Historic first recordings by Tim Anthony, founding member of those pop-juggernauts The Brambles. Tommy Allen & Gary Frenay (Flashcubes ) also appear on this disc as an added bonus. Don’t Forget Me was The Agents first and only single. It sold 1000 copies, pretty good for not having an Internet. It helped put the band on the map and get some gigs. Elektra Records showed interest but soon waned. A special thank you to Gary Frenay (Flashcubes) for his help. Agents of the Future, was the B-side of above song. Mark Sirianni and I wrote this together and for once I compromised, pop meets prog –rock. Traciann has been said to be my best song ever. This song was to be the next Agents single but did not happen. Famed producer Jimmie Ienner called me to say this song was a bonafide hit, but he did not want to pursue it. I asked him if he was crazy. Relations broke down. Bruce Lundvall (Capitol Records), Tom Trumbo (Elektra Records), Aaron Jacoves ( A&M Records), were calling me now based on this song. You decide, is it or was it a hit? Never Thought You’d Go, was to be the next B-side. I wanted to write a heavier song. I think I did. This was the last session for The Agents as a band. Lee Cominsky joined the band as an additional guitar player for a few months and proceeded to join the army. Good-bye to The Agents, Hello solo Ville. Never Gonna Cry, was the first song I recorded to start my wonderful solo career. A special thank you to Rick Krzyzak for being a good friend and a great drummer. Maryellen has a neat history. This song would be played on NBC’s Friday Night Lights Dec 2007. The version played would be from my 2005 release The Happy Door, a #1 in Spain. She Broke My Heart was just straight up pop. Nuff said.
For No One Can & The Heart Of Every Man, I enlisted Tommy Allen (famed drummer, Flashcubes) to help me out. He did not disappoint. He did a brilliant job. Also there was brandy. Don’t Look In Her Eyes & Mystery got the attention Of David Geffen & his V.P. Carole Childs. They called me several times amongst others. There was a bit of a buzz then. The buzz died. Don’t Look In Her Eyes & Mystery were the last songs I would ever record at Chase Media. It was a wonderful time in my life and wish I could live it all over again. Happy Ending was the first of many songs recorded by my next band The Brambles. A&R rep Rachel Matthews (Capitol Records), called as well as Gay Lynn Kaiser (RCA Records) who wanted to sign me based on this song. Her Boss felt differently. All told about 15 A&R reps called me through the years to discuss my songs and me, these calls would not be the last ones either. The future was just ahead.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Tim Anthony "The Happy Door" and "Retrofit"
Review by POWERPOPAHOLIC 9 of 10 RATING (WOW!)
Holiday treats come early! Tim Anthony (formerly of The Brambles) is enjoying a bit of a resurgence, now that his 2005 album "The Happy Door" has been re-released in the US. Voted the #1 release in Spain that year it's full of classic power pop that fans of Richard X. Heyman and Dwight Twilley will flip for. Even Amplifier magazine called The Happy Door "40 minutes of melodic magic." A lot of the music here was crafted for movies and tv for instant catchiness. These are well crafted slices of timeless pop, from the quick snappy melody of "Mary Ellen" to the powerful jangle riffs of "No Words" every song rocks and pops here, with no filler to be found. With the help of power pop guru Ed James on drums, harmonies and strings it effortlessly glides through 12 Beatle influenced songs. Fans of The Toms,The Rubinoos and The Flashcubes will love this as well. And every song here has a great back story that's described in the liner notes. If you loved the innocence of "That Thing You Do" this is highly recommended.
RETROFIT REVIEW by POWERPOPAHOLIC 7 of 10 RATING
Fans of The Brambles and Tim Anthony may want to dig deeper into his past, and that is who "Retrofit" is partially made for. These historic recordings were made by Anthony with Tommy Allen and Gary Frenay (The Flashcubes). Included is Anthony's first local hit "Don't Forget Me" with his first band, The Agents. As a period piece, this album is fascinating, fans of The Flashcubes, 20/20 and The Records will appreciate the 80's style as well as an early version of "Mary Ellen" and listening to Anthony's style develop. "No One Can" and "She Broke My Heart" sound like legit new wave pop hits. Others may find it hopelessly dated and prefer the more polished album above. But even then, this is worth more than a single listen, and if you loved "The Happy Door" why not?
Labels: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic
posted by Aaron @ 2:02 PM 0 comments
Monday, 20 October 2008
"Retrofit"/"The Next Big Thing"/"The Happy Door": TIM ANTHONY & THE BRAMBLES
"Retrofit" / "The Next Big Thing" / "The Happy Door": TIM ANTHONY & THE Bramble
If we could condense the trajectory of commercial power in the world of pop music in a single artist, Tim Anthony could use as an example. Artisan's perfect pop song, the American musician from Syracuse, was repeatedly at a pitch of a great record. In more than 25 years of career, Anthony could have signed with Elektra, Geffen, A & M, Capitol ... but in the last minute, something always failed (some would call it "the curse of power pop "...).
