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Bryan Estepa

Sunday Best

(Popboomerang; US: 5 Jul 2008; UK: Available as import)

Bryan Estepa seems to have gone to Gary Lightbody’s school for building well-crafted, slow-building pop tunes. The performer takes this approach perfectly for the gorgeous “Aches and Shakes” that glides along without any problems whatsoever. But Estepa steps out a bit with the roots-y, strong, Gin Blossoms-leaning “Different With You” that has a delectable chorus and later on during the excellent “Skipping Days”. As well “Carl Wilson” has, naturally, Beach Boys flair but seems to sag as it goes on. Fortunately, the Beatles-meets-Sloan “Roses” puts things back on solid footing as does “I’m Going” which is Power Pop 101. Perhaps the biggest surprise is how punchy the rollicking, old-school rock/punk ditty “Myself” comes off, resulting in it being the highlight. To take a song title from this record, I wouldn’t want to second guess much of what Estepa does with this record.

Rating:

Originally from Cape Breton, MacNeil is currently writing for the Toronto Sun as well as other publications, including All Music Guide, Billboard.com, NME.com, Country Standard Time, Skope Magazine, Chart Magazine, Glide, Ft. Myers Magazine and Celtic Heritage. A graduate of the University of King's College, MacNeil currently resides in Toronto. He has interviewed hundreds of acts ranging from Metallica and AC/DC to Daniel Lanois and Smokey Robinson. MacNeil (modestly referred to as King J to friends), a diehard Philadelphia Flyers fan, has seen the Rolling Stones in a club setting, thereby knowing he will rest in peace at some point down the road. Oh, and he writes for PopMatters.com.


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9 Nov 2006
Aussie artist Bryan Estepa sounds like he's grown up on a healthy dose of The Jayhawks and Uncle Tupelo.
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