Reviews for 'Everybody Comes and Goes'
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George Graham from WVIA reviews the new Smash Palace CD!
Originally aired on NPR station WVIA in mid-December, 2007, George Graham
gives an awesome in-depth review of the upcoming
Smash Palace release, Everybody Comes and Goes.
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First Impressions
Smash Palace, Everybody Comes and Goes (out a couple of
weeks ago): A power-poppish band with a 28-year pedigree,
Smash Palace still has the spirit and exuberance necessary
for this tough-to-pull-off style. Nice story in persistence,
too.
~Ken Barnes, USA Today
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Top 10 of 2008 Candidate!
Steven Butler and the rest of Smash Palace of New Jersey,
have done a smashing job here. Inspired by the Beatles, Kinks
and Tom Petty this album is pretty catchy and near perfect.
It's full of great musical composition, appealing vocals
and crunchy Brit influenced guitars that are ever present
throughout the album. The traditional computer-free approach
suits them fine and this is the purest power pop disc I've
heard all year. The melodic hooks will stick to your brain
faster than peanut butter sticks to the roof of your mouth. "She" begins
with the classic Monkees jangle intro and builds to an awesome
chorus."Didn't Anyone Tell You" has a bit of Split
Enz meets The Grip Weeds. The great guitar work continues
with "Dressed in Black" and "Is this a Dream?" is
a dreamy mid-tempo love poem. "Just Like You" will
drive the Tom Petty fans into a "Full Moon Fever" and "Hoping" follows
that template with a Ray Davies' like vocal narrative. "Caroline" strays
into a somber blues study that could fit on an Allman Brothers
record. A smooth cover of George Harrison's "I Want
To Tell You" rounds out this fantastic release. This
makes my top ten 2008 early, I guess Wisely isn't alone this
month!
~Aaron, www.powerpopaholic.com |
POWER POP AT ITS BEST!
Wow! I can't think of any other power pop trio that gets
a bigger sound than Smash Palace. This is the band's finest
disc yet ... building on a strong resume of previous "under
the radar" releases. You will hear elements of classic
rock from the past four decades in their songs; in addition,
there are nods to fellow indie pop artists like Diesel Park
West (featuring that other guy named Butler - John) and the
Grip Weeds. The chiming song "Hoping" even sounds
like the lost track from the same Tom Petty album that featured "Listen
To Her Heart." Smash Palace opens this disc with the
catchy original tune "She" and the band ends this
disc with a nod to the Beatles/George Harrison on their excellent
version of "I Want To Tell You." From start to
finish, there is something for everyone who enjoys power
pop and pop/rock on this terrific new disc.
~Eric Sorenson |
Their latest (and possibly greatest) brings together many
original members of the band as well as some guest appearances
by members of Quincy, the Butler brothers first band who
in 1980 released an LP on Columbia Records.
"What
an apt title for one of my first faves of 2008! In 1999,
Smash Palace rose like a phoenix from the ashes of Quincy,
whose label just never knew what they had in talented brothers
Stephen and Brian Butler, coming back, modified and better!
Now a non-touring member, Brian is still Stephen's
main songwriting collaborator and chips in backing vocals
demonstrating that, from the Everlys to the Wilsons to the
Butlers, nobody harmonizes like brothers! Stephen handles
not only lead vocals but also lead guitar effortlessly. Dyanne
DiSalvo is a perfect rhythm guitarist, her rich chords supporting
Stephen every step of the way, and Phil Rizzo's bass
adds clever, subtle touches at opportune moments. Stephen's
also written a tremendous new song with Gerald Emerick called
'Is This A Dream?' which, in an era of FM radio, would
be a sure-fire hit. I also luv 'She,' whose opening, Beatlesque
guitar figure segues into a chugging rocker a la Matthew
Sweet's 'Divine Intervention'; the Split Enz-like 'Didn't
Anyone Tell You?' in which Stephen pleads, 'Leave me here
with my old records/my Kinks and my Stones'; and 'When You're
Down,' which drones and drawls a la Lennon. Some cool doses
of Moog here and there, too! These Yanks from South Jersey
who've wowed Liverpool crowds at the Cavern Club during
more than one IPO, top off the disc in style with George
Harrison's "I Want To Tell You." Now,
The Baron wants to tell you: Smash Palace is FAB! - Stephen
Butler's guitar playing is a real highlight - with lots of
jangle, twangle, and crunch!
~Baron Saturday |
I TOTALLY love the new CD! And coming from someone who
hears as much music a week as I do, that's no veiled
compliment! At least 3-4 tracks are definites for airplay
on my shows. We need to get you out on the west coast for
a live performance soon!
~Dennis "the Menace" Scheyer,
Just Another
Menace Sunday on KUSF |
You know what impresses me most about the latest Smash
Palace? BESIDES the wickedly assured playing and gloriously
computer-free recording throughout?
Why, it was/is the SONG WRITING, (stupid)!
The key to all great Pop and/or Rock, of course, and something
none of us ever hear
hardly enough anymore you know...
~Gary 'Pig' Gold
www.garypiggold.com |
Just listened to your new disc! I was blown away! I can't
believe the Beatles tune! It's the best Beatles cover
I've ever heard, and I think they'd all be very impressed
and proud. My other faves are Just Like You, Is This A Dream,
and Hoping. But it's early! I just got it! --haha! Thx again!
Great job to all of you! I can't wait to start airing it!
~Gene Godfrey,
WBZC |
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