Retrofit is a collection of rare recordings with Anthony made in the'80s (after the Brambles formed with the cousin Lou Anthony, but continued releasing solo albums). Indeed, for beginners in the career of the U.S., more interesting are his latest album: The Next Big Thing, from 2000, with Brambles and The Happy Door 2005, the discography soil. ” As record, is worth mentioning the two tracks of the opening of Retrofit, where Anthony led the Agents in 1982, which lasted only a single, "Do not Forget Me" ( "Agents Of The Future" was the B side).
The Next Big Thing crystallizes the sound of Anthony: Sixty influences run along the lines of classic power pop of the late 70 and early 80's. But always falling for more pop side of that time, as is well marked on the title track. "Gotta Be Love" is a pop gem that should be played on radio around the world every day, forever. But the beautiful chords of "She'll Never Know" emotions in ares of classic song.
The collection of pearls, displaying a pop is the one: "The Need For Knowing," "Maybe This Time," "Baby Girl," "Wish" ... They are 16 songs with potential to hit single and could have fattened the bank account a lot of great record there.
The Happy Door is the last release of Anthony in solo career. Produced by Ed James - who also played several instruments on the disc - shows a level higher than the previous record, but the same ability to transform into Tim notes / chords in pop craft. Open the album "Maryellen," whose original recording date of April 1983, and we have not lost a drop of energy and pop league.
And as proof that the majors have become expendable and pop to Tim Anthony is of high caliber, "Maryellen" appeared in a TV show from NBC recently. What ends up being more a suit in the path of Anthony track along with the hundreds of artists power pop: the commercial potential that the record companies despise, TV and film deal with value and of course, use in tv shows (Tim also has been hired by MTV and VH-1 to lend their songs to several reality shows made by those broadcasters).
"Baby I'm Back" should be in high rotation schedule: easy melody, slinky chorus, vocal harmonies perfect. Like "This Autumm", "No Words" or "All This Time." The contagious taken from "Maybe This Girl" is in tune with the self-adhesive, the sharp guitars and vocal harmonization Sixty: it becomes a classic of power pop of'00. The ballad "No Words", emotional melodic beauty in not forgetting the chorus of DNA pop. The avalanche of classic melodies and stickers still rolling disc below: "Disappear", "Mondays With You" and "The End Of Us," which closes the album.
In the end, the non-recognition of the talents of Tim Anthony - and 99% of power pop artists - the majors, and consequently, the large audience, which did not prevent him move on and now were here, face to face with you . His mastery pop has been forever and may even, perhaps, one day achieve more popular stops. But, frankly, it seems no more import. Because I believe in the power of song to Tim Anthony. . Not in "curses".
www.myspace.com/timanthonythebrambles www.myspace.com / timanthonythebrambles
Postado por Paolo Miléa às 11:57 Posted by Paolo MILEA at 11:57 a.m. 0 comentários 0 comments
TIM ANTHONY RETROFIT REVIEW
July 17,2008
Like the Roblaine disc, this is another “nugget” from the indie pop archives. Indie pop fans should already be familiar with Tim’s current body of work. Retrofit features material from his earliest recording days. Like his more recent material, it falls into the “classic pop” genre and reminds me of material being recorded during that same period by Mark Johnson, David Grahame, Dwight Twilley and the Toms.
Eric Sorensen, Not Lame Blog
Review, Tim Anthony
Posted by Mark Bialczak July 13, 2008 6:00AM
Categories: CD review,
I hope you get a chance to read my review of the new CD from Syracuse's Tim Anthony in The Post-Standard.
Here's my review of "Retrofit," the Jealousy Records pop CD by Tim Anthony:
Before The Brambles for Syracuse pop singer, songwriter and guitarist Tim Anthony came The Agents.
Anthony revisits his golden years of the 1980s with "Retrofit," a dozen song collection that mines the gems of his past.
Back in the day's before he teamed with cousin Lou Anthony, Tim worked his pop song ways with Mark Sirianni, Rick Kryzak and David O. Chase. In fact, the Agents' first single - you remember the days of the two-sided 45, right? -- "Don't Forget Me," sold 1,000 copies.
"Pretty good for not having an Internet," Anthony writes on his liner notes.
Gary Frenay added background vocals for that to-the-heart pop bauble.
The B-side, "Agents of the Future," strays the most from Anthony's preferred power pop ways with a touch of progressive rock courtesy of Sirianni.
Play the CD start to finish and you won't need to hear another love song for the day.
"Traciann" and "Maryellen," well, you get the idea right from the title.
Anthony yearned to sing about love ... reflections on love in the past and hopeful for love in the future.
He wraps it all with a neat bow on the closer from 1989, "Happy Ending," singing, "It's very nice you called. All you wanted to say is hello. You say you needed time and some space. Can the heartache ever be erased?" He shall not give up: "There isn't anything I wouldn't do. There isn't anything I wouldn't give to be close to you. To be close to you. To be close to you."
On the Internet: www.myspace.com/timanthonythebrambles.
