Dead Professional is the 2013 project for Virginian singer/songwriter John Harouff. Previously compared to Big Star and Nick Lowe, Dead Professional creates old-school pop with the help of vocal processors and rudimentary drum loops. His new song ‘Don’t Be Cruel’ can be streamed below.
Tag Archives: singer songwriter
JUSTIN KLINE – Doormat EP
Justin Kline’s first full length album ‘Cabin Fever Songs’ marked a departure from his earlier EPs, shifting from sun-filled power pop to introspective, mostly acoustic songs with a home recorded quality. While the introspective songs undoubtedly helped exorcise a few demons, he received mixed reactions for the record.
Brendan Benson returning to the UK
Cult singer/songwriter Brendan Benson has announced four UK appearances for the end of August 2013. Fans can catch the sometime member of The Raconteurs at the following venues:
JEFF LYNNE – Armchair Theatre
In 1987, Electric Light Orchestra head honcho Jeff Lynne sat in as producer with ex-Beatle George Harrison on his hugely popular ‘Cloud Nine’ album. The combination of Harrison’s gift for pop melodies and Lynne’s very distinctive production sound (often revolving around filtered harmony vocals and a gated snare drum leading to a very compressed sound) led to the album being a multi-million seller. The sessions also gave birth to the greatest supergroup ever – The Traveling Wilburys, comprising Harrison, Lynne, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison. While some people overlook Lynne’s contribution to the group, it is his studio expertise which, perhaps, brings the most to what we now think of as the “Wilbury sound”.
ESA LINNA – This Is Who I Am
In the summer of 2012, Finnish power pop musician/singer-songwriter Esa Linna released the ‘She’s Not A Human Being’ EP, gaining a few positive notices from genre-specific websites. On the plus side, Linna more than proved himself in the musical department by playing a variety of instruments himself, while the presence of ex-Jellyfish man Roger Joseph Manning Jr gave things a definite lift. Less fortunately, the vocals were often a little flat. Viewing that EP as a sample of future things, is his 2013 record ‘This Is Who I Am’ stronger?