4Play: The New Year, The Bacon Brothers, New Year‘s Day, Danny Adlerman, Kevin Kam, eraad & Yosi

Dec. 27, 2009

The New Year - The New Year - TG Records
The Kadane Brothers and their bandmates offer up their first new material in several years, on which they expand on their usual three-guitar sound by adding in some piano and more balladry than before. The vocals still need a little work, as they most often recall the unique vocal sound of Lou Reed (which should be left to Reed, as he’s the only one who can pull if off with aplomb), but the songs themselves do showcase growth, and are concise and well-arranged. Standouts include “Folios,” the ‘80s-reminiscent “The Door Opens,” and the Pavement-like “My Neighborhood.”



The Bacon Brothers - New Year’s Day - Forosoco
Yes, this is the band of actor Kevin Bacon, on which he collaborates with brother Michael; but what you might not know is that Michael Bacon had a successful career composing TV and film music long before the brothers’ band began. Kevin’s caught up, though, and penned or co-penned most of the songs on this set, of which about half is fairly typical radio-rock (“Wild Life,” “New Year’s Day”); the rest offer up a couple of welcome surprises, including the cello, Irish flute, and the subject matter (a giant squid) of the quirkily-pop/rock track “Architeuthis.”



New Year’s Day - My Dear - TVT
The genre-mixing pop-punk of New Year’s Day may not be for everyone, but they did well on the Vans Warped Tour, where they drew the audience over to their side - the album’s standalone appeal, however, may take a little longer to win your ears. Singer Ash Costello’s vocals, which should serve as an interesting contrast, instead sometimes just sound like she’s trying too hard amidst the boy-dominated, heavy sound. First single “I Was Right” is the catchiest song on the set; time will tell how long it takes for this band to grow up to that song’s potential.




Danny Adlerman, Kevin Kammeraad, and Yosi - And a Happy New Year - TKAOH
As you phase out of the Christmas/Hanukkah season and on to a brand new year, you might enjoy having Adlerman, Yosi, and Kammeraad along to cheer you up and sing you into the next season. The music here is generally peppy and friendly, cheerful enough for a dreary winter day and produced crisply. The holiday songs include “Christmas on the Block,” Yosi’s version of “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and “Deck the Halls” - but once it’s time to un-deck those halls, you’ll enjoy “Wintertime is Here,” “Tikkun Olam,” and the title track, “...and a Happy New Year.”