The Spring Collection - s/t :: Not Lame Recordings - power pop and melodic rock record label, music and CDs

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The Spring Collection - s/t

Sometimes, okay, many times, you can look at a record cover and just *know* what`s inside. This is terribly reassuring with The Spring Collection as front-and-center are a Rickenbacker bass and Rick 12 string stood bsides a simple 4 piece drum set. Perfect. And if that hits you the same, this one to pick up for sure. Featuring the Mendoza Brothers, Bart and Joe, The Spring Collection is the project of Joe Mendoza, who smartly brings his brother Bart to play alongside him and fans of Bart`s bands The Shambles will be happy hear that The Spring Collection shares some musical DNA. But The Spring Collection has Joe bringing a more rootsy, earthy, more acoustic driven and contemporary sound to his own project. Instead of mod-driven Beat inspired pop(which is certainly here, though), you`ll find echoes of early REM, quick tastes of Toad The Wet Sprocket and Freedy Johnston and sort of male driven version of Indigo Girls as there is a distinct but hard to pin down Southern flavor the overall feel of the album`s 16 songs. Truly a refreshing, invigorating and 12 string laced charmer. Very Highly Recommended!!

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Customer Reviews

Happy shiny music.

Reviewer: Eric Hogan

I love the bright melodic melodies Joe Mendoza achieves on this record. The guitar work has an uplifting quality that stays with you long after your listening session is through. The stylings on this album remind me of a combination of Paul Weller and Squeeze. Well constructed song smithing with clear deciperable lyrics.

The Spring Collection - s/t

Reviewer: Sam Gnerre

I'm not exactly sure why it took me four years to catch up to this thoroughly wonderful album. It's a janglefest from start to finish that's tailor-made for fans of the Rickenbacker sound. The Mendoza brothers have come up with 15 excellent songs on this 16-track album that range from shimmering ballads to up-tempo 12-string stormers, but they never try too hard to re-create some bygone era. This is fresh-sounding, bracing stuff. What about the one song they didn't write, you ask? Well, let's just say anytime you can bring sparkling excitement to a soggy, leaden Eric Clapton song, "Wonderful Tonight," I'd say you're doing a lot of things right.