Review: Welcome to the Numberhood by The Real Numbers

The San Francisco based Real Numbers had me with the MerryMakers-esque opening to their first track. At a little over twenty five minutes long the album delivers and leaves you wanting more. Much more.

If you like Jason Falkner you’ll be wanting this. It’s a great first album and does what it promises. Tuneful, happy power pop of the highest order.

Listen to: My ugly face.

Web –
http://www.therealnumbers.us/

Listen –
http://realnumbers.bandcamp.com/

Review: Every living thing by Quakers on probation

I am not a huge fan of country and western, and whilst this album doesn’t sit fully into that genre it had enough similarities to make me slightly wary.  After a couple of tracks the album really just washed over me.  It was pleasant and the kind of thing I might put on in the background whilst I was eating.  It wasn’t until track four that my ears pricked up and started to pay attention.  Not that i’m overly keen on synth brass, but it kind of worked for me on “I know a woman”.

There are certainly some gems; but for every “Yard Sale” you have a “Hollywood walk of fame” with an opening bass line totally out of keeping with the record.

The album wasn’t really for me, but i’d come back and cherry pick a few tracks off it.

Web -
http://quakersonprobation.com

Review: Four by Bleu

The album finally arrived after much anticipation on Saturday just in time to have a listen before seeing Bleu live at the Borderline Club in London where he was playing along with Tracy Bonham and Jim Boggia

My God it’s such a great, great album. It’s going to be a tie between Farrah’s self-titled album and this for my album of 2010.

From the stunning opening with all shouting, glockenspiels, brass and totally in your face to the fantastic melody on B.O.S.T.O.N. which I can only presume is now the State Capital’s official anthem. Suddenly the it’s down a notch to the sumptuous ‘How Blue’ with its heartbreaking strings,  ‘Dead in the morning’ with it’s Blues Brothers type coda, the wonderfully stripped down ‘I’m in love with my lover’.  It’s just hit after hit.  Not a single song that doesn’t knock the ball way, way, way out of the park.  Just in case you’re not sold so far then ladies and gentleman, may I present to you a song co-written with Roger Joseph Manning Jnr.?

I cannot stress this enough.  Get this album now.

Stand out tracks: Well, to be honest.. all of them.

http://www.bleutopia.com

http://www.lojinx.com/features/LJX026

http://www.myspace.com/bleutopia