Kevin Mathews:
September, 2004
August was Brian Wilson month for me. Let me
explain…a close friend of mine is probably the biggest
Brian Wilson fan in Singapore - in fact he was instrumental
in turning me onto Brian oh probably ten years ago - and he
has asked me to help out in his dream project: a tribute to
Brian Wilson, made in Singapore.
So in preparation, I've spent the better part of the month listening
to all the great music Brian had a hand in writing, performing
and of course producing. Also, Brian has had a new album out
- the seriously so-so Getting' In Over My Head where
most of the music would not be unfamiliar to diehard fans -
enjoyable stuff, especially the title track, "Soul Searchin',"
Desert Drive" and "Don't Let Her Know She's An Angel"
but on the whole, you somehow expect more…in the meantime,
I'm also very excited about the imminent release of SMiLE
and have been thrilling to a bootleg of a live concert Brian
and his fab band performed recently in the UK, I believe. So
where do I find the time to listen to anything else…?
Blurb-O-Rama &
the Caterpillars from Uranus
Various Artists It Was
40 years Ago Today: A Tribute To The Beatles
(Bullseye)
Where would we be without the Beatles? 24 contributors remind
us why even after more than four decades, the Fab Four remains
a critical benchmark in the art of pop music. For those of
us well attuned to the pop underground, names like Lolas,
Andrew Gold, the Kings, The Lackloves, Dave Rave, Phil Angotti,
Jeremy Morris, Spongetones, The Oohs, Michael Carpenter, Bill
Lloyd et al provide the familiarity but by all accounts this
is a tribute that certainly does no disservice to the legacy
of the Beatles. To all involved, kudos and the only question
that remains is - why wasn't I asked, Jaimie? www.bullseyecanada.com
Hitch Trails Are Ablaze
(Kinky Star)
More obscure indie pop from the unlikeliest source - Belgium!
This power trio viz. Olivier [drums], Paul [bass] and Mich
[guitars, vocals, keys] cover familiar territory with excursions
into punk ("A Simple Plan"), emo ("Opposites
Direct") and slo-mo ("Blurring the Lines").
No trail blazing per se but competent indie pop for the committed
enthusiast. www.kinkystar.com
Ken Grosjean Crawlspace
(Self released)
When you produce pop music this lo-fi and minimal, you better
have strong material, which will shine above the murky and
indistinct production and arrangements. Beneath the austere
recording environment, songs like "Alright" and
"Baby Blue" recalls the likes of Roy Orbison, Paul
McCartney, Harry Nilsson, David Bowie et al. Now if a record
label would only give Grosjean the financing to beef up these
excellent songs.
Goodwin Goodwin
(Self released)
Good fun from Goodwin as this Fort Walsh, TX powerpop quartet
clearly understands the right way to a guitar pop fan's heart
- bouncy rhythms, crunching frets, sing-a-long tunes and everything
else in between. Tracks like "Matt's Letter," "Dick
and Jane" and "Song" should find a place in
every powerpop fan's home. www.meetgoodwin.com
David Francis Fake Valentine
(Self released)
Lovers of 60s influenced music will be positively thrill to
what David Francis has to offer. This New York native takes
obvious cues from the Kinks ("Reflections in the Mirror
of the Life I'm Wearing"), the Zombies ("Fake Valentine")
and Paul McCartney ("Message") and delivers masterful
personal works that will surprise many with their strength
and charm. You can get in touch with David at davidfrancis12string@usa.net
Landing Sphere
(K)
It's little hard to believe now but there was a time when
psychedelic washes of guitar sound sold millions of albums.
All you need is a marketable hook. Well, Sphere will
not convert kids listening to Simple Plan but it gives sophisticated
rock listeners something a bit more cerebral than what Coldplay
can provide. Reminiscent of mid-period Floyd, My Bloody Valentine
and Swervedriver, Sphere is perfect soundtrack for
your wistful Sunday evening come downs. www.krecs.com
Andrew Carlton Falling
In (Flying Leap)
Perhaps the most distinctive attribute Carlton possesses is
his soulful voice, which conveys passion powerfully and with
conviction. Tracks like the anthemic title track, the heartfelt
"This is Faith," the strident "I Believe"
and the latin-flavored "Shaken," will endear Carlton
to the CCM masses. www.andrewcarlton.com
Eric Anders Not At One
(Baggage Room)
Understated and subtle, the music of Eric Anders never proclaims
itself too loudly or brashly. Instead, it grows stronger with
each listen, intriguing with its delicate flourishes as it
intertwines rock passages with rustic folk tunes to the backdrop
of erudite production values. Songs like the vigorous "Halcyon
Days," the poignant "Wearily" and the contemplative
"Struggle" impress and offer incentives to deeper
exploration. www.ericanders.com
Jason Brody To The Quick
(Loud Hearts)
Imagine if you will, if Billy Joel had grown up with the music
of Radiohead and Coldplay instead of Elton John and Paul McCartney…the
result would probably have been Jason Brody! You cannot escape
the nuances in Brody's melancholy pieces that recall the sensibilities
of Chris Martin and Thom Yorke on "Angel on Earth,"
"Come to Life" and "Circuitry," not to
mention Sir Elton and Sir Paul… www.jasonbrody.com
Mission Giant Brotherhood
of the Plug (Socket Sounds)
Mission Giant utilizes its electronics in greater organic
fashion than say, Joy Electric and in that respect recall
the likes of Gary Numan. New Order or OMD. But ultimately
it's a distinctive musical statement that Mission Giant especially
when you consider the authentic sounds possible with today's
samplers. Good enough for me. www.missiongiant.com
Digby Falling Up
(Label X)
Lively and energetic, Digby excels at feel good melodic fare
that can be best described as chart-savvy modern rock, like
the kind that the Wallflowers are capable of producing. Thus,
the catchy "If You Only Knew," the driving "Too
Late" and "Falling Up to the Stars" may just
turn up on your local radio station or the next blockbuster
movie soundtrack. Mark my words! www.godigby.com
Scott Murray Stutter
(Self released)
Ah…the moment "Dry Bones" hits you right between
the eyes is a special one… "But I don't believe
that it's over now/These dry bones can breathe again…"
Amen, brother! With the verve of Bono, the passion of Martin
(delirious?) Smith and the attitude of David Crowder, Murray
presents his God-centric offering without a hint of self-consciousness.
This is special, indeed. www.platonicbomb.com
That's it for this month…stay tuned
for the SMiLE extravaganza to come…adios!
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