Monogroove Opens Up A "Popsicle Drivethru"

Monogroove, the supremely talented West Coast band led by the incomparable Rin Lennon, are back with Popsicle Drivethru, another outstanding release in a first-rate discography that includes superlative albums such as The Flip Side and Into The Sun.  If you’re looking for a record that will lift your spirits, make you smile, and have you absolutely rocking out during these difficult times, then you need to take a deep dive into this splendid disc. The 14 tracks on Popsicle Drivethru are a remarkable collection of tunes that will have strong appeal for music fans who appreciate the classic rock and roll sounds of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s.

The songs on Popsicle Drivethru touch upon a variety of genres, including rock, pop, punk, and power pop, and every single song on the album is fabulous, and a must listen. The opening track, “Hello Everyone,”  exudes positive vibes, and is a paean to togetherness in this mixed-up world, as well as a call to change, very much in the spirit of The Youngbloods classic, “Get Together.” The album also includes power pop tinged tracks like “All Day, All Night,” and “Anything You Want,” which has a touch of punk seeded into its pop sound. “Chasing The Sound” catches the feeling of a band’s elusive search for the perfect vibe, and “That Girl” is a guitar-heavy rocker that will have you reaching for the replay button. There’s also an exuberant cover of The Rascals classic “Good Lovin.”

All of the tunes on Popsicle Drivethru are a joy to listen to and experience, including “Sun Needs A Holiday,” which radiates pop sunshine, the modern rock infused “Dangerous” and the lovely “Halo.” Many of the tracks on the disc meld together several genres, from Beatlesque rock and roll to 80s pop/rock, garage rock and punk, as evidenced by edgier selections like "Those Pills." The album is filled with letter perfect harmonies, shimmering guitars, groovy bass and high-energy drums. It wouldn’t be a Monogroove album without a heartfelt love song or two, and Popsicle Drivethru features a pair of them: “Meant For Me” and “Someone.” Both tracks feature ethereal lead vocal turns from the amazing Rin Lennon. I think the beautiful “Someone” is one of the best songs Monogroove has ever recorded.

The band’s phenomenal lineup features Rin Lennon on lead guitar, Michael George on guitar, Alex Ritter on bass, and Jay Smith on drums. Their undeniable chemistry and stellar musical chops help power Popsicle Drivethru into the rock and roll stratosphere. It’s clear that these top-notch musicians enjoy creating music and playing together, and that vibe comes thru on every song on the album. If you’re already a Monogroove devotee, I’m sure you don’t need more convincing to check out this magnificent album, but if you’re new to the splendid sounds of Monogroove, then Popsicle Drivethru is a great place to start your journey into becoming a fan of the band! Check out the album and get more information about the group and their music by heading over to bandcamp, by following this link: https://monogroove.bandcamp.com/album/popsicle-drivethru. You can also find the album on other streaming services, including Apple Music and Spotify.

A Detective, A Ghost and Some Lost "Souls"

Dan Moren knows his way around multiple genres. He's written a well-received multi-volume series called The Galactic Cold War, which combines science-fiction with action adventure. He's also penned All Souls Lost, an entertaining hybrid of a Dresden Files-esque horror story with a hard-boiled detective tale in the vein of authors like Raymond Chandler. All Souls Lost features Mike Lucifer, a spiritual consultant and private eye who investigates offbeat cases involving the supernatural. He's been off the grid for a while after an incident which resulted in the death of his partner.

When Mike returns to his hometown haunts in Boston, he finds himself embroiled in a new case after a young woman visits his office, asking for his help, because her boyfriend's been possessed. He soon finds himself hip deep in ghosts, demons, murders and behind the scenes skullduggery at a high tech company called Paradigm. Soon, both the cops and otherworldly forces are after him, and his investigation leads him to question some events in his past, and face some hard truths about himself.

This is an entertaining, fast-paced read that should appeal to fans of supernatural horror, as well as fans of modern noir. Mike Lucifer is a detective in the classic mold, and his quick wit and cynical observations are well-meshed with the horror elements of the story. There's a solid supporting cast of characters, including Lucifer's client, a gal name Jenny Sparks, who may know more about the case than she's telling, a detective who's (sort of) on his side, and some colorful human (and non-human) allies and adversaries, who both aide and bedevil our hero.

