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The Vinyl Kings strike again with another retro album
that recalls the glory of psychedelic rock circa 1966-1971.
The Vinyl Kings recreate the glory years of The Move and ELO
with touches of 10cc and Queen thrown in for good measure.
Take all those influences and throw in the Beatles, early
McCartney/Wings era stuff, the Beach Boys layered harmonies
blend it well and you’ve got “Time Machine”. If the album
sounds a lot like ELO’s efforts this has more to do with Jeff
Lynne’s (or even late 80’s rockers Jellyfish) same obsession
with the same era and production touches. “Time Machine” sounds
more like XTC’s alter ego The Dukes of Stratsophear and their
two albums “25 O’Clock”(1985) and “Psonic Psunspot” (1987)
(released on a single CD entitled “Chips from the Chocolate
Fireball” in 1988). Roy Wood and Jeff Lynne would be proud
to produce something this accomplished. Unlike a lot of bands
that try and recreate the music from this era the Vinyl Kings
album, like the Dukes, is charming because it recalls the
era without trying to update for a contemporary audience.
Perhaps former Duke/XTC member Dave Gregory should contact
the Vinyl Kings; his swooping guitar playing would fit in
perfectly with this band. Michael Rhodes has worked as a session
bass player with everyone from John Fogerty to Shawn Colvin
and Steve Winwood. Harry Stinson has worked with everyone
from bluegrass legend Earl Scruggs to Elton John, Lyle Lovett
and Steve Earle. Jim Photoglo actually worked and toured with
the Beach Boys as well as recording a pair of hit singles
and albums on his own. Finally Vince Melamed who plays keyboards
and sings on the album has worked with Bob Dylan, David Bowie
and was a member of the legendary 60’s band the Mugwumps opening
for a variety of bands on the Sunset Strip during the 60’s.
These guys clearly know their influences (and have probably
met most of them as well) and wear their love for their music
on their sleeves. ***
This 7 piece band are made up of veterans from various
bands. Larry Lee sang lead vocals, wrote and played with the
Ozark Mountain Daredevils. Guitarist Larry Byrom played in
Steppenwolf and had great success as a session guitar player
and songwriter. Josh Leo gained fame with six #1 songs and
as a producer of twenty-one # 1 records and has worked with
Bad Company, Glenn Frey, Jimmy Buffett, Lynyrd Skynrd and
other American bands. ***
The Vinyl Kings’ obsession with the Beatles and the Beach
Boys (particularly on “Sycamore Bay” with its ocean of counterpoint
harmonies and instrumental touches that recall that band in
its glory days) is pretty straight forward as heard on songs
such as the title track and “67” which both clearly allude
to the band (as well as a lyrical nod to Bob Dylan and the
psychedelic era Byrds). “Time Machine” captures all the sunny
elements that made the best psychedelic rock so memorable,
distills it and presents it in 11 slices of home made heaven
for fans who love that era. In less capable and talented hands
this approach would have yielded nothing more than an album
of pseudo covers by a pseudo cover band—the Vinyl Kings clearly
have the love for the material and the talent to pull this
material off in spades. ***
I can highly recommend this catchy, melodic and humorous
take on the past. The Vinyl Kings are like the Rutles with
their cheeky humor. They provide an album that performs as
both a tribute and humorous glance to the past. Let’s hope
they keep producing slabs of “vinyl” as memorable in the future
but give up before they run out of inspiration.
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