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July 2008
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September 2008

Obvious Daily Music Review: Goodbye Blue Monday by Jeremy Fisher

Jeremyfishercov My good friend, journalist and music critic extraordinaire Andre Salles pointed out to me that I use the word “quirky” too much in my reviews. He is right of course (he usually is check out his weekly column here: www.tm3am.com). To say he disagrees with me on my review of the new Matthew Sweet is a serious understatement. He loved the record and I can’t stand it. Usually we’re more in line with whether or not we can deem a record worthy of praise. I described Matthew Sweet's earlier work as “quirky,” which, as Andre has pointed out, is a stretch. In my defense, I like quirky music. Most of the albums I like have “quirky” elements, but that’s no excuse, I need to find other words that will say what I’m trying to describe. Which brings us to today’s album review Jeremy Fisher’s Goodbye Blue Monday. I am tempted to call it upbeat pop with quirky arrangements and great melodies…but there’s that word again! The arrangements have some unique elements…is that better? This record came out in 2007 here in the States and I have just recently rediscovered it. It’s a favorite that I have come back to and I can’t stop listening to it. Jeremy is a young Canadian musician with a good voice and a great ear. The opening track, “Scar That Never Heals” (and a few other songs) sound a lot like Paul Simon’s solo stuff, ala “Kodachrome” and “Me and Julio.” The fact that it’s a bit derivative of Paul is the only complaint though. The music, melodies and lyrics are very clever and well written the strong influence is easily forgiven as evidenced on “Remind Me.” Not every track is a winner but the album has a number of acoustic pop tracks with a cool vocal that makes it easy to love.
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For more information: http://www.jeremyfishermusic.com/
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Obvious Daily Music Review: This Is The Life by Amy MacDonald

Amymacdonaldcov I still can’t figure out why great albums can be out in the UK and top the charts over there a year (or more in some cases) before anyone in the US has even heard of them. That’s the case with Amy MacDonald, the young singer-songwriter from Scotland. Her distinctive Scottish voice drives her brilliant debut This Is The Life. What may be even more amazing are the lyrics, which are very artistic and intelligent, considering she was a teen when she wrote many of them, a good example of this is the mature “Footballers Wife.” The album’s production is a cut above with pop and rock flourishes over folk and indie rock tunes that will leave you wanting more. The hooky and melodic lilt of the title track, “This Is The Life” is sure to grab you and you’ll find yourself humming it hours after you’ve heard it and “Mr Rock and Roll” is a great first single.
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For more information: http://www.amymacdonald.co.uk/
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Obvious Daily Music Review: Sunshine Lies by Matthew Sweet

Matthewsweetsunshine I love Matthew Sweet. His music has meant a lot to me over the years and I think he has contributed greatly to the power pop genre. A few years ago I got the chance to meet him and we talked for a while. He’s a real person, a serious music fan and a great guy. That’s why I debated even writing this review. His brand new release Sunshine Lies is a huge disappointment, and that’s putting it lightly. “Time Machine,” the opening track is, dare I say, a jumbled mess. It almost sounds like 2 songs being played over the top of one another. Matthew’s normally magnificent vocals sound downright awful, especially on the 2nd track, “Room to Rock.” This record perplexes me. Every thing sounds raw and rushed, from the sloppy guitar to the songwriting. The lack of great hooks or quirky melodies is shocking, considering previous Matthew Sweet albums have been awash in them. Matthew’s bluesy guitar licks are cool in a few places, but the songs they are a part of are so disjointed that it makes them hard to listen to. Most of it is raw and loose with a real Neal Young and Crazy Horse vibe to the music, production and vocals, but the song writing is not there and who wants to hear Matthew doing a Neil Young imitation? However, there are a couple of good songs here for the Matthew Sweet fans to latch on to, including the beautiful pop of “Feel Fear” with it’s great melody and classic Sweet vocal delivery, and the 60’s drenched pop of the title track, “Sunshine.”
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For More Info: http://www.matthewsweet.com/
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Obvious Daily Music Review: Forth by The Verve

Verveforth Richard Ashcroft and The Verve are back after being nearly sued into oblivion by The Rolling Stones they took an eleven-year hiatus (forced?), in which time they apparently focused on writing long and beautiful pop masterpieces. Hopefully they didn’t sample any riffs for this one, because it’s a winner. The appropriately titled Forth may very well be their best yet, filled to the brim with memorable melodies, great hooks and amazing vocal lines and lyrics. This is UK alternative pop at it’s finest and it’s so much better than Richard’s solo work. I’m glad The Verve is back together. Some of it is orchestral with big airy vocals like the moving “Judas,” while many of the songs have a bit more of a hooky upbeat feel like the UK alt-rock vibe of “Love Is Noise.” They even go into a wild experimental mode with lots of sounds and samples on “Noise Epic.” This is a fantastic record and it contains some of their best work to date.
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Find out more here: http://www.theverve.co.uk/
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Obvious Daily Music Review: We Started Nothing by The Ting Tings

Tingtingscov This young British duo delivers new-wave tinged indi-pop full of quirks and fun with guitars, beats, keys and energetic female vocals that will have you wanting more and more. We Started Nothing is the debut release from Katie and Jules and I love it! There are some similarities to Blondie and the Waitresses, but this is post-punk for a new generation with amazing songs like the hooky opening single, “That’s not my name,” and the great rhythms and odd vibe of “Shut Up and Let Me Go.” This is a very original and artistic record with lots of odd sounds and unique production, as evidenced in the cool keyboards on “Keep Your Head.” Even if you don’t think this is your thing, give it a try.
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For more information: http://www.thetingtings.com/us/the-band
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Obvious Daily Music Review: White Lights by Deas Vail

