Category: Reviews

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Eric Salt & The Electric City – Please Say Yes (2013)

eric salt electric city please say yes
Eric Salt & The Electric City
Please Say Yes
2013

Eric Salt is one talented guy. 2007’s The Hail Mary hooked me with its depth and breadth of songwriting. His playing with Jenny Dee And The Deelinquents is always inspired. Plus, he can cover Springsteen like nobody’s business. He’s equally at home with his own material or someone else’s. Please Say Yes adds to this impressive body of work. Here we find Eric Salt & The Electric City getting back to their naturally varied ways. Their cover of Dylan’s “Tonight I’ll Be Staying Here With You” is gorgeous. “Women I’ve Loved” is a toe-tapper. “Movie Screen” finds beauty in simplicity. Horns help shape “Last Man Standing” and “Cold Winds Blow.” The band’s cover of Billy Squier’s “Whadda You Want From Me” turns a rocker into a slow burn.* Saving one of the best for last, the record closes with the endearing title track. Play it again. Please Say Yes gets better with every listen.

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* Given the album title and artwork, you had to see that one coming.

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The Life Electric – “Gone, Gone, Gone” (2014)

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The Life Electric
“Gone, Gone, Gone”
2014

Here’s a slab of power pop from The Life Electric ahead of their upcoming appearances at SXSW and the Rock ‘N’ Roll Rumble. It’s catchy. That keyboard thing is permanently lodged in my brain. Listen at your own risk.

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Mellow Bravo – “Don’t You Get Lonely” (2014)

mellow bravo dont you get lonely
Mellow Bravo
“Don’t You Get Lonely”
2014

Goshdarnit, Mellow Bravo, you’ve done it again. “Don’t You Get Lonely” is a blazed number for the ages. Fuzzed-out riffs. Octave-doubled vocals. Roiling organ. Driving bass. Drums that hit so hard you can’t help but look like a fool doing your best Jarvis impersonation. It’s all there. The kicker? Check out the killer harmonies at 2:10, right before the solo. It’s gonna be so good.

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Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents – “Don’t Tell Me” b​/​w “Fox On The Run” (2014)

Jenny Dee - Don't Tell Me
Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents
“Don’t Tell Me” b​/​w “Fox On The Run”
2014

The singles format is working out exceedingly well for Jenny Dee & The Deelinquents right now. After breaking the R&B/girl group mold that formed their early work, one of my favorite live acts in town continues to experiment with new sounds in the studio. The impeccable production values on “Don’t Tell Me” reach into ELO territory. The shimmering package contrasts nicely with Jenny’s biting vocal. The songwriting is timeless. The playing is perfect. This is the kind of magic that happens when a band decides to do whatever the hell they want to do.

If that weren’t enough, there’s also a stellar cover of the Sweet classic “Fox On The Run.” I’m one happy fella right now.

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The Field Effect – “Blue Christmas” (2013)

the field effect blue christmas
The Field Effect
“Blue Christmas”
2013

Last Christmas, The Field Effect gave us Wham! This year they offer up their take on “Blue Christmas” (complete with a candy cane striped pajamas video). Don’t expect any crooning and swooning, though. The Field Effect play it straight, loud and desperate; just like you hoped they would. Do, however, expect sleigh bells. Always expect sleigh bells.

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Boston Does Boston Vol. 1 & 2 (2013)

boston does boston
Various Artists
Boston Does Boston Vol. 1 & 2
2013

Boston Does Boston Vol. 1 & 2 is out. It’s 26 tracks of Boston bands covering each other to raise money for the Animal Rescue League of Boston. Read all about it right here. This is my first time through the collection. I’ve been waiting to listen until I had time to go end-to-end all at once. I’m jotting down some notes. Let’s see what happens…

