Billy Coulter – 5ingles EP
This set comes through with a refined pub rock style akin to Rockpile, The Rumor, and artists similar to Nick Lowe, Russ Tolman, and Ian Gomm. It’s a melodic rock with no hard edges but many effective savvy applications. It could be the drum beat, the guitar vitality, or the cohesive arrangements that make it all ear candy without being too calorie-oriented.
The first track of this brief set is “A Million Pieces,” & it possesses lots of charming power pop facilities. I could easily do with an entire album of this type of music if…& it’s a big If – Billy Coulter has the ingenuity & expressiveness that Nick Lowe displayed in his early ingenious solo albums (“Cruel To Be Kind”). I think he does.
The second helping is “Haven’t You Fallen In Love With Me Yet?” It, too, is an exhilarating, well-arranged love song asking a heavy question. Billy produced the five featured tracks on the 5ingles EP (Drops Oct 18/Confluence Media/17:39) with Scott Smith (on the first two).
“Seemed Like a Good Idea At the Time” is a classic line Steve McQueen said in the western “The Magnificent Seven.” He told the story of a man who took off all his clothes & jumped into some cacti. They asked him why he did that. He replied: “…seemed like a good idea at the time.” Nice to see that catchphrase find a home in a meticulous pop-rock song like this.
Coulter is a singer/songwriter who combines his Americana/roots & British power pop instincts with virtuosity & creativity. He proves that the 70s genre that was buffed & shined by those British artists is far from instinct. Coulter pumps a generous number of shiny examples into his captivating music & early rock carvings.
A little headier is “Ready, Fire, Aim” a short all-out rocker that’s dance floor-approved with incendiary drumming & suave instrumentation. I’d agree with the Tom Petty comparisons other writers have mentioned but David Bowie was far more progressive, experimental & intense than any of these performances. No, those pub rockers are where Coulter resides most comfortably. You can even add Brinsley Schwartz & some Chas Jankel. All musicians who were the bridge between punk & new wave back in the 70s.
Coulter has a tight grip on this music & isn’t letting go anytime soon. Good for him.
Highlights – All 5.
Musicians – Billy Coulter (vocals/guitar), Max Evans (lead guitar/bgv), Brian Simms (keyboards/bgv), Arch Alcantara (bass/bgv), Doug Tull (drums/percussion), Andy Hamburger & Carson Groenewold (drums) & Bill Williams (bgv).
Color image courtesy of Billy’s website. CD @ http://billycoulter.com/