TIM ANTHONY - RETROFIT
RETROFIT REVIEW by JEREMY MORRIS
TIM ANTHONY - RETROFIT
Here is a brand new cd from Tim Anthony that brings his early 1980's recordings to light at last. The album was recorded with members of THE FLASHCUBES...so if you're a FLASHCUBES fan, this is a must! (Tim is a member also of the power pop band THE BRAMBLES.)..So fans of that band will want this as well! Sonically, this cd brings back to mind classic bands like 20/20, Tommy Tutone (867-5309), The Plimsouls, The Flashcubes, The Romantics, Elvis Costello, and all the great first wave pop stuff of the very early 80's circa..1980--1982. Sound quality is excellent and this disc sounds really fresh! Recommended to all serious power pop collectors and fans.
http://jamrecordings.com
JULY 5, 2008
TIM ANTHONY Retrofit
Twelve historic pop recordings spanning from 1982-1989 from Tim (The Brambles) that feature contributions from Tommy Allen and Gary Frenay of The Flashcubes! Produced by Gary Frenay, 1982's "Don't Forget Me"/"Agents Of The Future" was the first and only single by Tim's band, The Agents (not to be confused with The Agents from New Jersey whose 7" EP was the debut release for the Kool Kat label!) is included here. The rest of the tracks clearly demonstrate Tim's keen knack for a pop hook and, in some cases, represent early versions of songs, some of which ultimately appeared on either releases by The Brambles or Tim's solo efforts. The charm of this collection is the approach in which the songs are delivered - an almost-innocent, distinct 80's, New Wave-ish way (think 20/20, The Shoes) that is particularly endearing. "Shows Tim's growth as an artist, examples of sparse tracks through to later 1989 recordings such as the layered and uplifting 'Happy Ending' which was subsequently updated and included Tim's band The Brambles' 'The Next Big Thing'. Perhaps fate decides which artists should find international recognition and be rewarded with both the fame, and adulation they deserve. Over 15 major A&R agents have shown a serious interest in Tim's work over the years without him grasping his big global break. Listen to and enjoy his early recordings and follow his journey up to his most recent releases" - Chris Clark/Hidden Tracks Despite the span in recording dates, the disc flows surprisingly well! EXCELLENT!!!!!
KOOL KAT MUSIC
JULY 4,2008
Retrofit by Tim Anthony
Tim Anthony the New York based master of the consummate pop song has released a compilation CD of his earliest recordings. Starting in 1982 Retrofit charts his first songwriting and recording experiences. The classic pop song is often misunderstood, even the Wikipedia dictionary describes it as 'music charted by the number of sales' and then states that 'it is not a particular style or genre'. The pop song genre has entertained audiences since the early recordings by Ricky Nelson and Buddy Holly then through The Beatles and the British invasion up to the work of Neil and Tim Finn. The style of Pop music differs from R&B or soul music having a catchy melody and frequently includes vocal harmony and double tracking, with themes often built around love, which has either been lost or found...
Retrofit opens with Don't Forget Me Tim's only single with his band The Agents, other tracks feature Tommy Allen & Gary Frenay of Flashcubes fame. Two timeless pop tracks, which cover girlfriends Traciann and Maryellen are standouts. Maryellen reappears as a highly polished version on Tim's 2005 CD Happy Door. On both Don't Look In Her Eyes and Mystery Tim's guitar soars while the solid drumming by David O Chase anchors the tracks together, strong interests was shown in both tracks by David Geffen sadly without positive results. Retrofit shows Tim's growth as an artist, examples of sparse tracks through to later 1989 recordings such as the layered and uplifting Happy Ending which was subsequently updated and included on Tim's band The Brambles 2001 CD The Next Big Thing.
Perhaps fate decides which artists should find international recognition and be rewarded with both the fame, and adulation they deserve. Over 15 major A&R agents have shown a serious interest in Tim's work over the years without him grasping his big global break. Listen and enjoy Tim's early recordings on Retrofit and follow his journey up to his most recent releases.
Sunday June 29, 2008
CHRIS CLARK, HIDDEN TRACKS, Adelaide,South Australia
TIM ANTHONY - Retrofit (w/ Flashcubes members)
Fans of The Flashcubes and late 70s/early 80s power pop, consider this sentence your alert! Tim Anthony has been around on the Not Lame site with various releases over the years but here is one that digs around the basement and unearths some classic Flashcubes-styled Rasperries inflected power pop. Tommy Allen & Gary Frenay (Flashcubes ) also appear on this disc as an added bonus. The 12 songs here travel the territory of the times, no doubt – The Flashcubes, 20/20 and The Records are the primary points of reference as many of the songs here blend a bit of new wavey quirk with classic skinny tie power pop sounds. Most of the material here is very well recorded vis-à-vis many recordings of other indie bands from this time is an added bonus on top of some material that are very, very nice finds for fans of the genre! Recommended!
Bruce Brodeen
NOTLAME RECORDINGS
JUNE 27,2008
"Tim Anthony is a Pop Treasure"
Carl Cafarelli WXXE.ORG
JUNE 18,2008
(Sir Paul's B'Day)
Voted a top recommended release of 2008 (POWERPOPACTION.COM SPAIN)
The ultimate and most excellent solo disc Tim Anthony has released with or without his band The Brambles. A great release for 2008 and great singing.Highly recommended.
June 13,2008
Read more...