The Angers Brothers, in bravely attempting a resurgence of the ingenuous (but nevertheless ingenious) sound of the Mersey/Moptop beat of the '60s, typified by Gerry and the Pacemakers, the Beatles, the Monkees, the Hollies, and later by David Bowie and ELO, have created a musical collage that probably won't garner much favour with today's younger, jaded, record-buyers and more's the pity.
It's the kind of album that would have been on the top of the charts in the '60s but just sounds too nostalgic coming from a veteran hard-rocker (Greg Godovitz). If he could have convinced some younger musicians to record these highly commercial, soft-pop/rock gems, the retrospective aspect would have had more appeal to any peers searching for something less negative than what is on today's market.
Apart from Greg's tell-it-like-he-sees-it lyrics (especially on the opening "Rock Star" and ensuing "Strange Girl"), it's hard to reconcile the softer musical approach of some of the other tracks with his more lascivious, hard-rockin' Goddo persona, despite their occasional sappy ballad like "Chantal". That being said, his signature vocals are perfectly synchronous for rockin' covers like the Beatles' "And Your Bird Can Sing" and Badfinger's "Baby Blue" (not the Dylan song of the same name).
Bob Segarini, who contributes lead vocals on his own composition, "Goodbye", is a musical legend who comes by this sound more naturally, actually performing on the scene in those early days. He has similarly revived the innocence, optimism and idealism of the '60s with an extended group of musicians he currently records with - The Cats and Dogs Band, which I liken to a Fleetwood Mac for the new millenium. I believe it's called "growing old gracefully", as former Bar None clubowner Steve Martino recently reminded me.
As I'm personally still in denial of entering the "elastic waistband years", as my partner so succinctly puts it, any true appreciation of these harmless and otherwise enjoyable tracks, for me, is dependent upon coming to an eventual acceptance of being "middle aged", and hopefully a light-hearted one.
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