Kick-Ass Pop from Chicago

When I think about the development of my music taste, I can notice at least one thing: it is getting more and more hard rock -oriented! It can be stated that 2011 was my first big hard rock year. It can get bigger, though... Meanwhile, I still enjoy power pop just as much as before. And when it comes to just about any kind of music, I can be really slow. I got this album more than a year ago and not until now I can say that I have found the essence of it. I am talking about The Webstirs album So Long, released in 2009.

Sometimes the Webstirs sound like Weezer, sometimes like KISS or the Beatles, sometimes even 80s ELO. All the time they sound like an excellent pop rock band with music that is not really bubblegummy or candy-coated but melodically it definitely is pure candy. Every song is fantastic and memorable, and for some time I didn't feel like listening to anything else because So Long sounded so good. Excellent songs and sounds, solid performance and well-written lyrics make a gorgeous music experience.

There is also of course the thing about the Effingways. The Webstirs are also the Effingways, with the difference that Doug from the Sun Sawed in 1/2 takes care of the lead vocals. And what do I think about Doug? Don't even get me started, he is the greatest singer in the universe! I hope to hear an album by the Effingways in the future. Doug actually sings background vocals on So Long and you can hear him very well. At first I was a bit confused but... He sounds awesome and this definitely adds to the quality of the music.

Here is Wesley Station, a video that I already posted here a long time ago but here it is again. I don't think it is the best song of the album but it definitely is good. The last time I checked the entire So Long album could be listened to on Spotify.

The Webstirs at MySpace

Webstirs Video “Wesley Station”

Check out this video from Chicago band The Webstirs. It was released quite recently – in September if I’m correct. It is their debut video and a really nice tune. Flowers, listening to vinyl LPs, power poppin’ hooks… It’s a combination of summer and the feeling of a great band playing live in your living room. Trumpets are of course very hip, too. Someone said that everything sounds better with horns. Can’t argue with that!

I really should listen to this band more – I intend to do just that. The material on MySpace sounds very good. I don’t know much about the Webstirs, except that there are some fabulous guys in the band, and that they have fabulous friends... Well, I’m already starting to get into the music as I’m listening to them now. Geez, I really dig the sound of Big Break. And What Do You Believe. Awesome!



The Webstirs website
The Webstirs on MySpace
The Webstirs Facebook fan page

My New Favorite Band!

This stuff should interest anyone who likes The Sun Sawed in 1/2. It might actually sound very good to anyone who likes melodic pop music – why not? For me, this is the coolest music there is. As I’ve already stated a couple of times in great detail, I’m somewhat addicted to Doug Bobenhouse’s vocals. I’ve become a real The Sun Sawed in 1/2 enthusiast during the past year, so I was very, very happy to find out that my favourite singer had started a new band called The Effingways, and he is writing the songs too!

At the moment, there are three songs at MySpace: Memories of Doubt, Polly Chromatic, and Two By Two. They are all good, and when the full-length album comes out, I’m not gonna miss it. Doug’s songs are very interesting because they don’t sound like Tim Rose’s compositions but the gorgeous sound of The Sun’s lead vocalist is present.

The Sun Sawed in 1/2 really should make more music. It’s been eight years since the last Sun album, so it surely is about time they got something new (besides side/solo projects) going on. I’m convinced that the band hasn’t yet shown everything – there really could be more excellent pop albums by The Sun Sawed in 1/2. The quality of the group’s work has been very high since the early stages of their career. Tim Rose’s first solo album Fresh Mowed Lawn from 2006 showed that he still has full capability of capturing magic in his music (I should praise that album soon).

There are so many things to look forward to! That is so great. If there wasn’t anything to wait for, life would be much more boring.

The Effingways at MySpace