Various - Blue Skies Daisy Days

  by Anthony Strutt

published: 7 / 5 / 2009

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Review

‘Blue Skies Daisy Days’, which has been released on the American label Planting Seeds Records, is a benefit album for the San Diego-based charity, the Keep-a Breast Foundation. It has a massive 21 tracks, each from a different shoegazing or indie guitar/folk act, and combines together exclusive new material with remixes of old material. While all the tracks appear on one CD, the track listing is divided into two parts, the ‘Blue Skies’ side and the ‘Daisy Days’ side. Many of acts involved have been interviewed by Pennyblackmusic, including International Jetsetters who open up this compilation and the first ‘Blue Skies' side, with the ‘Inside Out (Remix)'. They hail from Oxford and include in their line-up Mark Crozer and Loz Colbert, who are both members of the current line-up of the reformed Jesus and Mary Chain. Loz was also the drummer in Ride. ‘Inside Out’ is fast and furious and International Jetsetters sound on it like the Teenage Fanclub at their most fiery. The Comer Laughers’ ‘Stonewords’ has a gentle flow to it and a mid 80s sound. Singer Karla Kane’s vocals should please fans of the Shop Assistants, the Darling Buds and the Primitives. San Diego trio A.M.Vibe’s ‘Superstar’ features a seductive vocal from singer Lisah Nicholson. Both it and the group’s indiepop sound are the right side of the Sundays. The Tamborines’ ‘Be Around’ was the B side of both their and the London-based label Sonic Cathedral’s debut single, ‘Sally O’ Gannon’, in 2006. It is fuzzy pop for fans of the Manhattan Love Suicides and the Primitives. 60’s-influenced Pennsylvania -based garage rock band, the Ocean Blue, have been together for over twenty years. ‘Ticket to Wyoming’ is fresh and jangly like a Postcard or early Creation Records number, and has a summer sunshine pop sound. Full of love for the world and everything in it, it is absolutely smashing, with a vocal from singer David Schelzel that recalls Richard Hawley. Fairwood Singers’ ‘Half Life’ is a strong narrative-based tale that is reminiscent of Lou Reed. The Left Outsides are London-based duo, Mark Nicholas and Alison Cotton. Both were originally in psychedelic folk act, the Eighteenth Day of May. Their track, ‘Out of Time, Out of Place’ is a cool and trendy number with hints of 60s/70s folk at its best. Color Filter with Linda Draper’s ‘All in One Day’ is 70s folk-influenced. The Loose Salute is the side band of Mojave 3 drummer, Ian McCutcheon. Their track, ‘Mutineer’, was a recent single and is bubbly and summer-filled. Californian group the Stevenson RanchDavidians’ ‘Everybody Live’ is a strong pop number with a sad feel that sounds like an acoustic Jesus and the Mary Chain on downers. New York-based band the Voyces’ ‘The Angels of Fun ‘(Acoustic) ends the ‘Blue Skies’ sides of the album and is another powerful number, something like the Magic Numbers. The ‘Daisy Days’ side opens with Loz Colbert from International Jetsetters’ ‘Rainy Days on Sunday’. This has a big pop sound and is absolutely charming and full of life. Glaswegian group the Primary 5’s ‘Happy’ again recalls the Teenage Fanclub. The See See also features ex-members of the Eighteenth Day of May and their ‘It's True Parts 1 and 2’ starts by rocking along gently in the style of Crosby, Stills and Nash. As it moves into its second part, it becomes much more psychedelic and rocky. Los Angeles band the Parsons Red Heads’ ‘Change Your Mind’ recalls a solo George Harrison, while their fellow Californians the Incredible Vickers Brothers’ ‘Blues for Franki Valli’ is banjo flavoured with husky vocals and is as fragile as early Nick Drake or Mojave 3. Nic Dalton’s ‘Domestic Bliss’ is a finely-arranged song in the true singer/songwriter tradition and Michael Barrett’s ‘Big Baby’ is again reminiscent of decent Mojave 3. John Moore is from Black Box Recorder, whom recently reformed for a few shows, and was once also in the Jesus and Mary Chain. His ‘Tired of London, Tired of Life’ is well sung and well observed. Pinkie were once on Sarah and their ‘I'm Afraid You're Just Like Me (Remix)’ reveals their twee roots. The Fischers are fronted by former Tompaulin singer Jamie Holman and their ‘Call Yourself Alive’, which ends the album and ‘Daisy Days’ side, is a fast acoustic number with enough energy to knock out most of the other competition.

Track Listing:-

1 International Jetsetters- Inside Out
2 The Corner Laughers- Stonewords
3 A.M. Vibe- Superstar
4 The Tamborines- Be Around
5 The Ocean Blue- Ticket To Wyoming
6 Fairwood Singers- Half Life
7 The Left Outsides- Out Of Time; Out Of Place
8 Color Filter Featuring Linda Draper- All In One Day
9 The Loose Salute- Mutineer
10 The Stevenson Ranch Davidians- Everybody Live
11 The Voyces- The Angels Of Fun (Acoustic Version)
12 Loz Colbert- Rainy Days On Sunday (Demo Vocal Version)
13 The Primary 5- Happy
14 The See See- It's True Pt 1&2
15 The Parson Red Heads- Change Your Mind
16 The Incredible Vickers Brothers- Blues For Franki Valli
17 Nic Dalton- Domestic Bliss
18 Michael Barrett- Big Baby
19 John Moore- Tired Of London, Tired Of Life
20 Pinkie- I'm Afraid You're Just Like Me (Remix)
21 The Fischers- Call Yourself Alive

Label Links:-

http://www.plantingseedsrecords.com/ho
http://plantingseedsrecords.bandcamp.c
https://twitter.com/psrmusic
https://www.facebook.com/plantingseeds
https://www.youtube.com/user/plantings