Zoomer - Songs For The Uninvited
Tracks: Hey Now, Americanz, Even The Score, Not Like You, What Ever, Don't Do It, No Easy Way Out, Nothing's What It Seems, One Baby Done,It's Over
More info: www.zoomermusic.com, www.destinomedia.com, www.zoomerart.com
Verdict (& Rating): Eclectic jangly pop (70%)
This is Zoomer's second release. His first, Maximum Plastic, was back in 1997. Other musicians on the album include Tony Brock (Rod Stewart, The Babys), Tad Wadhams ( The Babys, Sheryl Crowe) and Mary Ramsey (10,000 Manics, Goo Goo Dolls).
As you'll discover reading the rest of the review, Zoomer sits a little outside the usual description of Melodic Rock. Rather than try to summarize his style now, why don't I just move onto describing the songs and I'm sure you'll get the picture.
The opener, "Hey Now", is a jangly pop tune with a fairly catchy chorus that does a decent job of introducing Zoomer. "Americanz" is an easy going tune that has a retro feel - kinda like Mott The Hoople/Bowie does lounge jazz. More than anything else, the next tune "Even The Score", had me thinking about Grace Jones with it's spoken-style vocals and saxophone lead. "Not Like You" follows on with a jangly pop meets funk style.
It took a while, but when I listened to "What Ever", the B52's (Not that I can remember much about them apart from Rock Lobster) finally revealed themselves as the comparison that had been lurking at the back of my mind ever since track #1. "Don't Do It" follows on in a similar style. On track such a this you realize that Zoomer isn't going for an instant high with his songs and that repeated listens are required for the songs to get inside your head and make an impression. Concluding this little trio of tracks that I'd identify as the best on the album is "No Easy Way Out". It's a foot tapper with a vaguely Middle Eastern feel sitting on top of the perpetual rhythm.
I'll have to be honest and say that I kinda switch off during the next couple of tracks - "Nothing's What It Seems" and "One Baby Done". The quirky jangly pop of "Nothing's What It Seems" is too much like background music for my tastes. Whilst listening to "One Baby Done" I have found myself wondering how the track would end up if it were remixed with a heavier dance floor drum sound. It does have potential for a bit of 'buggering about' to create a Dance Floor #1. The cheesily titled "It's Over" closes the album with a fuzzy guitar sound and a saxophone adding the color.
You will have noticed that the names I used for comparison purposes to describe the tracks, aren't ones that regular Mood Swings visitors would expect to see. And indeed, this album would sit more comfortably in a cool pop album collection that a melodic rock album collection. The tracks that I enjoyed the most were actually the ones that reminded me most of the B52's.
Zoomer - Church Of The Last Resort
Tracks: Heroz, Say Hello To The MusicWhite Noise (Black Sheep)
More info: www.zoomermusic.com, www.destinomedia.com, www.zoomerart.com
Verdict (& Rating): Less eclectic, more mainstream, and a more satisfying noise to these ears (75%)
The opening track is a laid back lounge jazz affair called "Heroz" with a hint of blues and gospel thrown in. My immediate reaction is that it is better than anything I heard on the full album. Maybe that is because it is more mainstream and requires less thinking.
"Say Hello To The Music" at first reminded me jangly 80s pop merchants Lloyd Cole and The Commotions, but the chorus has a few quirky moments to make the track identifiable as Zoomer. The female backing vocals help to fill out the sound.
"White Noise (Black Sheep)" displays more melody and more of a sense of urgency than I identified on the full length album.
This shorter burst of Zoomer impressed me more than anything I heard on the full blown album.
