Chicago-based Indie Rock band Green
is so underrated. They may often times be raw and loose, but their Pop
smarts shine through. Like an inspired blend of Ray Davies and Prince banging
out T.Rex songs in a garage on a hot summer’s day, Green is unique and unclassifiable.
Anyone that thinks Green is Power Pop doesn’t understand Power Pop and they
certainly don’t understand Green. However, the band’s melodic sense is undeniable.
With releases that stretch back to the late ‘80s, Green may be ignored in their
home country but they are Rock stars in Holland.Yes, really.And it all boils down to the talents of singer/songwriter Jeff
Lescher.
The original five members of SPANDAU BALLET reunited in 2009 and launched a very successful tour that will spill over into 2010. Thankfully, they went back into the studio and recorded Once More, which features two new tracks plus reinterpretations of some of their best-known songs.
"2009 was the year of reunions for new wave/’80s fans. The Midge Ure-era Ultravox line-up toured, even after keyboardist Billy Currie spent years spewing venom in Ure’s direction. The Specials reconvened, albeit sans keyboardist Jerry Dammers. Heck, even Haircut 100 decided to give it another go with Nick Heyward at the helm (only percussionist Mark Fox and saxman Phil Smith sat it out). Perhaps the most successful and least likely reunions occurred when all five members of Spandau Ballet announced that they were getting back together. What makes this so amazing is that, just a handful of few years ago, vocalist Tony Hadley, drummer John Keeble and multi-instrumentalist Steve Norman had taken guitarist Gary Kemp to court over songwriting issues (they lost) and any chance of a reunion seems to have gone sour. But, against all odds, the five members (which also includes bassist Martin Kemp) ironed out their differences and undertook an enormously successful tour. Fans that were not able to catch them live were treated with a live DVD plus this acoustic-based studio creation called Once More. Apart from the acoustic reinterpretations of some of their biggest hits, the real attraction here are the two new tracks: “Once More” and “Love Is All”. Both tracks are wonderful ballads that may not be as drop-dead gorgeous as “True”, but they are right up there with other favorites like “How Many Lies”. Perhaps as some sort of truce, “Once More” is credited to Gary Kemp and Steve Norman while “Love Is All” is Hadley’s baby. Both are proof that the Spandau magic is intact and ready to conquer the world again. As for the rest of the album, the boys in the band have re-arranged songs from their catalog, putting the emphasis on the ‘song’ itself and not the production. Some of the songs are given new life in the mostly-acoustic arrangements with only one, “Chant No. 1”, sounding awkward and not entirely successful. The rest, though, are delicious new looks at songs that served as a soundtrack to a generation: “ True”, “Gold”, “To Cut A Long Story Short” and “Only When You Leave” to name a few. They add a bluesy, funky feel to “Communication” while retaining its hook-filled melody. Lesser known tracks like “Through The Barricades” and “With The Pride” are stunning in these new, simplistic arrangements that showcase Hadley’s still-fantastic voice. Thankfully, the Spandau boys are still in top form and one can only hope that a full studio album will hit the racks before they start suing each other and fall apart again!"-Stephen SPAZ Schnee/All Music Guide
PURPLE HEARTS were one of the most popular of the Mod bands that hit the British music scene in 1979 and 1980. The excellent Captain Mod label (an offshoot of Captain Oi) has just issued a collection of all the band's singles (A and B-sides) entitled The Mod Singles Collection. This is what I had to say about it on All Music Guide.
"The Mod scene briefly took hold of the British (and, to a lesser extent, U.S.) music scene in 1979 in the wake of The Jam’s enormous success. When Weller and Co. released their third album, All Mod Cons, in 1978, it not only sent them straight up the charts, it also freed them from the Punk shackles that had weighed them down since the release of their debut album.
Because of the success of the album and the resurgence of Mod culture, labels began snapping up ‘60s-influenced acts like The Lambrettas, The Chords, The Jolt, Secret Affair, Squire and Purple Hearts. Of these main players, Purple Hearts were the least likely to succeed but it certainly wasn’t from lack of talent or ambition. With a Punk attitude and ‘60s Garage Rock influences, the band’s songs were less chart-friendly than their contemporaries and didn’t quite connect with the fickle public.
Signing to Fiction Records, the band released a handful of singles and one album in 1980 (Beat That!) before fading into the ether. They resurfaced briefly in ’82 and again in 1986 but fame and fortune proved to be elusive.
