Artigos com o marcador bubblegum
The Cowsills – Painting the Day: The Angelic Psychedelia of the Cowsills (2006)
12/07/10
ALLMUSIC A group consisting of six siblings from Rhode Island and their mom is never likely to get big points for hipness (and signing a million-dollar endorsement deal for milk didn’t help matters), but while the Cowsills were regarded as a lightweight pop outfit by most “serious” music fans during their 1967-1970 heyday, their body of work has stood the test of time better than most of their more prestigious contemporaries. The Cowsills were brilliant harmony singers, they could play their instruments and write songs quite well (unlike most similar groups), and they created some glorious pop records that were clever, ambitious, and marvelously crafted. At their best, the Cowsills made singles at least as good (if not better) than what the Beach Boys or the Monkees were doing at the time, and without the presence of an acknowledged genius like Brian Wilson or the backing of a major television network. Painting the Day: The Angelic Psychedelia of the Cowsills is a compilation that draws together some of the group’s best-known and most ambitious work. The first half of the disc includes a handful of the Cowsills’ biggest hits, including “The Rain, the Park and Other Things,” “Indian Lake,” “We Can Fly,” and “Hair” (the latter a superb example of a great performance redeeming a truly foolish song), as well as some lesser-known album cuts such as “Dreams of Linda,” “The Fantasy World of Harry Faversham,” and “Painting the Day,” which are all first-rate sunshine pop.
The second half of this compilation includes all 11 songs from II x II, an adventurous folk-rock album that was released as the Cowsills’ popularity was waning in 1970. The album’s tone is moodier and more pastoral than the Cowsills’ hit singles, but the harmonies are strikingly beautiful, the songs (most of which were written by members of the group) are great, and the set’s adventurous reach (embracing country-rock, spiritual themes, familial crises, emotionally mature love songs, and some of their most potent rock & roll ever) proved they were capable of much more than AM radio fodder. By all rights, II x II should have earned the the Cowsills a new audience, but it was ignored by both critics and record-buyers, and the album’s inclusion here is more than welcome. While it doesn’t shy away from the Cowsills’ hits, Painting the Day: The Angelic Psychedelia of the Cowsills aims to give a broader picture of the group’s talents than the “best-of” packages on the market, and on that score it succeeds admirably. ~ Mark Deming
My Rate: 9/10
Vídeo de “The Rain, The Park & Other Things”
From Bubblegum To Sky – Nothing Sadder Than Lonely Queen (2004)
06/06/10
BABYSUE Brilliant. Absolutely BRILLIANT. The second released from From Bubblegum To Sky is a heavenly trip through the world of modern progressive bubblegum pop. The album features a non-stop string of pop masterpieces…bursting with mind-bending melodies, seamless hooks, and clever arrangements. This band’s first release (Me and Amy and the Two French Boys) was a show-stopper…but this, the follow-up, goes even further. The band is the one man project consisting of Mario Hernandez…with various guest artists adding their input) It is sad indeed when one considers the fact that most folks will probably be turned off by this man’s vocals…because he actually has a FANTASTIC voice that doesn’t sound like anyone else. Although Mario’s music is about as INCREDIBLE as music gets…the average dumb listener will, unfortunately, be turned off by the ultra-positive bubblegummy sound. This music is way, way, WAY out of touch with everything else going on in the world…and that is just ONE MORE REASON to GO for it (!). Hernandez writes classic tunes that will sound great decades from now. His music incorporates a wild variety of sounds and styles…involving ideas from artists that range from The Beatles to Andy Pratt to The Archies to the Beach Boys to Milk’n'Cookies to T. Rex to Shonen Knife to…well, you get the idea. There is no reason to pick out standout tracks…because the entire album features nothing but “oughta-be hits” from start to finish. Hernandez’ songwriting partners McCormick and Brunn are also due major credit here for creating this album. Pop music doesn’t get much better than this. True bubblegum that shoots straight up through the clouds and BEYOND. This will easily be one of the BEST RELEASES of 2004. Very, very, VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED…!!!
My Rate: 7/10
Áudio de “Some Kind of Fantastic”
From Bubblegum To Sky – A Soft Kill (2008)
06/06/10
SPIN With a MySpace page citing influences like Holga cameras, analog tape, and Marc Bolan, it’s no surprise Oakland, CA’s From Bubble Gum to Sky — the solo project of former Ciao Bella head Mario Hernandez — has a penchant for lo-fi pop music. And the band’s latest, A Soft Kill (the follow up to 2004′s sophomore set Nothing Sadder Than Lonely Queen), brings the genre to its apex. Recorded on a one-inch reel-to-reel, A Soft Kill‘s ragged, bright guitars, high-pitched layered vocals, and bubbly ’60s psych-pop pairs with morose vocals, coalescing in an instrumentally sunny set with a stark underbelly — an ideal juxtaposition.
My Rate: 8/10
Áudio de “The Flash”
Box Elders – Alice and Friends (2009)
09/05/10
GONER RECORDS Debut album from this great Omaha, Nebraska “Cave Pop” band. Formed by brothers Clayton and Jeremiah McIntyre, and completed by manic drummer/keyboardist Dave Goldberg. Songs are cool & catchy! Redd Kross rides with The Clean on a Rollercoaster full of freshly spun cotton candy while funhouse mirrors sparkle with the reflections of confetti floating in air. Clayton attracts the young ladies with his dashing looks & outlandish outfits. Dave amazes all with his ability to play drums and keyboards simultaneously. Jeremiah holds the whole thing together. Beautiful!
My Rate: 8/10
Áudio de “Hole In My Head”
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Box Elders – Tiny Sioux 7″ (2010)
09/05/10
