Thursday, June 28, 2012

Review: The Slingsby Hornets “Borrowed And Blue”


Power pop

The Slingsby Hornets injected us with a healthy dose of vintage-styled power pop with their last release, “Something Old Something New” (reviewed here). The new release – the fourth – is a 35 minute romp through pop history, Slingsby style. The record is aptly named “Borrowed And Blue” as it features a number of cover tunes spanning several decades of pop music.

The first thing that is evident with “Borrowed And Blue” is that Jon Paul Allen (a.k.a. Frank E. Slingsby) has wonderful taste in music. His choice of tunes to rework is impeccable and includes a nearly unrecognizably peppy version of the Carpenters hit “Yesterday Once More”. Even better is his rendition of Bobby Goldsboro’s AM radio smash “Little Things”. However, I don’t think the world needed another cover of David Essex’s “Rock On”, but it’s here if you want it. My pick of the litter has to be the energetic version of “The Lady In Red”, a staple of the 80s high school dance originally performed by Chris De Bergh.

Among the original tunes, definitely check out the upbeat “Love, Love” and the downbeat “Growin' Old Disgracefully”. And I have to mention the CD itself was a hoot – packaged as a Japanese import with OBI strip and all – way cool! “Borrowed And Blue” is another winner from The Slingby Hornets that will keep power pop aficionados happy all summer long.

Slingsby Hornets – Official site.

Check out the video for “Fireball XL5”, a cover of a 60s TV show theme:


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