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chorus of being there for your longtime friends . The Oasis influenced ‘ Something Like Love ” is an acoustic twee-anthem about looking forward and leaving bad memories behind . With 17 total tracks Flicker could have been trimmed by a half dozen songs to make a superbly strong solo album , but like many “ lockdown albums ,” Bell I think preferred to present it as a whole project , warts and all . The droning “ Way of The World ,” mixes a hypnotic piano and druggy horns with his mantra of life lessons (… too much living will make you wanna die ”). “ We All Fall Down ” follows a similar whimsical path with its Sgt . Pepper ’ s era organ and flute countermelodies .
There ’ s a charming demo quality to Flicker with its muted drums , layered guitars , and buried harmonies . Being a founder and sideman to some of Britain ’ s most storied and influential modern bands wasn ’ t enough for Andy Bell . We ’ re glad he gave us a snapshot into his musical self .
– John Vernon
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EDDIE VEDDER Earthling ( Republic )
The rolling sonic vistas on Earthling suggest a clean break for Eddie Vedder , easily one of the most iconic frontmen of the grunge revolution of the early ' 90s . Putting together a new band and working with a new producer , this album feels like a fresh start . Though Vedder did a solo soundtrack to the film Into The Wild in 2007 and the acoustic curio Ukulele Songs in 2011 , Earthling feels a new beginning . The larger-than-life arrangements fleshed out by Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith , interim Chili guitarist Josh Klinghoffer , and producer and multiinstrumentalist Andrew Watt go straight for the arena rock jugular . Where Pearl Jam has always felt like a band of brothers where no one necessarily needed the spotlight , the tight , concise rockers on Earthling conjure more of the crossover pop-rock of Tom Petty ’ s 1989 high watermark Full Moon Fever . The first single “ Long Way ,” sounds tailor-made for cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway and forgetting your responsibilities . Lavish orchestral flourishes courtesy of Beck ’ s father David Campbell ( who has been ubiquitous in string arranging for rock albums ever since playing the cello and viola on Carole King ’ s Tapestry ) are scattered throughout the album . Earthling also conjures the Clive Davis-led Santana comeback album Supernatural with its bigbudget guest list including Ringo Starr , Elton John , and Stevie Wonder . Here ’ s a shocking truth : Vedder is older now than Carlos Santana was when he released Supernatural . However , these collaborations are a blast ! It ’ s a real head rush hearing Stevie Wonder blowing harp on an uptempo Vedder rocker on one track and the next he is partaking in a rollicking duet with Elton John . Nothing sounds forced . The whole album feels comfortable in its own skin . One thing Eddie Vedder and Dave Grohl have in common is that they aren ’ t the tortured souls of the Cobain / Staley / Weiland camp . Instead , these are popular , likable guys who would ’ ve been successful whether doing alternative rock or if they were working in commercial real estate . Meaning that you won ’ t find the soul-searching nihilism of In Utero or Vitalogy here , just a well-honed set of crunchy rockers meant to propel the summer festival circuit . What could have been an uncomfortable attempt at relevancy instead sounds like a veteran musician showing his chops to a new generation .
– Andy Derer
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VARIOUS ARTISTS Rip It Up : The Best of Specialty Records ( Craft )
This 18-track vinyl release celebrates the 75th anniversary of Art Rupe ’ s influential Los Angeles record label Specialty Records with a high-octane collection of influential rock ‘ n ’ roll and R & B . The set kicks off with the indelible stroll of Lloyd Price ’ s “ Lawdy Miss Clawdy .” The livewire “ Long Tall Sally ” is the first of four Little Richard essentials , in addition to soul-shouter “ Tutti Frutti ,” the feral “ Lucille ,” and rowdy “ Rip it Up .” Richard ’ s full-throttled vocals and stratospheric screams on all four will remind lis-