Spins and Reviews | 08.16.17
By Alan Haber – Pure Pop Radio
Fernando Perdomo | The Golden Hour (2017)
The fourth album from vaunted producer (Cait Brennan, Chris Price, Linda Perhacs) and recording artist Fernando Perdomo is a widescreen collection of heartfelt songs.
Recorded at Ardent Studios in Memphis, Tennessee, and played and sung entirely by Fernando, The Golden Hour bristles with majesty; the title number, a deeply-felt love song about two souls coming together as one, sits alongside other dynamic numbers such as the Beatlesque-meets-James Bondian “Sleep” (I love the Paul McCartney-esque bass line), and the gorgeous, melodically- and harmonically-charged ballad “Sunset,” which is elevated towards the end by some welcome Beach Boys-inspired background vocal turns.
Another top entry for this year’s best-of lists? Yes, indeed.
Where to Get It: Bandcamp (from August 17)
Various Artists | This is Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio Volume 4 (Kool Kat Musik, 2017)
Celebrating Carl Cafarelli and Dana Bonn’s longstanding This is Rock ‘n’ Roll Radio Show, this fourth volume of the ongoing series presents a carefully curated selection of exclusive and previously-released tracks by artists that should prove to be welcome by both the TIRnRR audience and pop music fans in general.
Top tracks are plentiful and favorites are overflowing. To wit: Circe Link and Christian Nesmith’s delectably addictive pop confection “I’m On Your Side”; Pop Co-Op’s catchy pop-rocker “You Don’t Love Me Anymore”; Ray Paul’s “I Need Your Love Tonight,” one of his best tracks ever; The Rubinoos’ sweet-sounding “Nowheresville,” featuring the much-loved vocal harmonies the group is known for; Maura (Kennedy) and the Bright Lights’ “Maybe Someday,” a straight-ahead pop song with Maura’s signature vocal in the spotlight; Michael Oliver and the Sacred Band’s passionate “You Won’t Do”; and Vegas With Randolph featuring Lannie Flowers’ jubilant pop-rocker, “The Weekend’s Coming.”
Compilations with this much oomph should be shoo-ins for your collection.
Where to Get It: Kool Kat Musik
Sitcom Neighbor | Shag (2017)
John Murphy and Steve Refling, the latter of whom plays nearly all of the instruments on and produced Lisa Mychols’ recently-released, soulful cover of “Let’s Stay Together,” achieve melodic pop hero status with this skillful 11-song-strong collection that is sure to please all comers.
Say hello, if you will, to the very Beatles-ish “Goodbye,” in which clever chord construction meets a classic-sounding melody. Murphy’s smooth lead and harmony vocals power the muscular pop of “Your Turn Next” and the pretty, mid-tempo ballad “Insomnia.” And the album opener, “Tourist Attraction,” sounds like a Shoes outtake that got away.
Shag, along with two previous releases, 2012’s Charm and 2007’s self-titled debut, form a triumvirate of pure pop goodness. So onward with you, who knows what to do.
Where to Get It: CD Baby, Amazon (digital)
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