While not a great ‘album’ band, the Hearts sounded far more exciting on their singles, all of which are collected on this compilation (A and B-sides). The singles are joined here by three excellent 1981 demo recordings lifted from The Beat Generation & The Angry Young Men compilation.
Though Who and Kinks influences abound, the real meat of their sound is snotty Garage Rock, which really comes to the fore on tracks like “Frustration”, “Just To Please You”, “Plane Crash” and “Head On Collision Time”. On the other hand, the band’s pop smarts shine brightly on “Jimmy”, “My Life’s A Jigsaw” and “Friends Again” and all three of the bonus compilation tracks (‘I’ll Make You Mine”, “Concrete Mixer” and “Hazy Darkness”).
This 17 track collection showcases all of the band’s strengths, although I must admit that their version of “Scooby Doo” is the only obvious mis-step here. Released on Captain Oi’s excellent offshoot label, Captain Mod, the booklet contains informative liner notes, release information and reproductions of the picture sleeves.
Needless to say, The Mod Singles Collection is the best place to start your Purple Hearts collection."
Well, Cherry Red has done it again! One of the absolute finest and most overlooked albums of the '80s has finally seen a fitting and well deserved release on CD:
"Sometimes, I can bang my head against the wall, wondering why certain bands ‘make it’, while other more talented combos get overlooked and, ultimately, forgotten. And often times, the band that faded into obscurity created music that stands the test of time decades down the line. Such is the case with British pop quartet The Farmer’s Boys.
The band (Baz, Stan, Mark and Frog) were certainly a bright spot on the music scene back in 1983 when they signed with EMI after a handful of indie singles. Their sound was certainly original: imagine Edwyn Collins and his Orange Juice mates jamming with The Human League’s keyboardist (complete with programmed drums) and you’ve got more than a basic idea. Add a little bit of The Smiths, a dab of Country & Western and you’ve got The Farmer’s Boys. And yes, they really do sound that cool! Get Out And Walk was the band’s 1983 debut album and what a debut it was! It had jangly guitars, jolly melodies, catchy synth riffs, acoustic strums, danceable beats and, to top it all off, Baz’s Morrissey-like croon floating above it all. The album was fun and extremely infectious with more cool tunes per minute than 75% of the albums that came out that year.
For some reason, insanely catchy cuts like “For You”, “More Than A Dream”, “Matter Of Fact”, “Wailing Wall” and “Woke Up This Morning” didn’t receive massive airplay in the UK when they so rightly deserved it. Even the funk-heavy “Soft Drink” (with Baz in falsetto mode) didn’t make its way to the dancefloors around Europe like it should have. Yes, the band did see some chart success, but usually just out of the Top 40, which meant they barely received much-needed television exposure. Get Out And Walk was one of the coolest records released during the ‘80s but, for whatever reason, it just didn’t click with their intended audience. Perhaps it was the band’s lack of image? Maybe because the band never really took themselves too seriously? Or it could just be a matter of bad luck?
In any case, the album still sounds fabulous today, mainly due to the songs, which will please fans of great ‘80s guitar pop. Even synth fans can find a lot to love about The Farmer’s Boys! And with this Cherry Red reissue, there are 10 bonus tracks that make it an absolutely essential purchase. The bonus tracks include non-album singles, b-sides and three extended remixes lifted from the bonus EP that came from initial pressings of the LP. Looking back, 26 years after I bought the original import vinyl LP on a whim, it was, to quote one of the band’s song titles, “probably one of the best investments I ever made”!"
I sure do hope that they plan on releasing the band's second (and final) album, With These Hands, too!
Yes, folks, the first two albums by THE LAUGHING DOGShave been officially released on one CD, courtesy of the American Beat label.
I've been a fan of this relatively unknown band for three decades and can still remember the first time I heard each of these fab albums. In fact, I even reviewed the individual albums (then only on out of print vinyl) for All Music Guide.
Now that they've been made available on CD, I get another go round to heap my praises on these two albums... and I'll share my All Music Guide reviews with you right here on this blog!