All Souls Lost is a clever tale with a convincing backdrop, a world just a step outside our own, where magic and technology exist side by side. You might recall a made for HBO film called Cast A Deadly Spell (1991), which featured Fred Ward as a detective in the hard-boiled mode investigating a supernatural mystery, and this novel has something of the vibe of that movie, albeit in a modern setting. All Souls Lost is a lot of fun. Here's hoping that Dan Moren will bring back Mike Lucifer in a new adventure in the near future.

Tribute Discs: The Hollies and The Left Banke

 Tribute albums are a difficult enterprise. While there have been a plethora of these discs issued since the 1980s, only a small number end up being considered essential listening by fans, who often debate the true worth of such releases. I highlighted a couple of worthy tribute albums back in 2015, and that entry is one of the most popular here at Eclectic Avenue, so I thought it was worth another look.

Sing Hollies In Reverse (1995) – The Hollies are one of the best bands from The British Invasion era, and their superb harmonies and sparkling guitars, showcased on a number of classic pop/rock singles like “Bus Stop,” and "Look Through Any Window" are fondly remembered by music aficionados to this day. The band also gave us our first look at Graham Nash, later to form a super-group with David Crosby, Stephen Stills and Neil Young. Sing Hollies in Reverse features twenty-one Hollies songs covered by a bevy of power pop artists, who are clearly fans of the band. Standout tracks include Tommy Keene’s version of “Carrie Anne,” The Wondermints wonderful romp through “You Need Love,” and The Posies perfect take on one of my favorite Hollies tunes, “King Midas In Reverse.” 

 

 

There are several artists who endeavor to put their own stamp on the songs, including Jon Brion’s psychedelic run-through of “Sorry Suzanne,” E’s interesting take on “Jennifer Ecles,” and the Flamingoes version of “Water on The Brain,” which is a must listen. You’ll also get to hear The Continental Drifters (featuring ex-Cowsills member Susan Cowsill) pour their hearts and souls into “I Can’t Let Go” and Material Issue do their best British Invasion pop star impressions on “Bus Stop,” while the Shakin' Apostles rock their way through “Dear Eloise.” Sing Hollies In Reverse is currently out of print, but used copies are pretty easy to find online. If you’re a Hollies devotee, or a fan of any of the groups featured on the album, it's worth seeking out.

Shadows Breaking Over Our Heads: A Tribute To The Left Banke (1999) - You probably know The Left Banke based on their two classic 1960s singles “Pretty Ballerina” and the oft-covered “Walk Away Renee.” This short-lived group truly helped define the “baroque pop” genre explored by bands like The Zombies and Love, as well The Beatles, The Beach Boys and The Rolling Stones. While their original output consists of only two albums, they left a lasting impression on their fellow musicians, and rock and roll fans. This album features 22 tracks, and there’s not a bad one in the bunch. Some of the most enjoyable entries include Frank Bango’s pop-tinged “Goodbye Holly,” Sun Sawed in 1/2’s effervescent “And Suddenly,” and Starbelly’s rocking version of “Myrah.” I also really like The Phenomenal Cats fantastic reading of “I’ve Got Something On My Mind."

 

A couple of tracks really hit it out of the park, including ex-Jellyfish member Jason Falkner’s beautiful rendition of “Pretty Ballerina” and The Jigsaw Scene’s late period Beatles sounding take on “Desiree,” while The Birdwatchers channel their inner Brian Wilson on “My Friend Today.” Blue Cartoon contributes a strong cover of  “Give The Man A Hand,” and Ken Stringfellow provides an echo-tinged interpretation of "She May Call You Up Tonight." As with The Hollies tribute, having power pop and indie bands take on these songs is an inspired idea that really pays off. Like Sing Hollies in Reverse, this disc is out of print, but readily available at various online outlets. Repeated exposure to Sing Hollies In Reverse and Shadows Breaking Over Our Heads: A Tribute To The Left Banke just might inspire you to seek out the originals, and turn you into a true devotee of The Hollies and The Left Banke.