Tag: sea pinks

Neil Brogan Drops Line Check

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I’m an avid Neil Brogan fan, ever since his days in Girls Names and following through to Sea Pinks, etc. Last year he dropped Yrs Truly, and it looks like he’s got something springing up this year with Neil Brogan and Band. This is a frantic little number with these jittering guitar lines that jump back and forth across the mix; it sort of feels like the ghost of Elvis Costello’s early work, so the ATH team is definitely here for that. Lyrically, it’s simplistic, and perhaps it’s just a fun way for Neil to introduce new tunes and a new line-up…we’ll keep you posted as we hear more.

Neil Brogan Drops New Album

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Long ago I fell in love with Sea Pinks, which was a new-ish project at the time for Neil Brogan; I wrote about the band as much as I could, always charmed by their angular bits. The last few years, however, Neil’s been going it solo, and he just released an excellent album full of new songs he’s recorded at home over the last year. Not one of the 12 songs reaches over 3 minutes, so you get in and out of the listen in just over 30 minutes, with a mixture of upbeat ditties and more casual pop rock. I think my favorite, upon my first few listens, has to be “All We Know,” ringing in crisp guitars to guarantee I’d be hooked. Brogan’s just going about writing magical songs, so be sure to spend your morning listening to Things Keep Getting in the Way.

Stream Neil Brogan’s Magnolia Day LP

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I’ve been a longtime follower of Neil Brogan, since his time in Girls Names throughout his work with Sea Pinks, so of course its time to shine on his most recent offering from the weekend, Magnolia Day. I’ve covered a few singles, but I’m really impressed with how strong this collection of songs is upon my first few listens. Always one to toy with melodies, I think I was really stuck on the album when I came to “Broken Record;” he plays with a few notes here, holds a few there, and it explores his willingness to push his sound. Currently, I’m stuck on “Between Two Trees,” though “Green Recovery” seems to tie into the influence of Spring and nature on Brogan’s songwriting for this album. Whatever. Just enjoy.

Neil Brogan Shares Holiday from Myself

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One of the many perks of Bandcamp Fridays has been seeing all these incredible artists take advantage of the situation to make up for lost touring revenues by dropping new songs outside of the traditional album cycle, like the most recent tune from Neil Brogan. I’ve always loved his work, as this web site can surely vouch, and while I’ve been a fan of his previous works with Sea Pinks, his solo work over the last year’s been equally as exciting. This particular tune has this great little chorus that oddly reminds me of Pete Yorn at his best, brandishing pop rock troubadour hooks you’ll put on a mix for years to come.

Neil Brogan Releases Weird Year

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My love affair with Neil Brogan has stretched back over 10 years, first with Girls Names, then Sea Pinks…but this is the first time Neil’s really stepped out with an album under his own name. These 11 songs are still filled with his pop sensibility, as you’ll get almost immediately with the steady bop of “20/20.” You’ll notice the whole album seems to be written from the perspective of someone holed up indoors during this shit year; you get the isolation, but you also get reflections and songs about busying yourself to keep your mind occupied; we’re all going to find this listen highly relatable. There’s not a bad song in this bunch, but at the moment, I’m really stuck on “Belisha Beacons,” the most charming tune this morning.

Sea Pinks Drop Crocuses EP and Take a Break

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It’s strange to know you’re saying goodbye to something that meant so much to you, on a personal level, which is the case for Sea Pinks. I think I came into the project due to Neil’s role in Girls Names, but in the long-run, I think I found SP to be much more meaningful and long-lasting. This phenomenal four song Crocuses EP sees the band taking an indefinite hiatus, and while that’s sad, I’m really grateful for these last four tracks. I’ve previously mentioned how much I adored the upbeat shuffle of “Crocuses,” an immediate toe-tapper. But on the EP, it gets followed by this sprawling pop rocker, “Running Down the Clock,” employing sharp guitar turns and this rising vocal with just enough swagger to keep the feeling of cool. You get a touch of post-punk meets Mats in “Secret Garden,” but I think that “What Just Happened” is a great way to go out for the group. The titular nod could be mere coincidence, though I suspect it was intentional. The guitars are super crisp with just a hint of hipness in the vocal. I’m going to miss this act, but interested to see what comes next. Enjoy the last EP!

Sea Pinks Share Crocuses Single

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Sea Pinks have mostly been quiet since their 2018 Rockpool Blue LP (aside from a singles collection), but maybe that changes in 2020 with a fresh new single dangling out there. “Crocuses” has that infectious bounce from the get-go that makes pop believers out of all of us; the song bubbles in jittering and jiving, though I think there’s just the faint curl of softness beneath the vocals that exposes the band’s pop tendencies. And, as if that wasn’t enough, they quickly switch gears at the 1 minute mark and ride that potent pop pony to the end of the tune. Standout track, so lets hope we get more on the horizon.

Start Monday with Sea Pinks

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Monday’s are always a bit of a downer, but I have a sneaking suspicion that today might be great if you start off with Sea Pinks. They just dropped Rockpool Blues, their 7th album, and its everything cool that a Monday needs. It’s energetic and joyous in spirit; it takes on the heavy topic of feeling like a kid inside, even when confronting the responsibilities of adulthood. Crystalline guitar notes ring throughout, while the drumming steadies the whole outfit. As a huge sucker for guitar pop, this is how we should all start our week.

Have Another Sea Pinks Tune Today

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If ever Sea Pinks were going to fashion themselves as post-punk(ers), then perhaps this new single is precisely the tune that would draw that line in the sand. It opens with this bobbing bass line that functions underneath a dancing guitar line, jumping in and out of the mix. Momentarily, we hit a chorus where euphoric pop moments explode through the speakers, just before the waves recede to, once again, reveal the post-punk vibel the song moves back and forth between those two movements, always on point. The group will release their 7th official LP, Rockpool Blue, on Septmber 28th via their label, CF Records.

Sea Pinks Prep New Album

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Sea Pinks have always had a special place in my heart, and a reserved spot in my listening rotations…that’s not likely to change with a new album on the horizon. Our first listen is this new single below, and it feels like a matured piece of pop, which makes senses as this is the group’s 7th album. The guitar work jangles and twinkles in the front half of the track, allowing the vocals to sit back with indifference and casualness. The edgy middling section and closing discord gives the song an added kick, breaking up the tune just enough to keep the whole thing interesting. Rockpool Blue is the title of the new LP, and it drops on September 28th.

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