First off, here's the review I did for the first album (The Laughing Dogs):
"Born out of the New York underground music scene of the late '70s, the Laughing Dogs were a band looking for a good time. With a cache of snappy pop songs chiefly written by main men Ronnie Carle (vocals/bass) and James Leonard (vocals/guitar), the band's sound was elegantly arranged with the help of keyboardist/guitarist/vocalist Carter Catchcart, and fueled by the powerhouse drumming of Moe Potts. None of the members were new to the music scene, so each brought plenty of creative ideas and strong musicianship. By borrowing from the past, the Dogs created a timeless sound that was as exciting as the explosive punk scene, but was also completely different. This was power pop with a raw edge, yet very commercial. If Billy Joel's Glass Houses album was recorded by a band with 'street cred', then that band would have been the Laughing Dogs. "Get 'Im Outta Town" and "Reason For Love" should have been huge radio hits worldwide, both filled with catchy hooks, bubbly harmonies, and real joyous energy. "No Lies" and "It's Alright, It's OK" could have been unpretentious Steely Dan if they had been formed during the new wave era. "Round And Round" mixes classic rock clichés with a White Album flair. That's not Badfinger's Tom Evans and Joey Molland singing the chorus to "It's Just The Truth," but if you close your eyes and pretend....Even the rock and roll basics of "Johnny Contender" and "I Need A Million" are fun. A gem of an album just waiting for you to discover it." (Stephen SPAZSchnee-All Music Guide)
First off, the Laughing Dogs are funny guys. The album cover has all four band members being scolded and punished by their real-life mothers (get it?). Based on that cover alone, you've got to love these guys. But you can't read an album by its cover, can you? Fortunately, the music contained within is just as fun, even when it's more commercial than their debut. Dynamic musical arrangements, fabulous harmonies, and great songs seem to be the Dogs' forte, and they use all three very wisely. Though the rawness of the debut is missing here, the sympathetic and warm production allows the songs to breathe, and the songs can be stunning. Pop meets a funky groove with the album opener, "Zombies," with great musical interplay. With originals like "Formal Letter," "Take My Chances," and "Reach Out For Me," who needs covers like "Don't Bring Me Down" (the record company, obviously)? Carter Cathcart's "Not What I Used To Be" sounds like a power pop band doing Motown with Walter Becker producing. When the band slows everything down for a ballad ("Stand Up" and "Two Who Are Willing To Share"), you can't help but reach for the hankies! Like other 'Two Album Deal' bands of this era (ie: Four Out Of Five Doctors, Scooters, Hawks, Sorrows, Electrics, etc), fans are torn between the raw feel of the first album, and the 'label pressure' vibe of the second. Whichever way you choose, you can't lose." (Stephen SPAZSchnee-All Music Guide)
And finally, here's the CD review (which does contain a few elements from the above... but not much):
"When I first reviewed the first two Laughing Dogs albums years ago, they were only available on black wax… and long out of print. Heck, I was certain that no label would ever be brave or smart enough to actually put these albums out on CD! But, lo and behold, American Beat has risen to the occasion and now you can own these two great Power Pop albums on one CD. Though they never made much of a dent in the charts, the Dogs’ reputation as skilled musicians is legendary. The fact that they would masquerade as The Kojaks (complete with bald caps) and be their own opening act is STILL talked about! But none of this holds a candle to their knack for serving up melodic hooks galore on these two albums.
The quartet’s 1979 self-titled debut was energetic and laced with musical nods to their ‘60s influences, right down to the production. Still, the band were able to maintain their own identity and forge a ‘Laughing Dogs’ sound, especially with album opener “Get ‘im Outta Town” (a sound which they fully explored on their second album). Apart from that lead-off track, album highlights include the Pop-errific “Reason For Love”, “No Lies” and the Beatles-esque “Low Life”.
Their sophomore album, …Meet Their Makers, was released in 1980 and showed a maturity in the band’s songwriting and arrangements. Though the rawness of the debut is missing here, the sympathetic and warm production allows the songs to breathe, and they are often stunning. With originals like "Formal Letter," "Take My Chances," “Zombies” and "Reach Out For Me," who needs covers like "Don't Bring Me Down" (the only lukewarm tune here). When the band slows everything down for a ballad ("Stand Up" and "Two Who Are Willing To Share"), you can't help but reach for the Bic lighter!
This Laughing Dogs two-fer is an essential purchase for any Power Pop and Rock music fan. Although they may have been lumped in with the other New York-based Punk and New Wave bands from the late ‘70s and early ‘80s, the Laughing Dogs were a Rock ‘n’ Roll band at heart and this excellent release proves it." (Stephen SPAZSchnee-All Music Guide)
And, finally, here's a clip of the band performing the fabulous "Get 'im Outta Town":
So, do you own this CD already? What are you waiting for?
