I have now lost count at how many reviews I have written on Baby Scream but each time it is always a pleasure.
Today's release is a
FREE download on Eternal Sunday records entitled 'Lost Balloons'.
It reminds me of a bag of sweets children use to buy in UK from 1950s up to late
1960s called 'Jamboree Bag' as you buy it but not know what mix you get inside til you opened it or in this case press PLAY.
This album has such a wild mixed range Barry Parsons (CRMK Radio) told me "isn't it so awesome?"
The album kicks off with a short, quiet and relaxing acoustic 'We Are Against The System (One More Chance) which is a demo and sort of threw me really as with a title like that I expected a completely different sound.
As for track two 'Ball Of Fun' well you could be listening to any big name rock band as so heavy, in fact the most nearest to heavy metal I've heard Baby Scream. Talk about clearing the wax from your ears after track one
*NOTE - best played volume fully cranked
As the album moves on with 'I've Had Enough With You' we find we move more into a punk sound the sound sort of suits Juan Pablo Mazzola's vocals with really rough & agressive growl which is a far cry from his past Lennon influenced tones so many mention (including me).
This album has rock, punk, demo's and acoustic's but also it has a large number of cover versions.
The first cover on 'Lost Balloons' is a track first recorded by The Electric Prunes entitled 'Onie'. This is a wonderful acoustic & Juan's vocals are so soft & layered well to give a great pure sound with amazing backing by the band including a lovely piano solo.
'Revenge Of The Nerds' is a track you hear & swear you've heard before amazing guitar work & the drum beat gives an epic movie soundtrack feel to the song. Juan's vocals are rather haunting almost ghostly.
Don't be fooled by the start of the demo 'I Don't Wanna Wake Up From This Dream' as this rocks too or should I say
R O C K S
I have played this track more than any other on the album.
'Barry's Blues' (The Groove Lounge) was recorded mainly as a radio jingle for Barry Parsons Wednesday's show on CRMK Radio. A Marc Bolan themed show Juan has appeared on a few times and I may add where I first met Juan. This track uses a Bolan style rift to give you the feel of what Barry's show gives you every week.
Now this track really confused me as it was the very first track I heard off 'Lost Balloons' sent by Juan. He said this is what my new album will be like, I played Tony Orlando's cover 'Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Old Oak Tree' and think huh!!!
My confusion soon passed when the cover was better than I expected as I had many doubts as the original was so cheasey & I was told by Juan that "trust me you love the album" he wasn't wrong.
'Sadly Beautiful' is a home acoustic cover of The Replacements which is so clear & again relaxes you to sink into a comfortable sofa & start to drift off to a world till BANG!!!! this loud rocking, punky fast, loud beat of 'When The Angel's Sing' a cover of Social Distortion shakes you to the foundations.
Don't think you can sit back down to relax again after that thou as what you think happens if I say it is followed by a two in a row of the Ramones covers 'Judy Is A Punk Rocker' and Beat The Brat' ?
CORRECT it sooooo rocks soooooooo punks up and I assure you there is full & total respect to the legends that were The Ramones so awesome.
The next two tracks are very personal to me as I first met Juan due to the original demo's on an acetate of Marc Bolan of these songs 'Song For A Soldier' and
'Reality'. The tracks were never released by Marc in his life time & sadly still have not been today as they are owned by a private collector. However Juan's take on these demo's are so fantastic there was much talk and interest & wait for them to become available.
High Wire is another Marc Bolan cover (T.Rex) it is a wonderful acoustic ballad and I just love the vocals as Juan always shows his passion to Marc's work. Hard to believe this is only a demo.
The last two tracks of the album I was personally involved in as at the time I was working with DeafboyOne on a project entitled 'DUETS'. Pete Waller (DeafboyOne) who was (at time of recording) living in Sydney, Australia & I was finding artists around the globe to sing with him through the magic of Internet and Pete's master on the mixer friend/producer Rod Willner.
'Cosmic Dancer' was the 2nd take as Pete had recorded this on his own but Juan had requested to duet him on this track also. The sound of it being live was just so clever as really they were thousands of miles apart. I love too how adding bongoes gave it the old sound of Tyrannosaurus Rex which Marc's original of this classic he had moved away from.
As for 'Working Class Hero' it just had to be done as Juan is such a big fan of Lennon's & his vocals are always compared to his.
The duets introduced themselves to each other and are now good friends wanting at some point to meet up for real & record again.
That will be worth waiting for...
So that's my thoughts on this free download if you have not got all ready the link is below to go and do so - enjoy
Where to download full album & artwork FREE
http://www.eternalsunday.com.ar/promos/babyscreamlostballoons/
One of the special guests featured on the album & in the show is a lady with an amazing voice, Silvia McEwen
