Cabaret of Love
Dana Countryman
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2018 Sterling Swan Records and Tapes

Going into this album I somewhat knew what to expect; superb production, smooth vocals and catchy melodies. What I wasn't expecting to hear was an album so great that I've listened to dozens of times before I could put pen to paper.

Cabaret of Love, Dana Countryman's fifth album of vocal Retro Pop, is an infectious blend of joy, love and fun. Enlisting the talents of Terry Draper and Dee Long (Klaatu), Jamie Hoover (Spongetones), Probyn Gregory (Brian Wilson's Band), Scott McPherson, Kai Danzberg, Tricia Countryman and Tim Smolens, Countryman has put together his best release to date.

Tracks range from the Rubber Soul era Beatles feel of "Just See If I Care"(featuring Jamie Hoover) to the Gilbert O'Sullivan sound on "Favorite Dream" with a stop at the beach for “Summer Sand" and the Retro Pop tour de force of "If I Had a Girl" (featuring Kai Danzberg and Scott McPherson) Cabaret of Love has something for everyone to enjoy.

Many of the album's tracks tell the tale of falling in love and watching that love grow. "The Night I Fell in Love with You" is an homage to the Four Freshman that recalls that beautiful moment when real love begins. Capturing all of the little moments that matter (and quite frankly giving away his secrets) with "She Doesn't Know" Countryman reminds us how great it feels to have that special someone in our lives

If you’d like a song so catchy that will stick with you for days try “Why Girl.” The song, a duet with Kai Danzberg, is one of the few songs on the album about a love gone bad. It tells the story in such a positive way that you don’t even realize that the protagonist has been hurt. In fact, he seems happy for the experience and is ready to move on from it.

Before the Cabaret closes with “Cabaret of Love (Reprise),” Countryman gives some sage advice to his younger self (and perhaps to us all) on knowing that special moment when you meet the love of your life. “You Better Watch Out” is a very touching tribute to that very instance when it all becomes clear.

It's impossible to walk away from a Dana Countryman album without feeling joyous and with Cabaret of Love you'll feel a warmth in your heart as you've been reminded that true love exists and does indeed flourish.
 
Cabaret of Love, table for two please.
 
Adam A Waltemire
Pop Garden Radio

Maximum Rock Stupidity
Popdudes
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2018 Not Lame Media

Michael Simmons is a genius.

John Borack rules behind the kit.

Honestly, I don’t need to say much more than that. I mean, the band has promised (threatened) to release an album for many years. They’ve released countless individual songs here and there since the early 2000’s and they could have easily just compiled those and made a solid record. What they’ve done instead is mix a handful of those songs with many that we were unaware that they’ve recorded.

While Simmons handles most of the lead vocals throughout the album, there are several other Popdudes that appear here as well. Robbie Rist, Kenny Howes, Michael Carpenter and Torbjorn Petersson each take turns up front.

The common thread in all of these tracks: The Popdude himself, John Borack. He plays drums on all but one track (and on that one he is the primary songwriter).

Michael Simmons can sound like anyone at any time. He can be Jeff Lynne (“Xanadu”) Paul McCartney (“With a Little Luck,” “Live and Let Die” and “Listen to What the Man Said”) or Robin Zander (“Hello There/On Top of the World”) at the drop of the hat. As Borack noted in the liner notes for Maximum Rock Stupidity, upon hearing the Popdudes rendition of “I Almost Forgot” Matthew Sweet himself asked “Is this me?”

The album plays like a perfect classic rock afternoon drive, if there still was such a thing. “The Logical Song” going right into “Have You Ever Seen the Rain” just makes sense.

Popdudes are not a cover band though. Oh, they could be as they certainly have the chops and deep musical knowledge to pull covers out of the air and blow you away. (Listen to “Elenore” and tell me that is better than the original.) The half-dozen originals in this collection speak volumes for what they could (and should) do for their next album.

Maximum Rock Stupidity is available with John Borack’s latest book, Shake Some Action 2.0: An Updated Guide to the 200 Greatest Power Pop Albums 1970-2017 through Good Guy Music/Not Lame Media

Adam Waltemire

Pop Garden Radio

White Lace and Promises: The Songs of Paul Williams
Various Artists

2018 Curry Cuts
 
When Andrew Curry, the mastermind behind White Lace and Promises: The Songs of Paul Williams, first publicly announced the project, I was very excited. Not because I am incredibly familiar with the works of Paul Williams (because I’m not) but because I know several artists who are huge fans of Williams and I knew that they would jump at the chance to be on this collection. I am happy to say that all of those artists are indeed on this loving tribute.

Being unfamiliar with most of the songs on the album, this was my chance to get to know music that I should have known all along. Curry and company did not disappoint.

Leading off the collection is the spectacular “Evergreen,” as performed by The Davenports. Adding bounce and excitement to the 1976 ballad from the film A Star is Born, The Davenports lead us down a very fun path that continues throughout the album. The New Empire follow with a peppy rendition of “Special to Me” that takes the song an even more theatrical direction than the original. Actually, after listening to this and the other song on White Lace and Promises that were originally from Phantom of the Paradise (Minky Starshine’s “The Hell of It”) I’d challenge Curry Cuts to release a second Williams collection covering the entire soundtrack.

