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It's A New Day Tonight
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Quantity in Basket:
None
Price: $15.00
Artist:
MIchael Rault
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WOW!!! How did this guy fly under our radar for so
long? It’s too bad Stephen Malkmus and
The Jicks already called their album “Sparkle Hard” in 1998, because that simple little phrase would
work well as the name of Michael Rault’s 1998 effort. The record glimmers like a taut pop-rock song
pouring from radio speakers in the ‘70s. Warm tones, breezy melodies and the
sugary strum of guitar strings crackle under crisp production. It’s a timeless
sound. “Despite its sparkling sound, the
record is threaded with references to darkness, dreams, sleep and so on. In fact, the first words uttered on the album
are ‘I don’t mind if the sun don’t shine,’ kicking off ‘I’ll Be There,’ a
confident rocker with a psychedelic chorus and a squirrelly guitar solo. As if to hammer home the point, Rault starts
off track two, ‘New Day Tonight,’ with the line ‘Start to feel alright just
after midnight, with you.’ So the guy is
nocturnal, or at least he is drawn to the nightime in an effort to escape the
frustrations of the day. But he expertly pairs his predilections for the
after-hours with sunny melodies and arrangements. The harmonies in ‘Sleep With
Me’ are soft like pillowy clouds, and a string section swoops in on the bridge
to give the song a stately quality. ‘Dream Song’ is aptly named, with its relaxed
pace, ringing acoustic guitar and spectral backing vocals. And “Out of the
Light” is a highlight, thanks to its spirited piano backbone, some tastefully
lysergic guitar parts and Rault’s strong falsetto. ‘Oh Clever
Boy’ is somehow both shaggy and sharp-cornered at the same time; it sounds
descended from Paul McCartney’s ‘Ram’.
‘Pyramid Scheme’ is smooth and assured
and more ‘Band On The Run’.
There are plenty of ‘60s and ‘70s touchstones here, but the biggies are The
Beatles (Paul and George especially), The Kinks and Big Star. Those are big footsteps to trace, yes, but
Rault is certainly capable, and this
record offers hook after hook after hook draped in a credible vintage
sheen by folks that understand vintage sheen. As long as you’re not allergic to
classic pop-rock earworms, it’s a solid record that deserves repeated spins.” –
PasteMagaine.com GREAT!!
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