In this column I feature new audio releases featuring classic rock great America, power pop heroes The Spongetones and singer-songwriter Ron Sexsmith.
Title: Hearts (Omnivore Recordings)
You might like if you enjoy: Neil Young's "Harvest" and "After The Gold Rush"; America's 1974 album "Holiday"
Tell me more: The 50th Anniversary edition of America's 1975 album Hearts is glorious. The George Martin-produced album features the captivating hits "Sister Golden Hair," "Daisy Jane and "Woman Tonight." And the wealth of sonic classics extend beyond those radio favorites to include the rousing rocker "Half A Man," dreamy "Midnight," shimmering ballad "Bell Tree," Americana-styled "Old Virginia," bewitching Baroque-tinged "People In The Valley" and more. The expanded reissue also includes five previously unissued studio bonus tracks plus the audio CD debut of "Sister Golden Hair" in Spanish ("Con Tu Pelo Tan Dorado"). The colorful 12-page booklet features new liner notes by Joe Marchese (theseconddisc.com) including interviews with founding members Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell. Beckley reminisces in a new interview in the album's notes: "We learned an immense amount from them (Martin and legendary Beatles engineer Geoff Emerick) that we applied the minute we started on Hearts." Now listeners can rediscover the magic of the legendary album via an outstanding reissue out now. Information: omnivorerecordings.com.
Title: The 40th Anniversary Concert... And Beyond (Big Stir Records)
You might like if you enjoy: The Beatles, Jamie Hoover, Jason Falkner, Pugwash
Tell me more: Fans of The Beatles hungering for melodic, instantly-catchy rock will want to get a listen to The Spongetones' The 40th Anniversary Concert... And Beyond. The North Carolina-based quartet (guitarist Jamie Hoover, bassist Steve Stoeckel, guitarist Pat Walters and drummer Eric Willhelm) performs a slew of catchy originals that tap into the sound of the early Fab Four with artful aplomb across the 21-track collection. The parade of tuneful tracks includes the shining opener "Anyway Town," harmonies-anchored "Not So" and "Here I Go Again," driving "Better Take It Easy," jazzy "Little Death," captivating "Every Night Is A Holiday" and swirling "She Goes Out With Everybody" on the first half of the concert recording. Late disc highlights include the melodious "Don't You Know?," snappy "Have You Ever Been Torn Apart?," Beatlesque "Try To Please," propulsive XTC-flavored "Help Me Janie Help!" and wonderful closer "Lulu's In Love." Information: bigstirrecords.com.
Title: Hangover Terrace (Cooking Vinyl)
You might like if you enjoy: Ron Sexsmith, The Kinks, Blur
Tell me more: Canadian singer-songwriter great Ron Sexsmith is back with one of the greatest and most arresting albums of 2025 (Hangover Terrace was released on Aug. 29). Among the great cuts that combine melodic songcraft and literate insight are "Camelot Towers" (a song that examines the terrible cost of urban sprawl), the deeply stirring "Must Be Something Wrong With Her" and "House of Love," the tender baroque folk gem "Angel On My Shoulder," nostalgia-aimed rocker "Burgoyne Woods" and confessional Americana-styled "Please Don't Tell Me Why." Information: cookingvinyl.com.
Robert Kinsler
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