The Explorers Club/"Grand Hotel" (EC Records/Rock Ridge)
Although a fairly fine album, their 2008 debut "Freedom Wind" was at times almost uncomfortably derivative (of the Beach Boys' so-called mid period) and one didn't really expect anything of substantial originality from those guys after that. So, file under: Fondly Remembered, then...
Not so, though. Of course they still wear their influences firmly on their collective sleeve - we wouldn't really want it any other way - but this time around they happen to be a bit more varied. The Beach Boys have been joined by Messrs Bacharach and Mendes in The Explorers Club continuing pursuit of perfect pure pop past.
And it is an overall excellent and successful mission at that. Haunting instrumentals melt nicely with melodic and nostalgic homages to timeless summers of the past, such as (of course) "Summer Days, Summer Nights" and "Run, Run, Run".
Without a doubt, in my book at least, the album of the year. Nonetheless, another close contender just happens to be...
The Beach Boys/"That's Why God Made The Radio" (Brother Records/Capitol)
OK, when the news got out that the Beach Boys were celebrating their 50th anniversary with a reunion tour as well as a brand new studio album I don't think anyone was expecting their best LP for 35 friggin' years (Since 1977's "Love You"). As a matter of fact, I don't think anyone was expecting anything much at all. Oh, but how wrong we all were...
"TWGMTR" was THE surprise of the year, as far as I'm concerned. I played this CD to bits, aptly enough, during the summer. And the icing on the cake for me personally was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the boys live in concert in Berlin in early August. My favourite band in my favourite city - Yeah!
The "boys" may longer be exactly boys, but they sure did deliver the goods - with no small help from Brian's brilliant backing band of the previous 13 years. They probably couldn't have done it (the album AND the tour) without Mr. Foskett & Co. We thank you all.
But, needless to add, it didn't last. Probably because it wasn't meant to. Nonetheless, it was great while it lasted. Mike, Brian, Dennis, Al & David....universally loved...and unexpectedly, the live band of the year.
Graham Gouldman/"Love And Work" (Rosala Records/Absolute)
A massively successful songwriter in the '60s (Penning hits for Herman Hermits, The Hollies, as well as The Yardbirds), the '70s (As a member of 10 CC), the '80s (The duet Wax with his pal, the late Andrew Gold), and the '90s (Kirsty MacColl, Madness), Graham Gouldman has always known his way around a melody...to say the least.
Personally, I've also always loved his late '70s solo-should-have-been-a-hit, "Sunburn", from the Farrah Fawcett movie of the same name...
That being said, this new album was a surprise of some magnitude to me at least. The hooks are many and infectiously memorable to boot. And there's even an irresistible, instrumental Shadows (probably an early influence) tribute, "Black Gold", thrown in for a good measure.
The record is dedicated to the memory of his Wax-pal Andrew Gold, who died in 2011.
And please take the time to check out Graham Gouldman's official website. One of my main regrets of 2012 is that I let his 10 CC concert in Reykjavík slip by me...
Susanna Hoffs/"Someday" (Baroque Folk)
Oh, Susanna's still alive! And very much so, I must add. Following 2011's fine Bangles outing, "Sweetheart of the Sun", here comes Susanna's first proper solo LP (she has done some excellent - for the lack of a better word - "concept" duet albums with another power pop icon, Matthew Sweet, in the meantime....and more to come!) since the mid '90s. And, blimey, it's her best yet!
OK, so Mitchell Froom's production is somewhat understated and it doesn't pack as much punch - or power - as we're used to from the princess of power pop, but the tunes are still there in abundance...or so to speak; there's mere 10 of them. But what they lack in quantity they make up for in quality.
