New Music June 2017: Bill DeMain, Camera2, Cliff Hillis, ATC, Phoenix, Dan Wilson, Chris Price

Bill DeMain - Lemon Yellow



The new record of Bill DeMain "Transatlantic Romantic" will be out in summer 2017.

Air Traffic Controller - After Party



The "Echo Papa EP" will be out June 23, 2017 (amazon.com).

Cliff Hillis - Many Happy Returns EP



The new EP of Cliff Hillis is out now!

Camera2 - Ride That Feeling Again



The album "Orbit" from Camera2 will be out in 2017.

Phoenix - Ti Amo



Phoenix' new album "Ti Amo" is out now.

Dan Wilson - Re-Covered




Re-Covered , the new record of Dan Wilson (produced by Mike Viola) is available on Pledgemusic  or on Amazon for preorder. It's out August 4, 2017.

Chris Price - Sigh



Chris Price released his stellar second album - Stop Talking - now. Buy it on Bandcamp or Amazon.

Top 5 records of 2016 (and special mentions)

2016 is coming to an end - it's time to look at this year and its best music:

1. Emitt Rhodes - Rainbow Ends

In 1973, after battling bad contracts and industry demands, Emitt Rhodes saw his last release, Farewell To Paradise. Emitt Rhodes never recorded another full-length LP. Until now.

Rainbow Ends released by Omnivore Recordings - it is his first new album in 43 years.

After connecting with producer Chris Price in 2013, Rhodes revived his home studio with help from Price and an all-star band, all of whom had been enamored of Rhodes’ work: Roger Joseph Manning Jr. and Jason Falkner (both solo artists, members of Jellyfish, and currently in Beck’s studio and touring band), indie producer and musician Fernando Perdomo, Rooney’s Taylor Locke and New Pornographers’ drummer Joe Seiders. They would cut the new record live in that space.

More special guests appeared to make this momentous release even more special: Aimee Mann, Susanna Hoffs (Bangles), composer and producer Jon Brion, Wilco’s Nels Cline and Pat Sansone, Bleu, and Probyn Gregory & Nelson Bragg from Brain Wilson’s band, among others. What was achieved is more than what folks thought would ever happen.

Producer Price says, “I view this as a continuation album, meaning it isn’t meant to be recreating the sound from his first record, but instead what he might have sounded like after his third album, Farewell To Paradise, if he kept making music in the mid-to-late ’70s.”

According to Rhodes, “I had a spurt there, you know. I just wrote a whole bunch of songs. I’m just gonna write what my heart tells me, because that’s the only thing that really matters, isn’t it? Sometimes you don’t know, and then the light goes on and you do know.

The music is very good on this record. I think that these guys are all wonderful players and there’s all sorts of interesting stuff. I hope people like it, and I want you young guys to be able to get your due.

I think whenever it happens, it happens on time.”

It’s rare to have your dreams come true. For many, a new Emitt Rhodes recording has only been a fantasy. In 2016, the Rainbow Ends at a true pot of gold.

2. The Honeydogs - Love & Cannibalism

The Honeydogs are back. Four years after What Comes After comes ... Love & Cannibalism.  Adam Levy and his band recorded the album at The Pearl Studio in Minneapolis with producer John Fields (Semisonic, Rooney). 

Love & Cannibalism is the counterpart to Adam Levy's Naubinway from 2015. While Naubinway is sometimes hard to get through because of its meaning (which is reflected in every song), Love & Cannibalism is straight, positive and full of joy.

 

Listen (and watch the video) to "Arguing With Fiction" here:

You can and would do well to buy Love & Cannibalism at Bandcamp.

3.  Air Traffic Controller - Black Box

The third record of Air Traffic Controller - BLACK BOX - is a strong and versatile album. And most importantly: it's FUN!

Listen to two songs from BLACK BOX here:

 

BLACK BOX - digital
iTunes

Spotify

BLACK BOX - CD Digipack

ATC PayPal 

4. Johnson & McAuley - Illuminated Dream

Alexz Johnson and Bleu teamed up for a new record: Johnson & McAuley - Illuminated Dream.

