Catchy, upbeat tunes infused with a 60s pop style and ragtime piano makes Craig Chesler’s latest CD the perfect addition to your summer music collection. A great blend of simple but poignant lyrics and smooth vocals resonate with listeners who will eagerly tap their toes to fun songs like “At First Sight” and “All In All,” and be treated to the light sound of the ukulele, banjo, and various other instruments on the 12-track album. Chesler’s music is a step back in time to an era where easy living and easy loving was part of the day-to-day, and music was simply made to be pleasing to the ears. Craig can also be found playing with Tom Clark and the High Action Boys throughout New York City, as well as solo at Brooklyn haunts like Bar 4. The album features the talent of local artists like Len Monachello, Tom Clark, Jeff Jacobson, Sal Maida, Marni Rice, Casey Shea, and more. –CM
"Uptempo" and "Pop" are by themselves two concepts that - in the business of being an indie band - can take you quite far; but if on top of that you add to the equation also comparisons to The Smiths, then the hype can get out of control. Brooklyn's Drowners have more than one similarity with Morrisey's act, and although they will surely feel belittled by such comparison, they should not, because no artists really managed to be The Smiths' worthy musical heir yet (like, for example, XTC were for The Beatles, Robin Hitchcock for Syd Barrett, and The Strokes for Lou Reed - uhm, maybe...).
The band's 3 songs debut EP features the remarkable single "Between Us Girls" (streaming below) which immediately throws us back to the days of "Meat is Murder," with the electric guitar alternating between jangly parts and arpeggios, and Welsh frontman Matt Hitt singing semi-melancholically about some girls' hair length - rather than about how big they are... The edge is slightly punkier, while the songwriting reveals an almost clinical concision (the song clocks in just under 2 minutes, with the first chorus coming in after 26" - A&R allergic to intros will dig that).
The second song, "You've Got it All Wrong," beats a similar musical path, tackling the infinite well of inspiration that (for Brits) is life at the pub, with the difference of a slower bridge, which acts as a breather for the final chorus. Final track "A Shell Across the Tongue" is the punkier of the bunch, but also the one with the least memorable melody.
This is obviously a band with enormous songwriting potential. If they'll manage to write songs as good as these and integrate their influences in a more mature and personal sound, the world can be theirs. - PDG
