Phil Thornalley has been involved with many of my favorite records going
back well over 40 years. Engineering classics by The Jam, XTC, the
Psychedelic Furs and Paul McCartney, as well as producing the likes of
The Cure, Duran Duran and Prefab Sprout, among many others, and co-writing Natalie Imbruglia's hit "Torn." But I began paying closer attention after he released 2017's "Astral Drive," a not so subtle homage to his hero and mine, Todd Rundgren.
Now comes "Stacked," a new record being described as "an affectionate nod to the unsubtleties of early 2000's U.S. pop rock," which I think is hilarious, and actually, a very accurate description of what is to be heard within.
The downside for me is, much of it reminds me of Weezer and I have never been a fan of Weezer. But I really enjoyed a good chunk of it. What I liked reminded me of Mike Viola, Fountains Of Wayne and Cheap Trick. I also love that he covered "Hold Me," an old standard written by "Little" Jack Little, and covered by many including P.J. Proby and my old friend Stew Lane with his Untouchables in 1980, which is actually the first time I heard the song.
If you like what's here, you might like it all.
7 comments:
I just read an interview with him and he was indeed going for the Weezer sound.. Success?
"Success?"
I guess, if you like Weezer.
"Hold Me" is a lot of fun. And you're right -- I can hear a little Mike Viola.
I hear a *lot* of Mike Viola
A shout out to Prefab Sprout! Woohoo! He only seems to have worked on their almost hit "When Love Breaks Down" (which was #25 in the UK, while one of their weakest songs "The King of Rock n Roll was their only UK Top 10). But interesting they never worked with him again since he did his job quite well on that one track.
Thanks for this info - with these descriptions I'm looking forward to hearing this album, and even more looking forward to hearing Astral Drive
The first 2 cuts sound very much like Mike Viola. Good stuff.
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