 

Listen to: Illuminated Dream, Heartbeat (Beatin’ You Up), The Secrets You Keep and No More Fear

Order via PayPal:

US Shipping - Black Vinyl Album

International Shipping - Black Vinyl Album

US Shipping - PINK Opaque Vinyl Album

International Shipping - PINK Opaque Vinyl Album

5. Travis - Everything at Once

Travis are back! Their latest full length record "Everything at Once" is their 8th record and the 20th year of the band (time flies!). It was produced by Michael Ilbert at the legendary Hansa Studios in Berlin.

Travis never disappoints with their records. The opener "What Will Come" impressively shows the strength for lyrics & melody. 

Fran Healy described "Magnificent Time" as the time of everyone's life where boys and girls become adults. A time where everything explodes and you say "Woo-ooh - wait a second, I can do all THAT now?" - a period you never ever get back and you should enjoy it as much as you can. The song itself is also magnificent, by the way.

"Radio song" and "Animal" are dangerously catchy!

And there is "Everything At Once". I had the chance to see it live (it was the opener of the show). Play it LOUD. It rocks!

Special mentions 

The Top Boost - Turn Around EP 

The Top Boost, Vancouver's psychedelic garage pop trio, released their debut EP "Turn Around" in 2016. Recorded and mixed in Vancouver and mastered at Abbey Road Studios in London, the record is filled with astonishing good songs.

To assemble The Top Boost, singer/songwriter Hunter Gogo searched for musicians who shared his love for catchy melodies and vocal harmonies informed by classic '60s groups like The Beatles, The Byrds and The Zombies. He found drummer Greg Johnston and guitarist Kirill Yurtsev and together they began to hone their craft, playing live to enthusiastic crowds at clubs around Vancouver.

The band has been working hard writing and performing new material, and have already begun pre-production on a new record.

Listen to the full EP here - I recommend to start with "Turn Around" and "What If She Loves You": 

One final note:  This may be the best debut record I listened to in 2016. I demand to have more of this! The Turn Around EP is brilliance! 

Paul Steel - April & II 

Paul Steel is back with a new record. Or will be. The PledgeMusic campaign has already been closed - and the record may be out in 2017.

BEWARE! Listen to the first song and you will WANT TO pledge. It's stunning.
 


 
 

Paul Steel @ PledgeMusic

Josh Fix - Free At Last

To be honst - this is a record which is almost 10 years old. But I discovered it in 2016 so techncially it is OK to have it in this list (and it's here just because it's SO good!).

Free At Last is the debut record of Josh Fix. It's his first - and only - full length record to date (also there is the "Steinway The Hard Way" EP from 2004 and the "This town is starting to make me angry" EP from 2009).

Free At Last was recommended to me for years, but I was never ready to listen to it properly. Now I did: What I discovered was nothing less than the powerful, refreshing and playful record in years.

If you're into Queen, Ben Folds, ELO, Jellyfish, Elton John or Bleu you should take a close listen!

Start with: I thought about it first / Jethro / Free at last / Don't call me in the morning

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness - Brooklyn, You're Killing Me

New Radicals - Lost Stars

"Lost Stars" is one of the best songs of the recent years. It's such a shame there's no full record from Gregg Alexander or the New Radicals:

Air Traffic Controller - Black Box

Serving in the US Navy as an air traffic controller, Dave Munro sent home demos written during deployment. Band mate Casey Sullivan met Dave soon thereafter, and the two founded Air Traffic Controller. Their third record BLACK BOX is out now.

