Three albums, 05-06-2022

Three more albums that were in fear of escaping this blog but deserve the attention. Hence, three shorter reviews putting the spotlight on Abbie Barrett, Cindy Lawson and Elephant.

I Will Let You Know. Abbie Barrett

Hailed as one of Boston's bigger talents, I was immediately attracted. Knowing what comes out of, the vicinity of, the city, what could a great talent possibly bring? Of course, I could only be disappointed. This says more of the general level of musicianship of Bostonian garage rockers than of Abbie Barrett. She treats the listener to a host of orginals and one cover, in diverse styles. The cover is a nice one. Steely Dan's 'Dirty Work' is peeled off into a mild rock song. Without the dozens of intricate, rock-jazzy layers the song remains a great song. It is in her own songs that Abbie Barrett has to prove herself, and does. With an early David Bowie inspired track called 'The Light', she really sets herself apart from garage rocking Bostonians. 'The Light' is a song that could have found its way to 'Hunky Dory' or 'The Man Who Sold The World', that weird kind of Bowie jazzy-ballad. On 'Here To Show' Abbie Barrett takes on Linnea's Garden and it is a tight match between the two artists. Assisted by Mike Oram on guitar, the song really explodes, showing off the deeper side of Abbie Barrett's voice as well. I Will Let You Know manoeuvres between the two, showing the ease with which she masters different genres. This is an album that rocks and holds back and works in all ways. I have only one complaint: a seven song album is at least two too short.

New Tricks. Cindy Lawson

Cindy Lawson in her youth was a member of punkrockers The Clams. Recently the whole discography of the band was re-released on Rum Bar Records, 'The Complete Clams', and not just for the fun of it. It appears to be a sort of package deal. Cindy Lawson returns to the recording front, "older and greyer", as she sings herself, with her first album in decades, with the apt title New Tricks. For most people The Clams will not have any meaning, as the band remained fairly obscure. I have to admit to be in this category, until recently. In 2022 that is no reason to remain indifferent to New Tricks. Cindy Lawson takes herself and the listeners on a nostalgic trip through music that was popular in her and my youth. Expect anything from 60s girl pop to Blondie punkrock. Sung with a voice that is older and wiser. As if Ms. Lawson does not believe everything she sings any more. The anger and indignation have been replaced by the wisdom of the past decades. Things get really interesting when Cindy Lawson explores the dirty side of punkrock. Listen to 'Nope' to learn what I mean. It's like scraping mud from your trousers but so extremely good. The sound is as dirty as it gets and shows the extremes to what Lawson has been exploring in her new songs. 'Let's Pretend' is another example of the depths the artist is willing to go. What a song! Recently I wrote on that great single, 'How It Feels' that if the album is as good as the single, the world should welcome Cindy Lawson's return warmly. This post comes with a warning, as she can better turn on her airco, to a moderate setting of course keeping the environment in mind. Better safe than sorry. New Tricks is quite the comeback.

Big Thing. Elephant

To start a band, discover the world has gone into lockdown and persevere to come up at the other side with a nice debut album and the option to tour. In a very concise version this is the story of Rotterdam band Elephant. In between an EP was released in 2021, 'Elephant'.

Compared to a lot of bands coming out of Rotterdam and Amsterdam for that matter, Elephant is the tranquillity itself. The band does find itself in the indie compartment of music though. Expect free flowing melodies, harmonies and southern rock riffs of the milder kind. At the same time Big Thing has a 70s West Coast singer-songwriter vibe translated into indie rock. Over this music a slight sheen of darkness has been laid, allowing for an alternative credibility. Big Thing was recorded with assistance of Pablo van der Poel (DeWolff) in his studio. His influence on the sound is noticeable in the southern sounds caught in the music. He has left Elephant totally in it own strengths thus creating the best of both worlds.

Elephant is more influenced by the U.S. than the U.K. in other words, where I make an exception for George Harrison. Listen to the intro of 'Saturday Night' and you'll know why. For most other songs bands like CSNY, Eagles come to mind, next to singer-songwriters like James Taylor. The sound is somewhere in between a band like Buffalo Tom and The Jayhawks. It all results in a record that is easy to listen to, without exclusively playing the obvious. Elephant plays an odd card in its songs regularly, making me prick up my ears.

Summing up, Big Thing is not a smash record. It is not intended to be. Expect a record that wants you to listen to it and given the chance will take you away on a relaxed musical trip with enough moments demanding your attention. With 'Calling' as the champion of Big Thing.

Wout de Natris

You can (listen to and) order the records here:

https://rumbarrecords.bandcamp.com/album/i-will-let-you-know

https://cindylawson.bandcamp.com/album/new-tricks

https://excelsior-recordings.com/products/elephant-big-thing