Deasvailcov Deas Vail put out a great full-length debut called All The Houses Look The Same, it was Death Cab meets Mew and it got a lot of raves and attention from critics and fans. Now they are back and better than ever with a brand new EP called White Lights. While you can still hear the influences in songs like “Undercover,” which has a distinct Mew vibe to it, they have really come into their own with an original sound and style on this fantastic EP. All 5 tracks are winners, from the driving rock of the title track to the beautifully orchestrated indie-pop of “Last Place.” Rumor has it this is just a precursor to a full release coming out next year. I can’t wait!
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For more information: http://deasvail.com/
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Obvious New Music Review: A Thousand Words by Styrofoam

Styrofoamcov They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but that’s exactly what I did with the Styrofoam CD, A Thousand Words. The funny cover photo called to me from the listening station and I just had to hear it. Usually it ends in disappointment, but this time it was pay dirt. Keyboard driven electronic pop with great vocals and enough quirkiness and originality to keep it interesting. Sometimes the programmed electronic beats can be overdone or get on my nerves but every song here changes it up or adds enough to overcome the programming. Styrofoam is actually an indie-pop-electro artist from Belgium, Arne Van Petegem. He’s made a great record, from the cool vocals to the songs that sound something like a more electronic version of The Postal Service or the band Self. The best song is easily the edgy and fun “My Next Mistake” which features Jim Adkins (Jimmy Eat World), but there are a number of tracks that make this one worth getting, including the new wave wonders of "Microscope" featuring Blake Hazard (The Submarines). If you like quirky keyboard oriented indie pop this is album is a dream.
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For more info: http://www.myspace.com/styrofoam
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Obvious Daily Music Review: The Rhumb Line by Ra Ra Riot

Raracov2 Warning: This is a ‘buzz band’. I’m normally not on the buzz band bandwagon. The usual suspects are a falling all over themselves over this one (Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, etc.) and as evidenced here that’s not always a bad thing. With a quirky band name, Ra Ra Riot and an even quirkier album title, The Rhumb Line, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the sound is indie pop/rock with violins and cello running through it all. The buzz is about the cello driven songs and you can hear why in the moving “Ghost Under Rocks.” There’s a definite indie pop/rock sound with a lot of Beatles and 60’s influences, like on the fascinating “Dying Is Fine,” which would almost sound at home on a Polyphonic Spree release. There is something here for everyone though, including the wonderfully original power pop of “Suspended in Gaffa” and the Europop vibe of “Run My Mouth.” The Rhumb Line is a well-written record that is definitely worth checking out.
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For more info: www.rarariot.com
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Obvious Daily Music Review: Oceans Will Rise by The Stills

Stillscov Confession: I have never been a big fan of The Stills. This is a group that has always held great potential with great influences and ideas, but their first two albums didn’t grab me. I keep giving them a chance based on reviews and sound clips. Oceans Will Rise is their new release and it has gotten some good pre-release buzz so I picked it up, but with some hesitation. As it turns out, I’m glad I gave them another chance though because this album is very different and much more diverse. If you have listened to their earlier work the first thing you’re going to notice is the songwriting. Something must have happened between the last release and this one that made a difference because the melodies and arrangements are stronger and the instrumentation and production is light years ahead. It is a much more modern sounding record which is evidenced on the driving “Snakecharming the Masses,” with its very cool rhythm, synth and bass background. Another surprise is the Tears for Fears vibe of “Snow in Californa,” one of their best songs yet. Unfortunately the album does lapse back into that standard straight-ahead guitar-bass-drum sound with a lack of strong melodies, but the good songs do outweigh the bad. Regarding the packaging…the embossing and gold foil stamping is cool, but I’m not sure the skull on the cover fits the sound of the record…just my .02 cents as a packaging guy.
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For more info: www.thestills.net
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Obvious Daily Music Review: Clouded Staircase by Starling ELectric

Starlingelectriccov Write-ups and early reviews for Starling Electric make it sound like the second coming of The Beatles or some mythically perfect band for my musical tastes. Check out this official description on Amazon.com: “The debut by Ann Arbor, MI's Starling Electric is a melting pot of 60s and 70s influences - the melodic harmonies of the Beach Boys, Zombies, and Byrds; the prog and art-rock of Yes, 10cc, Genesis, and Elton John; the baroque craftsmanship of The Left Banke and Love; and the pomposity and swagger of The Who, Queen, and ELO.” I almost soiled myself after reading that…it made me immediately want to hear this album! Clouded Staircase by Starling Electric is not quite all that though. I think whoever wrote that may have been listening to my mythical dream band. I don’t hear any Queen, ELO or Elton John but I do hear lots of 60’s and 70’s power pop as recorded by a modern indie-pop outfit. There are some beautiful and brilliant songs including the amazing “I Got Scared,” a tune consisting mostly of beautiful vocals over 60’s and 70’s mood music, as well as the stunning power pop of “Camp-Fire” and “Black Ghost/Black Girl.” Overall though, it’s a mixed bag. The first two tracks bored me to tears and I was afraid for a moment I had purchased a record other than the one that was being described. If you’re into that 60’s and70’s pop, you’ll love about half of this record. It is way too long with 18 tracks, which would almost be a triple-album by power pop standards. That said, this is one band to watch and I can’t wait for their next record.

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For more info: www.starlingelectric.com

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