MUSIC REVIEW: THREESOME, VOL. 2 [EP] – The Lickerish Quartet

Label: The Lickerish Quartet/Label Logic

Release Date: January 8, 2021

Rating: 99%

Reviewer: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur

Less than eight months after releasing Threesome, Vol. 1, the Quartet’s trio is at is again unleashing four killer pop-rock gems that stick with you listen after listen.  The EP kicks off with the ethereal opening of “Do You Feel Better?” and only gets better as the vocals kick in.  The lighter and poppier side of the band is reflected in this track and allows us to settle in and enjoy the ride.  The vocals are airy and swirl nicely above the mix, where the rhythm section and guitars play together perfectly.  “Sovereignty Blues” sweeps in with a cool vibe that permeates the entire EP, but steps forward in the mix on this track.  The recurring theme in my opinion is how these guys land sonically between The Beatles and Cheap Trick, reflecting influences from both in the writing, performance, and production.  The contagious groove of this track allows you to listen to this over and over without ever feeling like it has been overplayed.  “The Dream That Took Me Over” takes on an 80’s sound that incorporates the sensibility of the rock sound these guys bring to the table and gives it a slightly different texture.  The solid backbeat and keyboards are the perfect tapestry for the vocals to be added to.  This song grows on you with each listen.  Closer “Snollygoster Goon” comes straight at you from the opening note and doesn’t let up for 3:16.  The bass lines standout on this track and add a bit of punch to the mix.  The drumming anchors the track and provides a killer cadence for the songs upbeat sound and tempo.  With eight songs on the table from the trio’s writing efforts over the last few years, we can only hope there are still some tracks waiting in the vault.  This EP from keyboardist Roger Joseph Manning Jr., drummer Tim Smith, and guitarist / vocalist Eric Dover, while very similar to the last, seems to resonate more with me and is getting more spins, hence the slightly better rating.

Tracklisting: Do You Feel Better? – Sovereignty Blues – The Dream That Took Me Over – Snollygoster Goon

THE LICKERISH QUARTET LINKS:

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THREESOME, VOL. 2 – ITUNES

Category: CD Reviews