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Cool Stuff About Business and Entertainment in the Greater Harrisburg, PA Area. |
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Cool Stuff About Business and Entertainment in the Greater Harrisburg, PA Area. |
| Local Exposure • CD Reviews | |
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The Shazam The Shazam (Copper) Produced by Brad Jones By Mitchell L. Hillman, Jr. |
| After a flawless
performance during the 1997 PopFest at Zee’s and a brilliant reprise only a few weeks
later, I could hardly wait to hear the eponymous titled CD from Nashville’s The
Shazam. The anthemic album opener Let’s Away invites you to experience the
rollicking auralcoaster that awaits anyone with a spare 39 minutes that is guaranteed to
improve your day. Let’s away to a brand new day-Tonight! indeed, The Shazam
restore the belief in pop music as a way of escape, a way of expression, a way of life and
a fun one at that. In perfect vinyl time the band blows any troubles away and into the
breeze while you gladly swim in a swirlpool of power pop bliss. Easily fitting in to a top ten album slot for me in 1997 (doubtful that this will change before January), The Shazam is a perfect thirteen song mixture that rarely lets up its groove, much less ignores the listener. Endless hooks, killer melodies and intelligent lyricism flesh out an album that will play all day inside your head, while proving that healthy doses of sarcasm, wit, wisdom and intelligence can fit inside a three minute slice of pie without bringing the mood down one iota. From confessional lyrics like "I ain’t a genius, in fact I’m a mess" from Oh No! to Megaphone’s dedication of "Here’s to all the misfits we know" to the comical anecdote of the XTC-esque Engine Red, the album is littered liberally with fascinating and fantastic points at every turn ( in fact there are ten other songs that are eligible for pop single status on this platter). While the band is named after The Move’s second album, and at times they certainly evoke the power of The Move, they owe more to 1980s post-punk power pop and classic Cheap Trick, than anything else. The Shazam consists of songwriter Hans Rotenberry on vocals and guitars, Mick Wilson on basses and vocals and Scott Ballew on drums and vocals. If you get a chance, catch them the next time they make the great drive up from Nashville—it will be well worth it. Their CD can be ordered at most record stores, if they do not already carry it. Or you can contact them at: G.O.B. inc. 1719 West End Ave., East Tower , Ste. 409 Nashville, TN 37023 |
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Dan Kibler |
| A CD that marries
Byrds-like guitar jangle with melodic distortion and just a touch of country twang may not
be exactly what American Demographics would call a sure-bet in these techno-heavy times,
but Dan Kibler’s Haunted is a testament to honest songwriting and great
musicianship. Kibler’s strong tenor and stellar guitar work stand out especially on
tracks like "River of Pride," "Ain’t What You Meant to Me" and
"It’s a Shame." But honestly, there is not a bad song on this entire CD. |
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Mightyhead Hey Balloon Lizard Records By Ed Yashinsky |
| From Hey Balloon’s opening drumbeat, the boys of Mightyhead seem to have unearthed a secret to hook listeners. The music here is not incredibly original and you will not find the true meaning of life in the lyrics, but it’s nearly impossible to listen to this CD without tapping your feet and humming along. (And isn’t that enough sometimes?) From uptempo numbers like "I Don’t Need You" and "Jupiter and Mars" to more subdued tracks like "The Last Time" and the closer "Valerie," Hey Balloon offers charming harmonies, catchy melodies, and a certain spark that makes this CD irresistible. | |
