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<\/center>House of Love<\/strong> \u2013 She Paints Words in Red<\/em>\nIf you love the jangle of The Smiths<\/strong>, La’s<\/strong> and early R.E.M.<\/strong>, you should have known about House of Love<\/strong> in the 80s (me neither). But you have a chance now, with She Paints Words in Red<\/em>. Rocking in a knowing tuneful way that recalls some of The Church<\/strong><\/a>‘s best work (especially Guy Chadwick<\/strong>‘s intimate low-register vocals that draw favorable comparisons to Steve Kilbey<\/strong><\/a>), the band shows that it’s possible to be upbeat and low-key at the same time. Shimmering acoustic guitars and loping rhythms make this album every bit the equal of the band’s best work from the 1980s.<\/p>\n
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<\/center>Jeff Berlin<\/strong> \u2013 Low Standards<\/em>\nYes, I know that Jeff Berlin<\/strong> was once asked to join Van Halen<\/strong>. Now, why<\/em> this was, I have no idea. He’s far too talented and innovative a bass player to have sat around playing those Michael Anthony<\/strong> basslines; they could have gotten Dee Dee Ramone<\/strong>. Anyway, Berlin’s impressive chops are on display in the proper context on his new solo album Low Standards<\/em>. This is eight tracks of instrumental jazz, much of it in hard bop style. The playing is thrilling and rooted in pop-accesibility; it’s sure to please both jazz fans and those who are generally musically open-minded.<\/p>\n
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<\/center>The Blow Monkeys<\/strong> \u2013 Feels Like a New Morning<\/em>\nQuite big in their native UK, The Blow Monkeys<\/strong> scored fewer hits stateside. Inactive for 17 years, the Dr. Robert-led group picked back up six years ago. Feels Like a New Morning is tuneful, warm and frinedly, a bit like Squeeze without their level of wordplay and humor. With a high style approach that recalls both Roxy Music<\/strong> and The Style Council<\/strong>, The Blow Monkeys are less distinctive than either, but still far better than their modest success in the US charts would suggest. The album includes a bonus disc full of Dr. Robert’s solo acoustic readings of band favorites.<\/p>\n
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<\/center>Michael Stanley<\/strong> \u2013 The Ride<\/em>\nOutside the Midwest, Michael Stanley<\/strong> isn’t well known. That’s a shame. Despite having a hit in the 80s with his MSB<\/strong>, he’s never received commercial success commensurate with his talents as a singer, songwriter and guitarist. I realize that I use the work of John Hiatt<\/strong> perhaps a bit too often to provide a useful reference when highlighting quality music in a sort of heartland-America style, but once again the comparison is apt. The Ride<\/em> features great arrangements that hearken back to the days when AOR existed and was actually pretty damn good. Long-AWOL legend Bill Szymczyk<\/strong> mixed the record.<\/p>\n
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