The Brian Wilson biopic Love & Mercy , featuring an Oscar-worthy performance by Paul Dano as the younger Wilson, is now playing in theaters. That's what makes the release of No Pier Pressure (Capitol), Wilson's first new studio album of original material since 2008's The Lucky Old Sun, so interesting. As with almost every one of Wilson's solo discs, for the most part No Pier Pressure sounds great if somewhat dated/out-of touch. Wilson remains a studio master, which makes the weakness of the lyrics so frustrating. Opening track "This Beautiful Day" comes in like a gentle wave, but "Runaway Dancer" (featuring Sebu) sounds like an outtake from Paul McCartney's disco experiments. Guest collaborations, such as She & Him on "On the Island," Mark Isham on the instrumental "Half Moon Bay," and "Saturday Night" featuring fun.'s Nate Ruess, are definite sunny spots.
It's a sad fact, but Ringo Starr will probably never duplicate the perfection of 1973's Ringo. That doesn't mean he should stop making music because his latest, Postcards from Paradise (UMe), isn't rapturous, but it's also not a total loss. Like Paul McCartney did on his most recent album, Starr makes references to the past in the title track (which consists of lines from Beatles songs), "You Bring the Party Down" and "Rory and the Hurricanes." In the midst of the predictability, there are some nice surprises, including "Not Looking Back" and the rocking "Touch and Go."
A mere slip of a thing, Songs from The Falling (Strange Feeling), an eight-song EP soundtrack to Carol Morley's film The Falling, echoes some of the moodier material from Thorne's 2010 masterwork Love and Its Opposite without being repetitious. This is particularly true of "It Was Always Me" and "Follow Me Down." Thorne's music for this film, set in the late 1960s, manages to sound timeless and modern at the same time. The stripped-down, gorgeous "Are You There?," "All The Seasons" and "Let Me In" (the longest song on the disc) are highlights.
On his latest solo effort Carry the Fire (Vagrant), Dustin Kensrue, of the screamo outfit Thrice, continues to put some distance between himself and his post-hardcore roots. In fact, he doesn't come close to rocking out until "Death or Glory." "What Beautiful Things" is suitably named, and "Of Crows and Crowns" is similarly stunning, while "Juggernaut" is an ambitious pop tune.
Fans of ska-punk act Dance Hall Crashers will recognize the name and voice of Karina Denike. Under Glass (karinadenike.com), Denike's solo disc, is a wonderful surprise on which the singer gets the chance to show off her amazing vocal abilities. Exercising her diva muscles and incorporating an array of musical influences, Denike shines on "Anchors Away," "Musee Mecanique," "Boxing Glove," and the a cappella "You're So Quiet."
Martin Gore of Depeche Mode goes by MG for his new Mute Records album of experimental electronic music. Don't approach this expecting Avicii, Guetta or Skrillex. This is ambient electronic where the opportunities for dancing are few and far between. But when the beats do fall into place, as on "Brink" and "Crowly," you might not be able to sit still.
Chris Stamey has spent more time as a solo artist than as the member of a band. But when he was in a band, what a band it was. The db's were pioneers in the college-rock realm, releasing essential jangle-pop albums (Stands for Decibels, Repercussions ) and classic singles such as "Amplifier." As a record producer, straight man Stamey has worked with queer acts such as Le Tigre, Kaia, Tami Hart, the Butchies and Michael Stipe. Stamey's new album Euphoria (Yep Roc) draws on all of his strengths and includes appealing songs "Invisible," "Where Does the Time Go?," the East Indian-influenced "Awake in the World," and the bonus-track cover of Tommy James and the Shondells' "Draggin' the Line."
While everyone else in this column has stepped out solo, Graham Parker, a solo act throughout most of the 1980s to the present day, has reunited with his core band the Rumour on Mystery Glue (Cadet Concept/UMe). Parker may no longer be the angry young pub/punk rocker that he was almost 40 years ago, but that doesn't mean that he's lost his edge. He's still venting on songs "Swing State," "Slow News Day" and "My Life in Movieland." What's notable here is the way Parker incorporates all the musical styles he's dabbled in over the course of his lengthy career, including R&B ("Wall of Grace," "I've Done Bad Things"), country ("Going There," "Transit of Venus") and new wave ("Swing State").