With 2021 rapidly drawing to a close, here are some of the year's notable releases that I missed featuring earlier in the year.
Title: Spygenius Blow Their Covers (Big Stir Records)
You might like if you enjoy: The Monkees, Traffic, The Beatles, Spygenius, power pop
Tell me more: Canterbury, England-based Spygenius has released an ambitious and wide-ranging album of covers that is among the year's best. In addition to a medley of songs by Traffic and The Monkees ("Paper Sun" / "Love Is Only Sleeping"), a wealth of cuts penned and/or recorded by a slew of other classic rock and contemporary faves are featured on the 13-track set Spygenius Blow Their Covers. Among the terrific covers on the album is melodic reading of Gene Clark's "So You Say You Lost Your Baby," swirling version of Plasticsoul's "Therapy," Celtic-flavored "Griselda" and soaring run through Squeeze's "Is That Love." Late album standouts includes a snappy version of The Monkees' "For Pete's Sake," the power pop-fueled "Queen of Eyes" (a Robyn Hitchcock-penned gem), a wonderfully jazzy take on Paul McCartney's "Step Inside Love" (a song written in 1967 as the theme song of Cella Black's TV series "Cella") and magical cover of Buffalo Springfield's "Rock 'N' Roll Woman" bolstered by lush harmonies. Spygenius features the collective talents of frontman Peter Watts, bassist Ruth Rogers, keyboardist Matt Byrne and drummer Alan Cannings. Information: BigStirRecords.com.
Title: The Horses and the Hounds (New West Records)
You might like if you enjoy: John Prine, John Mellencamp, Steve Earle, Warren Zevon
Tell me more: Released back in late August, James McMurtry's The Horses and the Hounds was the singer-songwriter's first new full-length album release in seven years. Filled with songs that are expertly crafted and mine the deepest reaches of the human experience, the mix of wonderful songs includes the lovely "Canola Fields," confessional Americana rocker "If It Don't Bleed," real world-anchored literate tales "Jackie" and "Decent Man," the searing title track (featuring some terrific fret work from guitar master David Grissom) and infectious rocker "What's the Matter." The Horses and the Hounds was worth the wait. Information: NewWestRecords.com.
Title: Hits To Spare (TLAK)
You might like if you enjoy: The Beatles, Dave Clark Five
Tell me more: With renewed interest in The Beatles in the wake of Peter Jackson's outstanding "Get Back" docuseries and the band's own Let It Be deluxe reissue, why not check out The Poppermost's wonderful Hits To Spare. Glasgow, Scotland-based lead singer/multi-instrumentalist Joe Kane has magically captured the sound, songcraft and nuances of the early recordings of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr with bona fide detail. All 14 songs on Hits To Spare were written, performed and produced by Kane but sound like outtakes from the Fab Four's amazing Abbey Road sessions in the early 1960s. The rollicking "Egg & Chips" and "Yes It's True," reflective "Can't Take That Away," Lennonesque "Hits To Spare," joyful "In & Out," McCartney-flavored ballad "Get It Down" and luxurious "Ticket To Ride"-sourced "Park and Ride" are among the retro-styled jewels on the disc. Information: ThePoppermost.com.
Title: 2021 Retrospective (Big Stir Records)
You might like if you enjoy: Cheap Trick, Matthew Sweet, The Smithereens
Tell me more: A number of outstanding releases from Big Stir Records and Spyderpop Records were released in 2021. Now — as the year draws to a close — the two labels are looking back at the fruitful year with 2021 Retrospective, a 24-track sampler of the field of top-tier power pop-styled artists who issued new music over the past 12 months. The parade of tracks is strong across its marathon run; the Stan Laurels (the dreamy "Tomorrow"), Popular Creeps (the shimmering "Split Decision"), The Armoires (the tuneful "Great Distances"), Finland's The Bablers (the intoxicating "Psychadilly Circus"), Anton Barbeau (the 12-string adorned "One Of Her Super Powers"), Lannie Flowers (the chamber pop nugget "Home"), Sorrows (the driving "Christabelle") and The Speed Of Sound (enticing "Tomorrow's World") are among the diverse field of great artists whose appearance enhance the collection. Information: BigStirRecords.com.
Title: The Lyrics
Publisher: Liverlight
Hardcover: 960 pages
You might like if you enjoy: Paul McCartney, The Beatles, classic rock
Tell me more: One of the most important and highly-anticipated books of 2021, Paul McCartney's "The Lyrics" is a two-volume work featuring lyrics of 154 of his songs spanning from the late 1950s to the present day. The earliest original revisited is "I Lost My Little Girl," a song he wrote in 1956 following the death of his 47-year-old mother. "The Lyrics" includes many of McCartney's most beloved and well-known works as well as rare gems; "I Saw Her Standing There," "I Wanna Be Your Man" (a song written for Beatles band mate Ringo Starr that also proved to be an early hit for The Rolling Stones), "When I'm Sixty-Four," "Yesterday," "The Long and Winding Road," "Band On The Run," "Only Mama Knows" and "Live and Let Die" are among the classics featured in these pages. In addition, there are more than 600 images from McCartney's personal archives — including handwritten lyrics, letters, photographs and memorabilia. There is a fantastic forward penned by McCartney that really provides a clear picture how the artist's life has been both chronicled and transformed by his songwriting. His first-person commentaries provide compelling insight into the creation of each of the songs. As McCartney notes, "What made The Beatles such a great band was that no two tracks are the same." What "The Lyrics" further proves is how amazing McCartney's songs are from throughout his long and singular career. Information: wwnorton.com or BarnesAndNoble.com.
Robert Kinsler
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