Listen to BLACK BOX here:

 

BLACK BOX - digital
iTunes

Spotify

BLACK BOX - CD Digipack

ATC PayPal

+ + + New Music - March 2016 + + +

Air Traffic Controller - Black Box (Release: March 11, 2016)



Johnson & McAuley - Illuminated Dream (Release: April 8, 2016)



Hotel Lights - Get Your Hand in My Hand (Out Now)



Teddy Thompson & Kelly Jones - Little Windows (Release: April 1, 2016)



Kerosene Stars - A Million Little Trees EP



Linda Perhacs - The Dancer (Release: TBA)



The Honeydogs - Love & Cannibalism (Release: April 16, 2016)



Travis - Everything at Once (Release: April 9, 2016)

+ + + New music - April 2015 (Nick Piunti, Ben Lee, Kelly Jones, Timmy Sean, Air Traffic Controller) + + +

Nick Piunti - Beyond The Static

This is the fantastic new record from Nick Piunti - out on Bandcamp (digital, CD) HERE.

 

Air Traffic Controller - People Watching

Air Traffic Controller are back with the new song "People Watching" - the full record is coming soon.

 

Timmy Sean - Songs of the week

From Timmy Sean: "52 NEW SONGS! Every week in 2015, I will be releasing a previously unheard Timmy Sean track! Expect brand new songs, songs that I've had half finished for years, some covers, some live recordings, and some new versions of old songs that I wrote for LUZER way back in the mid-00's. But they've all never seen the light of day until now."

Judging from what's already out - this is a great project!

 

Ben Lee - Big Love

 

Kelly Jones - Heaven's On Fire (Kiss Cover)

 

Top Ten Records Of 2012

Again a bit early this year (but hey, it's tradition!): here they are - My Top Ten Records of 2012:

1. Mike Viola - Acousto de Perfecto

With a LP-friendly two sided concept of Acousto De Perfecto, half new songs half new interpretations of older songs and all the StageIt.com web-concerts, giveaways (Kenmore Square), the tip fight (resulting in Future Horror Hockey Game), the superb Facebook Fan Group (you people are the best!), the complete Mike Viola discography project and the re-release of the Blue Thumb Candy Butchers record it was a very very special year regarding Mike Viola. 

Highlights: Secret Radio, I'm Your Dog, God Give Me Strength, Hair Of The Dog, Date Night

2. David Myhr - Soundshine

Soundshine is a record title which couldn't fit better. This album is so uplifting, positive and listenable, it shines.

Highlights: I Love The Feeling, Looking For A Life, Got You Where He Wanted, Loveblind

3. Air Traffic Controller - Nordo

I had not those high expectations for the record. Then I read who produced it and got curious. And I wasn't disappointed. It's a very strong record. No fillers. All tracks shine on their own. That's a rare compliment.

Highlights: Blame, You Know Me, Any Way, Ready Or Not, Magic

4. Ben Folds Five - The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind

After long long years of no hope for a reunion the new record suddenly was there. It's a huge grower kind of a record - many of the songs unfold at second listen. 

Highlights: Sky High, Draw A Cloud, The Sound Of The Life Of The Mind, Michael Praytor, On Being Frank, Thank You For Breaking My Heart

5. Aimee Mann - Charmer

Charmer is the strongest Aimee Mann record for a long time (which doesn't mean the last records were bad!). It reminds me of Lost in Space.

Highlights: Labrador, Charmer, Soon Enough

6. Ken Stringfellow - Danzig in the Moonlight

To be honest, it first got my attention by the cover (which is really beautiful and shines on LP in all his glory). Then I had a chance to listen to the songs (I had no big expectations).  Danzig in the Moonlight is not a record I like in full, most of the songs are amazing pieces of work, a very few are not my cup of tea though.

Highlights: You're a Sign, Pray, History Buffs, Superwise

7. Sunday Sun - EP I-III

Sunday Sun suddenly got my attention with EP I and blew me away with EP II & III. Buy it here: Sunday Sun Official Website

Highlights: Ordinary Love, Sunday Sun, Ready Take A Left, Better Than That, Honest And True, Beating Low

8. Bryan Scary - Daffy's Elixir

Bryan Scary & The Shredding Tears where in my memories for their superb EP Mad Valentines from 2009. Daffy's Elixir tops it all.

