Bryan Estepa "All the Bells and Whistles" (Popboomerang 2006)

A guilty pleasure for those raised on AM pop radio

Although part of the Sydney indie circuit for the last ten years or so, this is Bryan Estepa’s first release and, in the main, it is a very good album. His press release does the usual name-dropping (Whiskeytown, Elliott Smith) and I suppose that’s crucial for credibility these days although, in truth, Estepa’s songs have a curiously 70’s quality to them yet are no worse for it. Despite a patchy start with the mediocre ‘By The Window’. Estepa quickly recovers and reels off an unbroken chain of endearing --if somewhat formulaic-- pop songs. ‘Your Best Night’, ‘Western Tale’ and ‘Sunshine’ immediately took me back to the easy hummability of 70’s AM radio. Occasionally there is a nagging Halls and Oates quality to some of the songs yet Estepa is so competent and unafraid of being a bit derivative (what pop isn’t?) that he pulls it all off flawlessly. There are a few nods to Americana with the occasional touch of pedal steel here and there but the major sound here emanates from vintage power pop, a slightly subdued Raspberries perhaps, all stunningly well-crafted and produced. Why he chose ‘By The Window’ as his lead track is a mystery to me but the rest of the album is a glorious and catchy celebration of solid, unpretentious pop music in the finest tradition and although much of it will sound overly familiar, it could well be this year’s guiltiest pleasure.

Date review added:  Monday, December 18, 2006
Reviewer:  Robin Cracknell
Reviewers Rating:
Related web link:  artist's website