport Convention will like. Opening with the psychedelic buzz of “Appalachukrainia,” the band winds sinuously among folk/rock influences, such as the stacked harmonies on McCadden and the Mamas and Papas influenced “The Romantic Dream Appears Before Us.” Christine Bulbenko’s voice has the testure of sea foam, light yet substantial, with a slight munchkin undertone. Celtic fiddles drive “Mistake Like Me.”

KINGDOM OF MUSTANG: More

Mark Roebuck’s music is easily identifiable because of his unique melodic sense, in the same way you can identify a Marshall Crenshaw or John San Juan song. It’s in the chord progressions. Roebuck may not kick out the jams, but he moves them along with superb dynamics, an expert blending of major and minor chords, as in the top-down opener, “Sunshine Again.” “Into the Rivers and the Seas” has a superficial resemblance to Firefall, but Roebuck imbues his music with emotional impact in the lyrics and presentation, with supple and gently muscular vocals. These songs would sound great pounded out by Van Halen or Motley Crue.

“Transistor Radio” is another irrestible top-down cruising song, not so much Beach Boys as Sunshine Highway. The subtly muscular “All The Love I Need” grabs you by the ears and shakes. There’s an inherent sweetness to every song as on the piano driven “Carousel,” with its pointilistic guitar solo. Roebuck is sui generis. Every song is a gem.

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Mike Baron is an incredibly talented writer, who has been professionally writing, full-time for almost 50 years. You try that at home!  He’s insanely prolific and has just released his latest novel, “FLORIDA MAN“. You’ve not read anything quite like this one.  It is his second novel in 2019. “Florida Man” will be a movie someday but until that happens, read it. CLICK HERE to check it out on Amazon.  His web site is:  http://bloodyredbaron.net/