Highlights: Ziegfield Station, Ballroom Kid, Day Glo Waterfalls, Wicked Frontier, The Tale Of Opal Dawn, Another Ace In The Hole

9. Ben Kweller - Go Fly A Kite

Ben Kweller's fifth record Go Fly A Kite is also his first record of his label The Noise Company. 

Highlights: Jealous Girl, Free, Mean To Me, The Rainbow

10. The Cry - The Cry

I can't even nearly say how often The Cry was recommended to me from different sources. And they were right. The Cry are somewhere between The Beach Boys, Jet, The Ramones and The Beatles, which means there's a highly enjoyable mix of 60s sound, punk and pop harmonies packed in 2 minute songs.

Highlights: Be True, Alone In The Dark, Down In The City, sleeping Alone, I Think I'm In Love, Wouldn't Last

Air Traffic Controller - NORDO (Update: Short Review & Full Album Stream)

Air Traffic Controller is back with their second record NORDO - it is out now!

Nordo cover

Track list

1

Hurry Hurry

2

If You Build It

3

You Know Me

4

Pick Me Up

5

The Work

6

Blame

7

Any Way

8

Magic

9

Ready Or Not

10

Different

11

A Minute To Think

12

Thinking Of You

Let's go back in time: In November 2011 Air Traffic Controller raised 12.000 US$ on kickstarter.com for their second album NORDO. And I missed it. Damn.

Further back in time: Singer-songwriter Dave Munro, a real-life air traffic controller serving in the US Navy had written and recorded 4-track demos during his deployment.
He returned to his hometown Boston and founded the band ... Air Traffic Controller.
One of his demos reached singer-songwriter and producer Bleu. Everything fell into place resulting in a collective work on NORDO.

Now a few words about the songs: The upbeat, stomping playful Hurry Hurry - the first single from Nordo - opens the album and leads to the compelling If You Build It.
The floating Pick Me Up is predestined for a radio single. It's catchy like hell.
Already after my first listen to Blame I thought "this is one epic ballad" - the one ballad that can make a band famous all around the globe.
Any Way and Ready Or Not are melodic gems.
A Minute To Think is ... a minute to think. Yes, it's one minute of silence.
It's followed by the closing song Thinkin' Of You, which starts quiet and passes on to a playful finale.

I was a bit worried, NORDO could be one of these records you buy because of two or three songs that are really good, and at the moment you listen to the whole record you immediately get sobered. Then there's a phase of "Well, they might all be good but I have to listen more often". Finally you recognize they are not and the record finds its place in the shelf between all the other records and will be forgotten. And you'll hardly play it again because of your disappointment of the whole thing. Nordo is fortunately not this kind of record. Every song has its right to be part of it. There is on filler song. Great work ATC!

Highlights: Hurry Hurry, If You Build It, Pick Me Up, Blame, Ready Or Not

You can stream four songs from it at soundcloud:

The a full album stream can also be found at relix.com:

Relix - Album Premiere: Air Traffic Controller - NORDO

One more thing: I'll repeat myself here but NORDO produced by the one and only Bleu!

Preorder it at Newburycomics.com - with an autographed booklet!

News May 2012

Farrah - Bees & Honey

The 3CD + DVD box set of Farrah - filled with demos, rare songs and videos - can be purchased at 1977 Records (you can order directly by email).

Official Farrah Website

Mike Viola - Acousto De Perfecto

Mike Viola will release his new record Acousto De Perfecto July 17 2012 (estimated release date).

Mike also playing a gig in London at The Troubadour on June 21 2012, which hints an European release - yay! And I hope for more shows in London - and I'll do my best to be there!

The Beach Boys - That's Why God Made the Radio

The 29th record of The Beach Boys will be out June 5 2012. The first single will be also called That's Why God Made the Radio.

Air Traffic Controller - Nordo

The new album Nordo of Air Traffic Controller will be out June 12 2012. You can already listen to Blame, a truly wonderful song (produced by Bleu):



Ben Folds Five - New Album & Tour

The new record of Ben Folds Five is estimated for an August 2012 release. 

There will be also a tour: 

• North America: September - October
• after that Australia 
• UK/Ireland: November - December