Adrian Whitehead - One Small Stepping Man - 2008

Aussie popster Adrian Whitehead has been getting raves from the press and pop bloggers who've heard his latest "One Small Stepping Man". A soft classic pop formula similar to Dave Dill and Brent Cash, Adrian uses simple catchy melodies with a nod to The Beatles and a very smooth clean production style similar to Dave Stephens. The opening track "Caitlin's 60's Pop Song" echos Nilsson and Adrian's vocals are very similar here to Ken Stringfellow of The Posies. It's got the pop smarts and little details that make a wonderful song. Next, "Saving Caroline" opens with a seventies-styled strum a la Styx, and the bass floats the melody along, but at over six minutes it goes on a bit too long for me. "Radio One" sounds like a Posies mid-tempo guitar song and breaks into an amazing piano ballad. The piano ballads continue with the McCartney-like melodies in "You are The Sun" and "Julia" which are very good and the bright "Spector's Dead" remind me of Julian Lennon's "Photograph Smile" album. On the "Ways of Man" we get a very McCartney-like bass line and on "Better Man" the lyrical themes are sharp and the song has a bit more energy, but "Elle" is another long ballad that seems to go on forever. No doubt this is a strong debut and if you like any of the above artists, you'll enjoy this. An equal measure of credit goes to producer Jak Housden for making these songs sound so good. -Powerpopaholic.blogspot.com