![](\"http:\/\/musoscribe.com\/images\/brad_brooks.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHere\u2019s another installment in my occasional series of capsule reviews, generally covering indie releases. My self-imposed limit for this particular exercise is 100 words on each album.<\/p>\n
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Brad Brooks \u2013 <\/strong>Harmony of Passing Light<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n Jeff Litman \u2013 <\/strong>Outside<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n Leigh Glass & the Hazards \u2013 Something in the Water<\/em><\/strong> Mental 99 \u2013 <\/strong>Mental 99<\/strong><\/em> <\/p>\n The Night Hours — <\/strong>The Night Hours<\/strong><\/em>
\nSomehow the name and the cover art led me to think this would be c&w singer\/songwriter stuff. Lesson: don’t judge an album by its cover. There’s twang here for sure, but it’s as likely as not to come from an electric sitar. Making highly accessible, appealing music of the sort that recalls John Hiatt<\/strong> and Nick Lowe<\/strong>, Brooks’ album is a hooky, catchy affair that folds in r&b, soul and rock influences; he sounds a bit like a modern day Box Tops<\/strong>. \u201cCalling Everyone\u201d deserves hit status, and the other ten expertly-played and -arranged tracks are pretty swell, too.<\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/musoscribe.com\/images\/jeff_litman_outside.jpg\")
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\nLitman’s background in jazz and classical music is belied by the Tom Petty<\/strong>-esque harmonic sway of tracks like \u201cOver and Over,\u201d possessing a strong pop sensibility with jagged rock edge to balance the high melodic content. Litman’s slight southern twang and mastery of what John Lennon<\/strong> called the \u201cmiddle eight\u201d place his music in that area between the grand tradition of midtempo rock, powerpop and modern Wilco<\/strong>-styled alt-country. Many songs have that vaguely familiar but can’t-quite-put-your-finger-on-it quality. Elsewhere there are shades of Gin Blossoms<\/strong>, Todd Rundgren<\/strong><\/a>, Mike Viola<\/strong><\/a> and (of all things!) Jellyfish<\/strong>, <\/em>all<\/span> <\/em>making <\/span>Outside<\/em> a distinct pleasure.<\/span><\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/musoscribe.com\/images\/leigh_glass_water.jpg\")
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\nDonny and Marie Osmond may have sung \u201ca little bit country \/ a little bit rock’n’roll,\u201d but in practice, much of what passes for country-rock isn’t satisfying to fans of either camp. But on Something in the Water<\/em>, Leigh Glass & the Hazards aim squarely for that few-man’s-land in between; they assertively, defiantly stake a claim to a southern-fried rock reminiscent of Delaney and Bonnie<\/strong>. Glass’ vocal delivery is of the out-front, belting style (her pipes are mixed way out front on this record), and while this isn’t a guitar-fest, most songs are anchored by a catchy, memorable riff.<\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/musoscribe.com\/images\/mental99.jpg\")
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\nDawn Richardson<\/strong> drummed with Four Non-Blondes<\/strong>, among others. Guitarist Tom Gore<\/strong> worked with PJ Harvey<\/strong> and Courtney Love<\/strong>. That varied pedigree may explain the endearingly oddball yet accessible Mental 99. Groove-oriented poppy instrumental pieces built around catchy licks and riffs, the songs are fascinating and densely layered. But here’s the surprise: all the tracks were cut live in the studio with no overdubs. The originals \u2013 especially the Fripp<\/strong>ery of \u201cRobot Bible Camp\u201d \u2013 are great, but \u201cLove is Blue\u201d \u2013 one of four well-chosen if left-field covers \u2013 is the standout track. They’re an act to follow.<\/p>\n![](\"http:\/\/musoscribe.com\/images\/night_hours.jpg\")
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\nPurveyors of pretty baroque chamber-pop, The Night Hours<\/strong> are a seven-piece group based in Chicago. A melacholoy vibe pervades their songs, imbued as they are with sorrowful sawing of violins and cellos. Sarah Katheryn<\/strong>‘s voice is ideally suited to the varied songs. There are sprightly, upbeat tracks (\u201cTwo Young Girls\u201d) that benefit from a rock sensibility applied to some decidedly non-rock music. \u201cAfterglow\u201d has a slinky nightclub-meets-spy-theme ambience. \u201cLa Danse Apache\u201d is built around a gypsy feel. \u201cShutter\u201d is a piano-centric dramatic number. This delicate and moody music would be well-suited to an intimate, candlelit live reading.<\/p>\n
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