Green - Elaine Mackenzie (1987)

Green's second album is Elaine Mackenzie and if you even liked the first album just a little bit then you will love this record. Just more 60s influenced pop music from this Chicago-based band masterminded by Jeff Lescher.  In the first few songs you get some goodies in the form of She's an Addiction and Saturday Afternoon (with the obvious Kinks influence). Like the first Green album, previously reviewed on this blog,  listening to this Green album is sort of like playing "spot the influence" since Jeff Lescher is not shy about what he listened to and what inspired him as a musician and songwriter. If that is not enough, then maybe the vocal hook on the song Don't Ever Fall In Love With Someone When You're Already In Love With Someone Else. Just classic.

This CD comes with two bonus tracks that include the sublime "My Tears Are Dry (Now)". which I had previously had only on a 7 inch single bought many many years ago. This song maybe worth the price of admission alone.

I know that posting about old bands with records/CDs from the 80s is not great for clicks but you just can't deny the songwriting. If you like melodic rock'n'roll, you are going to love Green.

Kelly's Heels - Dig In ! (2004)

Kelly's Heels is a UK based band that plays superb guitar based pop music. This release, on Australian-based Popboomerang Records, is a compilation of songs from their first 4 albums that spanned the years 1998-2003. I first became aware of Kelly's Heels from their association with the US based pop label Not Lame in the late 90s. Basically, if a CD came out on Not Lame, it was a must have. At the time, I am talking about the late 90s and early 2000s, guitar pop bands like this were coming out of the woodwork and the whole world was a melodic paradise.

If you have any doubts, check out Sabrina, the opening track of this compilation and the opening track on their debut Gone Off Pop ?!? Other standouts include How Much Worse? or She Knows or my personal favorite, Faded Out. While the period of 1998-2003 was a long time ago, this is still high quality pop that will bring a smile on your face even to your jaded heart in 2019. I mean, does good guitar pop ever age? I don't think so. Also, I believe this is still available from Popboomerang.

Jon Brion - meaningless

Finally got my hands on this CD after a long search. Released in 2000, this is an excellent showcase of a very talented songwriter and musician. Brion is mostly known for his work on soundtracks to films like Magnolia, Punch Drunk Love, I Heart Huckabees, and Lady Bird. However, I first became aware of Jon's brilliance was when he was a member of The Grays (along with the equally phenomenal Jason Falkner). The Grays were a blast of fresh air when there (only) LP came out back in 1994. The Grays album, Ro Sham Bo, was filled with hooks, guitars, and mature songs that hit all the right spots. Many of the songs on this album sound like they could have been part of that classic LP. I even get the same vibe when listening to this album as I did when I listened to The Grays LP (at least for the Jon Brion songs!). That is a good vibe! If you find this album, get it. Here is a taste of the song Meaningless.