Reigning Sound - Too Much Guitar - 2004

Greg Cartwright sums up his approach on the third album from the Reigning Sound with the title, Too Much Guitar -- here, Cartwright moves the old-school soul influences that were in the forefront on Break Up Break Down and Time Bomb High School to the back burner in favor of a hip-shakin' set of loud and primal guitar-based rock & roll. While Cartwright's passion for R&B is still prominent in these songs (and their performances), here it manifests itself in a set of tunes that take Stones/Pretties-style raunch and filters it through '60s garage rock bashing in the manner of the Sonics or the Misunderstood. In short, this thing goes bash, pound, bash through 14 high-impact cuts, and Cartwright's passionate vocals jockey for position against his revved-up guitar bashing, while bassist Jeremy Scott and drummer Greg Roberson flail away for all their worth in support. Cartwright also reaffirms his status here as one of the best songwriters in the nuevo garage scene on Too Much Guitar -- while the performances may value impact over nuance, the songs are smart, soulful, and emotionally powerful, and the lyrics speak of a maturity that's a far (and welcome) cry from the cars'n'girls blatherings of most new garage outfits. While some fans might miss some of the soulful undercurrents that made Time Bomb High School so memorable, if you want to hear Greg Cartwright rock on out, then this album will convince you that Too Much Guitar is never enough.-AMG



Reigning Sound - Too Much Guitar - 2004/rs
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Reigning Sound - Too Much Guitar - 2004/mu

The Aliens - Astronomy for Dogs - 2007

Astronomy for Dogs -- great title that, conjuring up some pretty evocative images, but The Sixties 101 would be a more accurate moniker for this album, the first from a trio of ex-Beta Band members' new outfit, the Aliens. Across the disc, the group offers up a primer in virtually everything that made that decade so musically memorable, all wrapped around 11 glittering pop songs. "Setting Sun" sets the stage, a storming garage rocker boasting electric Kool-Aid organ, psychedelic strawberry swirls of guitar, an instantly singalong chorus, and an exhilarating melody guaranteed to bring acid flashbacks for days to come. "The Happy Song," aptly enough, is just as upbeat, but in an R&B mode, its repeated refrain of "you want to be happy" bolstered by barreling keyboards, a fiery guitar riff, a storming rhythm, sun-drenched harmonies, and an exuberant atmosphere that leaves glee in its wake. In contrast, there's the downbeat "Caravan," a blues number that travels into psychedelia, revisits the Canterbury Scene, then rockets into space rock, before settling into a mesmerizing, surprisingly structured prog rock jam. Sheer brilliance this, and without even a hint of the self-indulgence that so defined the late '60s/early '70s. And that's the real beauty of this set, for all its proggy, psych-out elements, every note and each effect within are there for good reason, even at its most seemingly jammy, free-form improvisational. And although there are more extravagant acid-drenched pop excursions to be found within, like the magnificent "I Am the Unknown," the Aliens study other forms as well. "Robot Man," for example, is a musical essay on funk, the luminescent ballad "She Don't Love Me No More" a dissertation of classical elements within rock and folk. The baggy-styled "Rox" is blues-based but wanders far afield into Eastern climes and techno clubs, turning back the calendar even into the new romantic realm. "Only Waiting" and "Tomorrow" look back in fondness to the Beatles, while "Glover" conjures up the Kinks' "Sunny Afternoon," and crosses more than just the Mersey in the arrangement. But beyond all the inspired arrangements, exceedingly clever echoes of the past, flawless musicianship, and expert self-production, what lingers are the band's magnificent melodies, be they lavish ballads or revved-up rockers, classic pop from the past for today. Alien they may be, but you'll be begging them to transport you away. -AMG



The Aliens - Astronomy for Dogs - 2007/rs
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The Aliens - Astronomy for Dogs - 2007/mu

Jim Thomas - The Blue Floor - 2009

The Blue Floor is the solo debut of Philadelphia singer-songwriter, Jim Thomas. Born and raised in New Jersey, Thomas cultivated his musical chops while attending school in South Carolina, playing in several musical outfits including the progressive jazz group, That’s Not Jazz. While there, Thomas began to cutting 4-track demos of what would eventually become The Blue Floor.

Recorded during the winter of 2008 in New York and Philadelphia, The Blue Floor attempts to act as a survey course of Thomas’s own musical journey. Tracks range from a love for straight piano pop to melodic yet maudlin acoustic cuts.

For this album, Thomas recruited the rhythm section of Jordan Block (Bass), Nero Catalano (Guitar, and Jonas Oesterle (Drums) in addition to a several other musical friends and associates based in ever growing Fishtown, Philadelphia Music Scene.

