Rob Fahey and Greg Marsh - Greyt Christmas

Rob Fahey & Greg Marsh - Greyt Christmas

In full disclosure, before I write this review, I should come clean. I consider Rob Fahey to be a close friend and I recorded the second track included on this disc.

I first heard “Greyt Christmas” as a rough demo without a chorus. I will admit, at that point it wasn’t my favorite Fahey track, but I felt it had potential. A week after that, Rob and Greg flew out to California to record the version that opens this single. I was surprised upon hearing a rough mix because it sounded like a different song! The choir effect on the chorus was a little jarring at first, but by the third listen, I loved it. The song was inspired by the greyhounds they have rescued and a few of the dogs’ racing names are mentioned in the lyrics.  As a matter of fact, all the money from this project is going to two greyhound associations. It’s worth buying for that reason alone, but the song itself is another Fahey classic. The second track is a solo Rob Fahey live recording of “Carol Of The Bells/Greensleeves” that starts off with a little improv. I record most Rob solo shows I attend and I also shoot video. I had a junk camera at the time, but with soundboard audio, I posted the video anyways. Rob fell in love with this version immediately and when he asked me to use it on this single, I was honored. There is so much going on that it’s hard to believe it’s only one person on the recording. Rob had previously released a studio version of “Greensleeves” in 2010 on his Christmas Card EP. The third track is a rocking version of “Joy to The World,” with vocals by Greg Marsh and backing from Rob Fahey and the Pieces. Recorded at The Deep End Studio with Tony Correlli, it is a fitting conclusion to this excellent single.

With a greyt cause behind it, I can’t recommend Greyt Christmas highly enough. 

Bertling Noise Laboratories - Matilda and 12 Others

Bertling Noise Laboratories - Matilda and 12 Others

Nick Bertling is best known as a drummer for many local acts (Never Never and Alto Verde, just to name two) and I’m sure the quality of this release will surprise many that have come to know of him from his time behind the kit.  Matilda and 12 Others shows the many sides of this accomplished musician.

Beginning with the sound of a scratchy record followed by a “George Martin moment”, Nick Bertling kicks off his debut solo release in a fashion that will follow throughout the whole of the album. It’s like a game of spot the influence. Taking cues from similar one man band artists, such as Paul McCartney and Todd Rundgren, Nick Bertling plays all of the instruments on this masterful debut, tracking all but the drums in his home studio. Once the crunchy Neil Young-ish guitar riff of “Time To Cry” begins, you know you’re in for a treat. It continues with the Badfinger-esque “Good Morning.” I’m not going to make comparisons for every track, but Nick wears his influences on his sleeve. Just when you think this is a just a power-pop record, Bertling switches up styles again. “I Can’t Find My Mind” switches from the ‘70s sound to a more ‘80s sound, then we reach the first ballad, “Would You Be So Inclined.” All of the ballads are moody, “It’s Not Funny,” “Figure Eight,” and “Bits and Pieces.” Though there is no language warning, I will give a heads up that there is a “f bomb” in “I Bet She Thinks.” I didn’t even notice it the first time around, as it is sung so sweetly, the way only Elliott Smith used to do. “Baby Talk” is a great throwback with a wonderful replication of the classic Motown sound and “Not Sure Yet” is a great guitar driven tune. One thing I caught the first time I listened to this album is that it all flows together, but not like a Moody Blues record that segues every track. This album has more of a Todd Rundgren aesthetic.  When a song is done it just ends and another starts without a pause.

Bertling Noise Laboratories debut release is another highly recommended release. There’s literally something for everyone on this album as Bertling throws in everything but the kitchen sink. He is currently working on the follow-up and I can’t wait to see what he has in store.

(Post Script: There is also an ambient Bertling Noise Laboratories release entitled Installation Piece No. 1, but I don’t consider it a proper follow-up as it’s meant for sleep and study. A little snippet of it can be heard on Matilda as the intro to “Not Sure Yet”).

Bertling Noise Laboratories on the net:

Bandcamp (Stream the entire record here!)

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Jacob Panic - Pop-Grass

Jacob Panic - Pop-Grass

First off, if you dig the folkish Americana of bands such as Mumford and Sons and the Avett Brothers, stop reading and purchase this CD.

Jacob Panic’s second album Pop-Grass opens with the fantastic “Hold Your Freight Train” and the album title describes exactly what you’re going to get.  Not exactly pop, but not exactly bluegrass either. Panic plays all the instruments on this acoustic album, but the real standout instrument is the banjo, which he is seen with on the cover. He is a very skilled banjo player, having won The Stelling Banjo Scholarship to Pete Wernick’s Advanced Banjo Camp back in 2012. The disc contains 13 songs, all original compositions with the exception of Leiber/Stoller’s classic “Ruby Baby,” which came about after Dion himself happened to be wandering through Fell’s Point and heard Jacob Panic covering the song (and ended up staying for the whole set). This is a tribute of sorts, as Dion recorded the hit version in 1962, peaking at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

For those more interested in the bluegrass aspects of the album, check out “Mason Dixon Woman,” “More Than Me,” and “Come Around.” For those who are more into pop, check out “Stop Breaking My Heart” and “One Of These Days,” but don’t get me wrong, you can also hear the bluegrass influence loud and clear. For the perfect blend of both, look no further than “Jenny Cline,” which happens to be one of the standout cuts on this disc. “Wax On Ice” is probably my favorite track on the album and it also happens to be the angriest sounding banjo song that I have personally heard. It oozes the vitriol of a young Elvis Costello without reminding me of him in anyway except attitude.

This album was my introduction to Jacob Panic, but I will definitely be backtracking and checking out his debut album. Even though I have not heard the debut, I think it is safe to say that there was no sophomore slump. Panic is a great singer/songwriter and a talented multi-instrumentalist. This is just a solid disc from start to finish. Highly Recommended.

You can find Jacob Panic on the web at:

Bandcamp (Stream the entire album here!)

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Or you can purchase a physical copy of Pop-Grass at Trax On Wax!