Reviews - One Chord To Another - A Finnish Pop Site

Mark Eric: A Midsummer’s Day Dream

September 15, 2009 No Comments

mark eric

Mark Eric: A Midsummer’s Day Dream (Expanded Edition) (Now Sounds, 2009)

Last year I got totally addicted to Bergen White. While searching for similar albums also Mark Eric’s name came up, but I didn’t bought his album until now. Good thing in a sense that there’s now a new expanded reissue out on Now Sounds with a lot of bonus tracks, bad thing in a sense that I lived a year without being able to listen to this beautiful album. A Midsummer’s Day Dream is a real soft pop masterpiece. A really stunning piece of work from a boy who was only 19-years old when it came out. Unfortunately the album didn’t become a success. Was it because the non-existant promotion by the label or did the people in California just classify him as another Brian Wilson copycat? I don’t know.. but I do know that it’s almost criminal that it didn’t hit the charts. It’s wonderfully arranged and beautifully orchestrated album full of highest quality soft pop music. Heck, The Beach Boys themselves didn’t make many (if any) better albums as a whole. Sure they did hit a lot higher peaks, but most of their albums have some songs that I don’t love while I absolute enjoy every second of A Midsummer’s Day Dream.

This expanded edition also contains 16 bonus tracks and there are some fantastic songs among them that never saw the light of the day back then. Especially Build Your Own Dreams, No Days, No Nights and Place For Summer stand out and could demand a place on any best of soft pop or sunshine pop compilation.

Mark Eric at myspace

Reviews

Justin Townes Earle: Midnight At The Movies

September 3, 2009 No Comments

justintownesearle

Justin Townes Earle: Midnight At The Movies (Bloodshot Records, 2009)

The facts were these. Justin Townes Earle is the son of Steve Earle and named after no other than the legendary Townes Van Zandt. These facts might open some doors, but it also might mean that he needs to prove himself to fools like me who wonder if it’s just the cool name that has given him the opportunity. Ok, I didn’t have any doubts concerning Midnight At The Movies, because he already did won me over with his previous album The Good Life that was a really good album with a couple of truly fantastic songs like Townes-influenced Lone Pine Hill. Midnight At The Movies is again a little improvement and Justin Townes Earle is well on his way to become one of the finest modern country troubadours. The Good Life had some fantastic moments, Midnight At The Movies is fantastic as a whole. The album is a very convincing and versatile effort. One great thing about him is that even though he is knee-deep in the traditional soil of american music, his music doesn’t sound dated at all. His classic country music has style and substance and from time to time he also gets closer to modern folk and americana. Midnight at The Movies is a really strong and refreshing album which covers variety of genres from jazzy nightclubs to old folk murder stories and from old-time country to beautiful americana ballads. Well done.

Justin Townes Earle at myspace

Reviews

Steve Earle: Townes

September 3, 2009 No Comments

steve_earle

Steve Earle: Townes (New West, 2009)

I don’t usually buy cover records, but a great american songwriter Steve Earle covering the greatest american songwriter Townes Van Zandt sounded too interesting to miss. Maybe I shouldn’t have bought it, because it does seem to be difficult for me to enjoy cover albums. I just keep on thinking why am I listening to this instead of all the great originals that both Townes Van Zandt and Steve Earle have created during their brilliant careers. There’s no doubt that if there ever was a right man for the job, someone who would be justified to make a Townes cover album, it’s Steve Earle. There’s also no doubt that Steve plays the songs with love and care. He just faces an impossible task. Townes was an exceptional talent and nobody can get even close to the originals. Maybe I’m just a prejudiced prick that don’t really get the purpose of cover albums, but it’s just hard to get excited about this album. I love Steve and I love Townes. I just love them separetely.

Steve Earle Website
Steve Earle at myspace

Reviews

The Bishops: For Now

September 2, 2009 No Comments

bishops

The Bishops: For Now (W2 records, 2009)

The Bishops is a young british group whose self-titled debut was a really great album. Everything looked really promising, but unfortunately the follow-up For Now doesn’t quite live up to the expectations. It just feels a bit indiffirent and it lacks the energy and raw rock’n’roll of the debut. While the debut was an energic blast of 60’s influenced rock’n’roll, this new one takes a giant step towards lame modern indie bands. The biggest problem is definitely the production. Where is all the action, sweat and energy. It just sounds way too clean and almost boring when compared to the debut. The songwriting quality is still pretty good and if this had been recorded at Toe-Rag studios with the same producer as the debut, this could have been almost as good as the debut. Only almost because the debut did have 3 or 4 truly fabulous songs that this one doesn’t have. The rest of the songs on the older album are probably pretty equal when compared to these new songs. The old ones just sound million times better and are therefore really enjoyable. For Now is not a bad album, but it’s still rather difficult to find a reason why I would spend much time listening to it because there are lots of much more imaginative releases out there. Like their awesome debut album. I’m guessing The Bishops is still a kick-ass live band, but hopefully they again start listening to those 60’s garage bands before entering to the recording studio next time.

The Bishops Website
The Bishops at myspace

« Previous 1 … 27 28 29 30 31 Next »