Hundred-word Reviews for April 2026

I receive so much great music here at Musoscribe. CDs and LPs submitted for potential review go through my patented Smash or Trash™ evaluation process, and the ones that survive go in the queue for review. But again, I get so much music that makes it past that pole. That means that it often takes awhile – longer than I’d like, certainly longer than the artists would like – to get to it. That’s my way of explaining why the following five titles – some of which have languished on my desk since (shudder) October of last year – are just now receiving coverage here. Please don’t infer from that delay that they’re less than worthy. This is some very good-to-great music.

Various Artists – Chilling, Thrilling Hooks and Haunted Harmonies
As you can sort out without my help, this is a Halloween-themed collection. There’s a vinyl version with a nice board game, too. Set aside the undeniably gimmicky theme – nothing wrong with that – and prepare yourself for some top-notch meldoic rock by as tasty assortment of Big Stir artists. Certainly some of the tunes are kitschy and disposable (sparkle*jets u.k., for example), but even those are fun. But lovely standouts include The Corner Laughers, Librarians With Hickeys, the Spongetones, Splitsville, Lady Darkevyl and (no kidding) Strawberry Alarm Clock. Graham Parker may win the prize here, but most of it’s great.

Various Artists – Make Something Happen: Tribute to the Flashcubes
Big Stir’s stable is large, and jam-packed with artists swimming in the hooky, tuneful end of the rock pool. So it makes sense to draw from that when assembling a tribute album. I’ve long made clear my POV on tribute collections: they’re always a mixed bag, and this one doesn’t break the mold. But the Flashcubes were (and are) an important band from powerpop’s second, third or whatever wave. Oddly enough, best among the two-dozen cuts here are three by the ‘Cubes themselves. Beyond those, Pop Co-Op shine, as do the Armoires. Best is “No Promise” from Chris Von Sneidern.

Wreckless Eric – England Screaming
If all you know of Wreckless Eric is “Whole Wide World,” get with it. He remains a vital – if underground – artist who reliably turns out music that is wholly orignal yet recalls other greats. Listeners whose tastes include Graham Parker, Robyn Hitchcock, Martin Newell and Nick Lowe should proceed immediately to most any of Eric’s recent albums; 2018’s Construction Time & Demolition is a personal favorite. But they’re all top-notch, filled with razor-sharp songwriting and Eric’s inimitable style. With ace cuts like “Lifeline” and the Kinks-y “Home & Away,” England Screaming sits proudly alongside other recent titles from the man.

William Duke – Once Upon a Fruitful Lair
Duke is revered (in this quarter, at least) for his subtle, shimmering pop that displays an affection for Brian Wilson’s mid-sixties work. There’s certainly more to Duke’s music than that, but it remains a useful signpost for the uninitiated. His latest continues in that vein, with exceedingly well-arranged gems that place a high emphasis on melody. There’s a heartrending, aching melancholy quality to many of these songs, but it’s shot through with optimism. Duke brings a cinematic feel to tracks like “It’s That Time.” Once Upon a Fruitful Lair takes time to reveal its depth, but it’s time well spent.

Lande Hekt – Lucky Now
The sweet and expressive vocals of Lande Hekt suggest what Chrissie Hynde might have sounded like if she were British and possessed of more of a strong singer-songwriter bent. Shimmering acoustic and cleanly electric guitars form the center of Hekt’s arrangements, and her strong melodic sensibility provides a lovely backdrop. Hints of The La’s inform some songs, and ardent lovers of the jangling qualities of what we used to call college rock will find as much to savor here as will lovers of bedsit poesy. If the Cure were less mopey, they might sound like Hekt’s “Favourite Pair of Shoes.”