Bravin

Artist: Bravin

Title: New Blood      

Format: Vinyl EP

Year: 1986

Songs: 4

Label: Airplay International Records

Style: AOR

Bravin were slick looking foursome operating out of Southern California.  Side 2 has the long winded ‘Surrender’ which employs vocoder voice effects and keyboard programming trickery is the album standout.  The vocalist struggles with his range abilities on the sappy ‘Forever’, however there is some decent guitar riffing that helps the song limp to the finish line finally.    

TOTAL CONTROL

Artist: TOTAL CONTROL      

Title: Self Titled       

Format: 7” Vinyl EP

Year: 1987

Songs: 4

Label: Domination Records

Style: Metal

Unknown private metal one off.  The standout is the big choruses in ‘We’re The Ones’.  Lots of guitar licks and heroics in ‘Lost Soul’ and doom ridden ‘Meltdown’.  

IRONING MUSIC

Artist: IRONING MUSIC

Title: Self Titled

Format: Vinyl EP

Year: 1985

Songs: 4

Label: Self Released

Style: Synth Wave

In original form, this 4 song EP is exquisitely rare, but fortunately it has been reissued recently via Medical Records.  A great minimal synth wave jaunt with mostly female led vocals.  The additional demo songs added to the reissue are pretty good, especially the funky ‘Questions’.   A must have for private minimal synth wave collectors.  

JUNKERS

Artist: JUNKERS

Title: Self Titled

Format: 7” Vinyl EP

Year: 2010

Songs: 4

Label: Gen Pop Records

Style: Garage Rock  

Obscure indie garage rock band from Baltimore.  Garagey, edgy and cool.   

ADMIRAL 10

Artist: ADMIRAL 10  

Title: Too Good To Last

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1985

Songs: 9

Label: Dolce Records

Style: AOR

Admiral 10 was an obscure local rock band based out of Vestal, NY.  The band played a hybrid AOR/new wave sound with saxophone and even trumpet work.  They actually pull it all together and craft some intriguing tracks. The pop rocker opener ‘Shadow Of A Doubt’ has a crafty chorus melody.  ‘Start Again’ opens with catchy keyboard work and then works in sax and a solid guitar riff.  ‘Seeing Is Believing’ is an album standout with lots of solid AOR formula sounds.  Side B’s opener ‘Going To The Movies’ changes things up with its gimmicky/quirky lyrics and that continues with new wave Timbuk 3 sound alike ‘What Did I See In Her’.   Album closer is a hybrid of new wave, Westcoast AOR and jazz – and it works!

B.B. SPIN

Artist: B.B. SPIN

Title: Try To Beat The Heat 

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1983

Songs: 9

Label: Cactus Records

Style: Roots Rock

Johnny Moe was the leader of this six member outfit who played a saxophone led Roots and R’n’B modern rock. 

ACCOMPLICE

Artist: ACCOMPLICE 

Title: Self Titled       

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1981

Songs: 10

Label: Accomplice Music

Style: West Coast AOR

Female led duo out of Europe. They pumped out this private album and vanished into the cut-out bins.

CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

Artist: CRIME AND PUNISHMENT

Title: Shelter Me      

Format: 12” Vinyl Single

Year: 1987

Songs: 2

Label: 2 Big Records

Style: New Wave Rock

What do you get when you smash together Simple Minds and U2 on the indie scale – these guys Crime and Punishment.  Big melodic arena new wave rockers galore – solid stuff all around.  

STORMY GREY

Artist: STORMY GREY

Title: For Future Reference

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1990

Songs: 10

Label: Resonance Records

Style: AOR

Stormy Grey was a mysterious trio that operated in and around the Chicago, IL area.  Their dark obscured pictures are also grayed out on the back of the cover.  Album standout ‘Psychological Circle’ is a galloping hi-tempo alternative rocker with pounding drums and an extended run time.  On ‘Complete Surrrender’ they crank things up with crunchy guitars, an almost sermon-chant like chorus and a prominent organ refrain.  Baby crying sounds can be found on the oddly arranged ‘Storms And Lullabies’.  Westcoast feel good AOR melodies, complete with Saxophone, come out to play on ‘Forever Yours’.  Keyboard drenched closer ‘Unto You’ has a cool atmospheric progressive feel. 

SWEET TOOTH

Artist: SWEET TOOTH

Title: Electric Magic  

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1989

Songs: 10

Label: White Rabbit

Style: Hard Rock

UK’s Sweet Tooth formed from their previous incarnation as Beggars Farm.  The group consisted of a power trio of sorts and led by ALGE, a songwriter of true originality.  In 1984 a debut privately pressed album called ‘The Depth Of A Dream’ was issued in limited quantities.  They had a progressive psych vibe.  By 1986, the band had changed their name to Sweet Tooth and adopted a more mature sound of melodic hard rock.  The hard rocking ‘Electric Magic’ was created and promptly received favorable reviews throughout Europe. 

THIRD PERSON

Artist: THIRD PERSON

Title: Selft Titled      

Format: Vinyl LP

Year: 1988

Songs: 10

Label: RYLEH Records

Style: AOR  

Third Person was an indie band formed by Steve and Tom Greeley in Boston, MA and was notable for having former Atlantics lead guitarist Fred Pineau in their lineup.  Catchy up-beat indie rock with pop sensibilities along with strong saxophone work.  Standout Tracks: Power pop undulations and killer sax work in ‘Dreamin About You’, the catchy AOR of ‘Commit Yourself’, the uplifting chorus and sax work in ‘Up, Down, All Around’ and the emotive closer ‘The Wheels Are In Motion’.

MADHOUSE

Artist: MADHOUSE

Title: Self Titled       

Format: Vinyl EP

Year: 1985

Songs: 5

Label: Madhouse Records

Style: AOR

Female fronted AOR indie band out of Uvalde, TX.  Nice uptempo keyboard friendly tunes with an emotive female vocal delivery.