Speaking of soundtracks, The Muppet Movie is well represented here. Pop super producer Andy Reed appears with a wonderful take on one of my favorite songs of all-time, “Rainbow Connection.” Imagine if Burt Bacharach and Brian Wilson decided to cover a Paul Williams song and I am certain this is what we would have heard. The Corner Laughers turn in the whimsical “Movin’ Right Along” as only they can. The wonderful Karla Kane handles the Kermit lines while KC Bowman covers the Fozzie Bear part with ease. They capture the fun of the original perfectly, keeping it quick and quirky. Brandon Schott rounds out the Muppet songs with the touching “I’m Going to Go Back There Someday” and it feels as if the song was made for him.

Many years ago, I had a very long conversation with Lisa Mychols about Paul Williams. I was very happy to see that she is involved in this tribute and her rendition of “You and Me Against the World” is quite wonderful. She handles all of the harmonies herself while Tom Richards provides the backing track. The song is a perfect lead-in for Cliff Hillis’ exceptional take on the Carpenters hit “Rainy Days and Mondays.”

The first time I ever heard “Let Me Be the One” it was actually a cover by Matthew Sweet. For years it was my personal favorite version of the song. Well that has all changed now, thanks to Michael Simmons. He takes an already classic song and adds all the right touches to make this an even more perfect song.

Other favorites include Cait Brennan’s not-so-old fashioned version of “An Old Fashioned Love Song,” Corin Ashley’s touching “We’ve Only Just Begun,” Andrea Perry’s “Fill Your Heart” (which I always thought was a David Bowie original) the rocker “To Put Up With You” by Ballzy Tomorrow and the show-stopping “The Love Boat Theme” by The Test Pressings.

Perhaps the biggest surprise for me on the album is Greg Pope’s “Waking Up Alone.” Oh, not because I didn’t know about Pope and his ability to turn in a great pop song, but because I knew nothing of the song. This was the first song from this collection that I had heard and I just couldn’t stop listening. What a great song. I went back to listen to the 1971 Paul Williams original and yes indeed this is a wonderful song from beginning to end. Pope’s cover brings it into the now and makes what would be a wonderful pop single.

For long time fans of his music, White Lace and Promises: The Songs of Paul Williams will certainly be a delight. For those who aren’t too familiar with Paul Williams, like myself, this is a great introduction to a fantastic body of work.

Thank you Curry Cuts. I’ve got some homework to do.
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Adam A Waltemire
Pop Garden Radio

Not Only Sunshine
Kai Danzberg

2019 Big Stir Records

In late 2016 I received an email from an artist that I had never heard of. In 2018, I finally opened that email.

I had missed out on two years of fantastic music from Germany’s pop wunderkind Kai Danzberg. Thankfully I was able to get in on the fun that was his 2018 release, Pop-Up Radio.

On February 1, 2019 Danzberg will be releasing his next album, Not Only Sunshine, through Big Stir Records. The album features guest appearances by Lisa Mychols, Roger Joseph Manning Jr, Dana Countryman and David Myhr.

Starting off with an homage to the Beach Boys’ “Our Prayer,” the title track “Not Only Sunshine” sets the mood for an hour of Pop bliss. “My Beautiful Day” follows, with help from fellow Pop master Dana Countryman. After hearing this track, as well as Danzberg’s contributions to Countryman’s Cabaret of Love album, I am convinced that these two could create a monster of a Pop masterpiece if they wanted to make a full album together.

The next track, “Nothing in My Head” features the fantastic David Myhr. Myhr’s bridge vocals lift the song to a new height. This is the type of song that you’ll start singing along with even before you know the words. Lullaby tones start off “Turn Away” which slowly lead to Danzberg’s vocal intro. At that point he hands the vocal duties over to the legendary Roger Joseph Manning Jr. It’s no secret that Danzberg is a Jellyfish fan and having Manning sing this song was a perfect idea. To be honest, I listened to this track several times before moving on to the next. It’s just that great.

Danzberg taps into his Michael Jackson influence on the dance track “Reach You Somehow.” I’m no dancer, but this song had me moving.

The acoustic “Empty Room” is a nice break from the high energy of the first half of the album. There are some great vocal tricks in this song and you’ll want to get cozy with your headphones on.

The tempo kicks back up with “Your Shiny Eyes” which brings up more images of Jellyfish, although as if Brian Wilson was behind the board.

The album also features “Let Me Know,” a duet with Pop songstress Lisa Mychols. This song was released as a single by Big Stir Records on November 9, 2018 and it perfectly blends the vocal styling of both artists.

To say that Not Only Sunshine is a triumph for Kai Danzberg would be putting it mildly. There is something for all Pop fans on this album, and I strongly recommend that you add it to your collection

Kai Danzberg’s Not Only Sunshine is available for pre-sale now through Big Stir Records and is scheduled for a February 1, 2019 release.

Adam A. Waltemire
Pop Garden Radio

Greetings all!

It has been several years since I last posted a blog. This time around I intend on focusing on album/song reviews. This should be fun for all of us. Well I hope so at least.

-Adam A Waltemire
​Pop Garden Radio