June Album Reviews: Bloody Red Baron

GUEST POST: Mike Baron

Mike Baron (aka Bloody Red Baron) was the longtime album reviewer for Pop Geek Heaven. With the closure of that legendary power pop newsletter, we are very happy to host his latest round of album reviews here at Remember The Lightning.

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Pop Aid 2: A Pop Compilation To Benefit Those Affected By Hurricanes Helene & Milton (Kool Kat)

This type of pop sampler used to be a staple of the record scene, from Yellow Pills to Best of Not Lame. With twenty-three tracks, it’s a cornucopia of cool with hardly a duffer in the bunch. A lot of these bands are new to me as they will be to you. Star Collector’s “I Feel You” is earnest, upbeat Midwestern pop in the manner of The Hawks or Shoes. Dave Cope and the Sass’ “Starlight” is another beautifully balanced bouncer with dazzling harmonies. Ronnie D’Addario featuring the Lemon Twigs’ “I Was Your Window” is in a Posies vein.

Vegas With Randolph’s “Above the Blue” is an acoustic charmer with floating harmonies and orchestral strings. Chamber pop. Second Summer’s “Glimmerglass” has those magnificent Rob Bonfiglio harmonies. The Weeklings’ “Don’t Know, Don’t Care” is live rockin’ Chuck Berry adjacent. Thrift Store Halo’s “Do You Still Feel Like I Do?” belongs on a Raspberries disc. Janne Borgh’s “The Distance Between Us” falls close to Tommy James’ “I Think We’re Alone Now.” The Overtures’ “Lucky Joe” is Mersey beat. Richard Turgeon’s “Hit My Ceiling” stacks the harmonies like pancakes and covers them in syrup. Sonata Form’s “Believe You Me” starts with a piano etude. It’s Left Banke chamber music.

Great songs for a great cause.

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Slamdanistas—Wild & Restless (Rum/Bar)

The Slams live up to their name with “Where I Belong,” an AC/DC heavy rocker with Gabriel Johns’ sneering lead vocal in a Mick Jagger vein. “Wild & Restless” captures Buzzcocks energy, verging on power pop. Many are the hard rockers that step in power pop.

The change up from minor to major in “Reason To Believe” has an inspirational effect. “Johnny Wallflower” is a swooning rocker with sweet harmonies on the bridge. Slamdanistas roam the history of rock foraging for inspiration. The Clash, obviously, the Stones, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Chuck Berry, and on “Rock N Roll Clown,” Chet Atkins and Bill Haley.

There are three versions of “Latch Key Kids”—the radio version, the extended version, and the dance version. Disco! They’re fearless. The disco version incorporates the refrain from “Bad Boys,” the theme from Cops by the Bad Boys of Reggae.

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Muck and the Mires—Beat Revolution (Dirty Water)

There’s a reason Muck and the Mires are dressed like Revolutionary War veterans on the cover of their new album…even if they are dressed as Red Coats. They sound like Paul Revere and the Raiders! Not everywhere or all at once, but enough.

As purveyors of Boston garage rock they will like this comparison. The four man band has a charming bounce on “Overnight Delivery” that echoes The Raiders’ “Hungry.” The Mires favor first and fourth harmonies on almost every song, it is particularly sweet on “She’s Too Good For You,” an ebullient, foot tapping radio friendly blast straight out of the ‘60s. An enthusiastic scream punctuates “Down In The Underground.” So does Paul Revere’s “I’m Not Your Stepping Stone!” By the time we reach “Mary Ann Man,” we’re crossing the Potomac!

Like Barry and the Remains, another masterful Boston garage rock band, it’s just one hit after another.

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The Greek Theater—A Deeper Scar (Kool Kat)

Swedish duo Sven Fröberg and Frederick Persson’s A Deeper Scar adds session players to round out this swirling psychedelic prog rock foray with dark druid intimations in “A Man Outside My Door.” Deep Purple should trade names with them, because these guys sound like what deep purple suggests.

The music is filled with shadow, as on “Tender Queen,” while sax and flute on “Jubilee” verges on mellow jazz. They suggest the prog rock of the great English band Spring, particularly on “Lost Out At Sea.” “The Good Life” is what druids would play at parties, if druids partied and played rock. “Try For the Sun” is an engaging deep dive instrumental, music from the Marianas Trench, as is “Signals Cross.” Overtones and undertones of the Neil Morse Band and Yes, but with a sound all their own.

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February Album Reviews: Bloody Red Baron

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