Check Our Music Picks
The four of us post our music picks and update them regularly. You find our latest additions below. For the whole thing, go to https://www.audioreviews.org/music-picks-2/
Loomis’ Latest…
Buzzcocks, “Singles Going Steady”— my wife made two salient observations about this record the other night: first, that under all the buzzsaw guitars there’s a lot of 50’s doo-wop and Elvis-style rockabilly in these tunes; and second, there’s almost no bass in the mix—it’s virtually all midrange. True dat, but these are stone classics nonetheless; at least during his late 70s heyday Pete Shelley might have been the great English songwriter.
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Ed Kuepper, “Everybody’s Got To”— hard pop masterpiece from ex-Saints guitarist. Largely eschewing his punk past and the dark folk of his earlier solo records, this is closer in spirit to Ike and Tina or Sticky Fingers-era Stones, with blaring horns, big drums and a lovely-voiced backing vocalist. He’s a powerful rhythm player and a distinctive singer, but it’s the songs that really stand out and these are as good as any to emerge from Oceania. (“Lonely Paradise” “Too Many Clues”).
Chris Forsyth, “All Time Present”—he studied under Television guitar madman Richard Lloyd and was obviously a star pupil—most of these compositions sound like variations of “Marquee Moon,” though he also channels Krautrock, Neil Young and Sonic Youth. Mainly instrumental, though his sporadic vocals and lyrics are at least serviceable, this is technically dazzling (if derivative) guitar nirvana.
Sex Clark Five, “Strum and Drum”—Sort of a DIY, indie-rock counterpart to “Who Sell Out” from Alabama, of all places. They fuse REM jangle, Merseybeat, and T. Rex, but have their own unique take on this form, and virtually all these one and two-minute gems feature a big hook, inventive harmonies and oddball lyrics. John Peel was a big fan.
All of Loomis’s picks: https://www.audioreviews.org/loomis-music-picks/
JK’s Latest…
Ed Palermo Big Band — A Lousy Day In Harlem: As the title implies, this big band is a bit on the goofy side. After “The Great Un-American Songbook” (featuring mainly titles of the “British Invasion”…Beatles etc.), these merry men now take on classics like Duke Ellington or contemporaries such as Renee Roseness…or they play their own compositions. Great for testing the 7 kHz area in your earphones…lots of cymbals.
Jan Lisiecki — Mendelssohn: More hometown stuff on Deutsche Grammophon, but this time Calgary. Great piano attack to test your headphones/earphones with. I like Jan’s very dry approach to Mendelssohn.
The Rhythm Method — How Would You Know I was Lonely? 2019 debut by South London band combining 808 State, Madness, Squeeze, Pet Shop Boys, Prefab Sprout, New Order, and the Streets…all in one. Uplifting, fluffy, sweet. And Cliff Difford of Squeeze even sings on the last song. Groovy, Baby!
All of Jürgen’s picks: https://www.audioreviews.org/jks-picks/
