Radio Daze & Glamping
Omnivore, 2023
9/10
Listen to Radio Daze & Glamping
A multi-instrumentalist who co-founded the bands Jellyfish, Imperial Drag and the Moog Cookback, Roger Joseph Manning Jr. has an impressive resume that includes excellent solo work as well. This package includes his 2018 EP, Glamping, and pairs it with the 4 new songs that are Radio Daze.
The energetic and bright “I Feel Good, Bad, Fine” begins the listen with glowing keys and bouncy bass for the power-pop fun, and “Rockin’ It Our Way” follows with plenty of melody amid the frisky drums and soaring vocals that comes with some retro-spirit.
Deeper into the listen, the playful buzzing of “Operator” welcomes Chris Manning’s smooth pipes and Dan Rothchild’s animated bass to the charming yet quirky track, while “Is It All A Dream?” is indeed dreamy in a soulful fashion that uses Taylor Locke’s agile electric guitar to complement Manning’s skilled falsetto.
The CD and Digital versions offer 3 live bonus tracks from Glamping’s limited edition expanded edition, plus 3 new live tracks and 2 instrumentals. Of this portion, the thumping and layered “Down In Front is particularly rockin’, and the calmer “I’m Not Your Cowboy” lands in piano balladry that’s as stirring as it is powerful. The final track and instrumental, “On Our Way To The Moon”, contains much beauty thanks to the lush guitars and flowing rhythm section that carries a cinematic quality.
A timeless listen that embraces the sounds of the ‘60s, Manning Jr. uses both pop and rock ideas for songs that might remind you of The Beatles or Queen, and will age just as well as those legends, too.
Travels well with: Richard X. Heyman- 67,000 Miles An Album; Jonny Polonsky- Kingdom Of Sleep