brian, Author at Pop Rock Nation

About brian

Tutor, parent, cat-feeder, and voice-actor Brian Block listens to too much music and glides through life mostly on the strength of his good looks. If he can see farther than others, it is only by standing on the shoulders of giants, an environmentally sound form of public transportation.

#46 album of 2012 – Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose by Beth Jeans Houghton

Artist: Beth Jeans Houghton and the Hooves of Destiny

Album: Yours Truly, Cellophane Nose

Beth Jeans Houghton writes elegant melodies that flip willingly from major to minor key and back. She sings them in a pure, trained-sounding voice with somewhat flute-like properties. She and her Hooves of Destiny accompany her songs on a wide range of instruments: the rock standards, but also frequent violin from Findlay MacAskill, and ukelele, piano, harpsichord, and a wide range of tuned percussion — […]

By brian|January 11th, 2013|Mini-Reviews|0 Comments

#47 album of 2012 – Debo Band by Debo Band

Artist: Debo Band

Album: Debo Band

Debo Band are eleven students and graduates of Boston’s Berklee College of Music — singer, guitar, bass, drums, accordion, two violins, four brass players — whose self-titled debut is my new favorite album of African-styled music, for what that’s worth. My prior favorites were Who is This America? by New York City’s Antibalas Afrobeat Orchestra and, I guess, Remain in Light by Talking Heads — as well as, oddly, one album […]

By brian|January 9th, 2013|Mini-Reviews|0 Comments

#48 album of 2012 – Runner by Winter Sounds

Artist: Winter Sounds

Album: Runner

There’s nothing too unusual about Winter Sounds’ Runner, so I’ll start with comparisons. They tend to be more rousing and uplifting in feel than the bands they resemble most; keep that in mind while mentally relating them to Big Country or For Against or Icicle Works, and you should be fine. Up to and including the ’80s-style big production, and adding the kinds of glistening keyboard sounds that guitar-bass-drums rock groups then […]

By brian|January 9th, 2013|Mini-Reviews|0 Comments

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