  • “Get Away” (Township covering Jenny Dee and the Deelinquents) – Hell, yes! I love the original. This version is just Township doing their thing. We’re off to a good start.
  • “Bright” (Will Dailey covering Reverse) – Yes and yes. The original sings with supersaturated glory. This version kicks back. Perfect.
  • “True Star” (Reverse covering I, Pistol) – Reverse gets a cool groove going on this I, Pistol tune. Sweet harmonies and guitar lines. Three songs in and this collection is blowing my mind a bit.
  • “Amylee” (I, Pistol covering The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library) – When in doubt, rock it out. Especially when it sounds this natural.
  • “A Madness To His Method” (The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library covering Gene Dante & the Future Starlets) – The “watch me falling down” parts on this version sound really good.
  • “Trainwreck” (Gene Dante & The Future Starlets covering Miss Fairchild) – Everything Gene Dante touches is delightfully seedy. This cover is no exception.
  • “Costumes” (Miss Fairchild covering Mr. Vertigo) – Tremolicious.
  • “Sleeping Alone” (Mr. Vertigo covering The Field Effect) – A modern-rock-radio-ready take on a stripped back Field Effect tune.
  • “The Sun Shines” (The Field Effect covering Sidewalk Driver) – Come on. The Field Effect covering Sidewalk Driver? Do you know me? Thank you Boston Does Boston.
  • “Straitjacket” (Sidewalk Driver covering The Luxury) – Sidewalk Driver make magic. When the boy/girl vocals meet up with the bop-baddas, good things happen.
  • “Infinity Minor” (The Luxury covering Ted Billings) – Meticulously layered and melodic.
  • “Celebrate” (Ted Billings covering Garvy J.) – A spunked up and stripped down take on the Garvy J. anthem.
  • “Pavement Prophet” (Garvy J. covering Sarah Rabdau and Self-Employed Assassins) – Subtly glorious. Shrouded in mystery and synthesizers.
  • “Rian” (Jenny Dee and The Deelinquents covering Township) – Jenny Dee and The Deelinquents return the favor, turning a Township tune into one of their own. Geez. These cats are good.
  • “No God in Massachusetts” (Sarah Rabdau & Self-Employed Assassins covering Dead Cats Dead Rats) – Whoa. That was unexpected. Sarah turned herself inside out without losing sight of who she is. Impressive.
  • “On Fire” (Dead Cats Dead Rats covering The Lights Out) – Blistering take on an already rippin’ tune.
  • “Atom Bomb” (The Lights Out covering Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys) – There’s still some grit under the nails, but steamcrunk cleans up nicely. Nice pairing.
  • “The Ladder” (Walter Sickert & the Army of Broken Toys covering Black Thai) – Still heavy. Possessed vocal. Possessed viola.
  • “Less Talk, More Rokk” (Black Thai covering Freezepop) – Yes, yes, yes and more yes! Black Thai slay the synth-pop giant.
  • “Sweater Weather” (Freezepop covering Parks) – Look, a perfect pop song is a perfect pop song, OK? Proof.
  • “Badfinger Bridge” (Parks covering Corin Ashley) – A natural pairing with a lovely bouquet.
  • “Marigold” (Corin Ashley covering The Curtain Society) – I’m not familiar with the original, but this version is lovely.
  • “Birds Fly Information” (The Curtain Society covering Here We Just Dream) – Poppy. Trippy. Melodic. Great guitar solo.
  • “The Most Beautiful Thing” (Here We Just Dream covering Sarah Blacker) – There are a lot of nice, subtle touches in this one.
  • “Whiskey” (Three Day Threshold covering Nemes) – Three Day Threshold singing about whiskey? Shocking.
  • “Kindness” (Nemes covering Will Dailey) – Impressive shared vocals and a wonderful sentiment. Nice way to end the comp.

Yeah, so this is great. All you have to do now is download this thing and enjoy it yourself. Oh, and maybe check out one of the live events happening this weekend.

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Jonathan Pape – “When The Lights Went Out” (2013)

jonathan pape - when the lights went out

Jonathan Pape
“When The Lights Went Out”
2013

Jonathan Pape has released a couple of compelling singles in recent months. The first of these is the brooding “When The Lights Went Out.” The song grabs you immediately with the repetitive guitar pattern and haunting harmonies. Tension builds before a brief breakout at the 1:45 mark. It’s a short-lived respite. The terse patterns soon return. Mr. Pape has worked too hard setting the mood to let us off that easy. His words echo in the dark.

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Space Cranes – Christmas Robots (2011)

space cranes - christmas robots
Space Cranes
Christmas Robots
2011

Space Cranes (aka Chris n Kate) put out this collection of holiday tunes a couple of years ago. It features oddball arrangements of the classics. There’s the new wave surf of “Winter Wonderland” and “Good King Wencenslas.” Their version of “Silent Night” is a spacey country waltz with horns. Like synths? Check out “Deck The Halls.” Would “Jingle Bells” arranged for a pair of ukuleles, slide guitar, shaker, sleigh bells (naturally), bass and a couple of horns make your season brighter? Chris and Kate have you covered. “Hark the Drunken Angels Scream” is pretty much what you would expect (and then some). I love the wacky world of Christmas Robots.

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Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling – By Hook Or By Crook (2013)

DNFMOMD - By Hook Or By Crook
Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling
By Hook Or By Crook
2013

Boston’s favorite “The Prisoner”-inspired musical act is getting feisty. Not content to wail and fuzz with bass and drums, Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling wail and fuzz with bass, drums, keys, oboe and viola on By Hook Or By Crook. “Episode 10 – Living in Harmony” may be my new favorite DNFMOMD song. The vocals are simultaneously desperate and matter-of-fact. The augmented instrumentation adds to the emotional pull. Oh, the video ain’t too shabby, either. “Episode 15 – The Girl Who Was Death” will be instantly recognizable to those who have seen one of the band’s recent performances. The refrain of “You have just been poisoned” is effective in its directness and repetition. This is music design to make in impact. It does.

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Honeyglazed – The Trouble With Girls (1999)

Honeyglazed trouble with girls
Honeyglazed
The Trouble With Girls
1999

Honeyglazed were three guys and two girls. More significantly, Honeyglazed were vocals, keys and two bass guitars. They used both configurations to their advantage on The Trouble With Girls. Honeyglazed were peddlers of fuzzed-out bliss.

There are ultra-chic back and forth, harmony, and unison boy-girl vocals all over this record. “Under The Boot” and the horn-augmented “Milk And Morality” are prime examples. With Tim Catz going all out on his heavily distorted lead bass, the absence of guitars becomes a non-issue. The dual bass setup never feels like a gimmick. The unique instrumentation also leaves plenty of room for the keyboards to add to the sonic landscape.

Stand outs? “True In Tokyo” puts forth a vibe that is indescribably cool. Yes, they misspell Tokyo as T-O-Y-K-O. Yes, it’s awesome. The more atmospheric “747’s” is beautifully crafted and executed. It’s the type of song that transcends its genre and stands alone as a classic.

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