(Indie Rock) The Bye Bye Blackbirds - We Need The Rain - 2013, MP3, 320 kbps

Singer/songwriter Bradley Skaught brings a terrific power pop vision to the newest album from The Bye Bye Blackbirds. The Bay Area band has been considered “thinking man’s rock and roll” often compared to Sloan and Big Star. The opener “All In Light” is darn near perfect start with big hook filled riffs in the Cheap Trick vein, then “Like A Thief” reminds me of a Posies tune with its cynical lyric in the chorus, “don’t ever, ever pray for love.” The wicked riffs lead “Butterfly Drinks” and then the slightly Beatlesque “Brand New Sitting Still” offers up a sunnier outlook on relationships.
Each song is carefully produced and the musicianship is top shelf here, without a dud track to be found. That said not everything sticks right away either, but the harmonies on “Waiting For The Drums” are amazing and the deliberate paced guitar on “Secret Ride” recalls Richard X Heyman. The band also does a rocking cover of Free’s “Broad Daylight” and tries a go at “Spin Your Stars,” a Neil Young styled mid-tempo roots rocker. Highly Recommended.