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Novelty Island — How Are You Coping With This Century?
(Bandcamp Think Like a Key TLAK1123, 2021, CD / LP / DL)

by Henry Schneider, Published 2022-04-11

How Are You Coping With This Century? Cover art

So, How Are You Coping With This Century? Just ask Liverpool multi-instrumentalist Tom McConnell, AKA Novelty Island. and he will tell you in 12 different songs. Being from Liverpool, guess who immediately comes to mind? There is a strong resemblance to Paul McCartney and John Lennon in the songs, harmonies, and lyrics, along with a number of other more contemporary influences, be it the country rock of “Cowboy on a Bicycle,” the neo pop psych of “Michael Afternoon,” or the jangle rock of “Jangleheart.” The Beatles’ influences from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely heart Club Band, Magical Mystery Tour, and the White Album percolate throughout. And I detect a nod to Marc Bolan on “Turtle Rock.” I do particularly like “Blackcurrant Sky” with Max Clilverd on pedal steel guitar, that contributes a dreamy pop psych vibe to the slightly out-of-tune dancehall piano and the references to “Golden Slumbers” and “Carry That Weight.” McConnell knows how to craft a two-to-three minute psych pop song. And the 33 minutes fits in the format of the late-60s / early-70s albums. The entire album is new, yet feels like a warm blanket of familiarity integrating cello, harmonium, brass, and banjo. How Are You Coping With This Century? is a welcome relief from today’s current events and the complexities of life.

Filed under: New releases, 2021 releases

Related artist(s): Novelty Island

More info
http://noveltyisland.bandcamp.com/album/how-are-you-coping-with-this-century

 

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