Thomas was heavily influenced by The Zombies, The Association, Emitt Rhodes, The Grass Roots, and The Beau Brummels during the recording of this album.

The Blue Floor was produced and mixed by Jim Thomas at Salmon Street Studio in Philadelphia and Mastered by Doug Van Sloun (She & Him, M. Ward) at Focus Mastering in Omaha, NE.
Jim Thomas - Baby What You Gonna Do


The Blue Floor is available at these fine digital outlets and many more

as well as other retailers!!

The Mr. T Experience - Revenge Is Sweet, and So Are You - 1997

Another Kevin Army production, this crisply recorded album contains the bouncy "Here She Comes," the too sweet to be bitter "Love Is Dead," and "Hell of Dumb," a kind of tribute to a uniquely Bay Area slang term. "Who Needs Happiness (I'd Rather Have You)" has a great title matched by an even greater melody. Judging by the ambivalent commercial reaction to this wonderful slab of plastic, even if the MTX record the Rubber Soul of today's music era, they will nevertheless be ignored.-AMG



The Mr. T Experience - Revenge Is Sweet, and So Are You - 1997/rs
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The Mr. T Experience - Revenge Is Sweet, and So Are You - 1997/mu

2009 Suburban Sprawl Music Holiday Compilation

Hey PPO Followers! Here is a Christmas bonus from Zach Curd at Suburban Sprawl Music...

Make sure to thank Zach!

Hello!

Every year, us folks at Suburban Sprawl Music put together a holiday compilation all in the name of good times. The comp is available for free download, and as a free limited edition CD available at Suburban Sprawl events in December. We've been doing this since 2002, with the comp growing in quality and quantity each year. Obviously, we have the holidays on lock.

This year we had some great new contributors (Scott Masson from Office,), while the old holiday comp "regulars" (Andrew Dost of Fun, The entire Suburban Sprawl crew) stepped up to the plate as well.

2009's edition (along with every edition since 2002) is available here:
http://www.subsprawl.com/xmas

Zip of 2009's comp:
http://www.suburbansprawlmusic.com/Audio/MP3/xmas09/xmas09.zip

Hi res cover art:
http://www.suburbansprawlmusic.com/xmas/images/2009_hires.jpg

Web sized cover art:
http://www.suburbansprawlmusic.com/xmas/images/2009_med.jpg

Thanks and happy holidays!

- Zach

'68 Comeback - Mr. Downchild - 1994

The spine may simply read 68 Comeback, but the cover of their full-length debut is actually attributed to Monsieur Jeffrey Evans & the 68 Comeback, making it clear who really conducts this rockin' freight train of a band. Plus, only one song, the shambling "Tobacco Road, Part 2," is credited to the entire group. The rest of the compositions are mostly either covers or Evans originals. Not that anyone's complaining -- Evans (the Gibson Bros., the Workdogs) is a legend in his own time. For this effort, the Memphis-based outfit also included Jack Taylor (the Gibson Bros.), Darin Lin Wood (the Black Snakes), Ross Johnson (Tav Falco's Panther Burns), and Dan Brown (Royal Trux). Mr. Downchild is a solid beginning -- or "comeback" -- for Evans in his new incarnation. If not quite spectacular, it holds up well to repeated spins, with the swampy "Bo Diddley 1969," the feedback-drenched "Richman, Richman," and the slide guitar-saturated lament "Greenback Blues" shining brightest. -AMG



'68 Comeback - Mr. Downchild - 1994/rs
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'68 Comeback - Mr. Downchild - 1994/mu

The Dirtbombs - Ultraglide In Black - 2001

Take a stack of soul platters from the 1960s and 1970s from the likes of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Sly & the Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Marvin Gaye, and Stevie Wonder; mix generously with a propulsive mix of two bass guitars, two drummers, and the vocals of a Detroit rock legend; and you have an underrated gem in the Motor City music scene. Ultraglide in Black puts a rock spin on recognizable nuggets of soul and funk while retaining the original version's integrity and message. Most of the tunes covered here are spirited party tracks, including a sparkling version of Gaye's "Got to Give It Up" that features a strident breakdown. Vocalist Mick Collins, of the Gories fame, paints each track with a flavorful delivery which at times will have the listener literally transported to AM radio's yesteryear. The Dirtbombs have created a record that is akin to stumbling across a box of cool records in your parent's attic, and is suitable for continuous play at any house party. -AMG



The Dirtbombs - Ultraglide In Black - 2001/rs
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The Dirtbombs - Ultraglide In Black - 2001/mu