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Various
Artists: Hey! Where'd the Summer Go?
Does the thought of a 24-song compilation scare you if you cant recognize any of the band names? Come on now, be honest. I know that my searches through the compilation section in any CD store are pretty much dictated by name recognition of some sort, so it took me awhile to delve into Hey! Whered the summer go?, a new release from Humblebee Recordings. The compilation showcases bands from four different continents, but quite a few artists are from Canada; and almost everyone seems capable of delivering some short and sweet pop songs. Luckily, it was more than worth it to spend some time trying out this CD, and the nice thing about digging a pop rock compilation full of brand new artists is that everything is fresh yet familiar at the same time. So, imagine a nice jangling guitar sound, some summery harmonies, and lyrics that arent really bubblegum, but are certainly of the non-confrontational variety. Sound familiar? Of course it does, but youd be surprised how nice a little pop music can be when the bands are new. Take a band from the Phillipines like Under Shooting Stars for example. Their song Clouds upon Clouds sounds as delicate as a music box, but the vocals help make it just sweet enough to win you over. Definitely a keeper. For something a bit more rock, try The Film Stills song, Smoke and Mirrors. The singer reminds me of Stuart Murdoch, but just a bit. The overall feeling of the song is still fresh to my ears. The Postal Blue pulls off a song here called Rainy Day, which sounds like a perky Cowboy Junkies song; if the Cowboy Junkies have ever written anything perky that is. Rainy Day is as close as any song on this compilation comes to being longer than four minutes, but it cuts off just in time at 3:58. Another little song I like is The Liberty Ships If I Knew the Answers. It reminds me of a number of songs, but it moves around quickly enough for subsequent hooks to distract me from nailing the band down with a direct comparison. Well, the only band I sort of recognize here is The Snow Fairies who Ive heard on another compilation, and I can say that once again they turn out another two minute pop pleaser with Some People. Speaking of fairies, Green Fairy by Miss July is another of my favorites: Ill break your wings if you promise to break my spirit, then you cant fly and I cant sing. Im not too sure why Miss July is so inclined to mutilate magical creatures, but rest assured that the music here would never let you imagine that the green fairy isnt pleased as punch to cooperate in this song. Things do get a bit more confrontational music-wise with the final song by Evie called Day of Defeat. I guess the rare presence of an amped-up electric guitar is there to remind us that all sweet summer stories come to an end eventually. So many of these songs are great, and the variable artists on the compilation make it fun to listen to the album straight through. Oh yeah, and The Diskettes song has finger-snap percussion. What else could you want really?
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