Posted on: July 27, 2009 Posted by: John B. Moore Comments: 0

Toronto-based musician Steve Singh has taken the DIY ethos to heart. On his latest, Heavy Metal Sunset, the singer/songwriter wrote, performed, mixed and produced all 10 songs. Mining a stellar list of influences as varied as Stevie Wonder and Glenn Tillbrook, Singh makes pop music like no one else performing today.

From the album opener – the title track – through “You Stink Underwater,” Heavy Metal Sunset has a timeless feel (this album could just have easily come out in the late 60’s). There is a vague Kink’s vibe that pops up throughout the record and is particularly clear on songs like “You’re Sitting on My Halo” and “Mouth Full of Gravity.”

Lyrically, Singh seems to follow the Michael Stipe school of creative imagery over more straight forward story telling. Pared with the left of center instrumentation, the album is satisfying if a tad bit brief, clocking in at less than half an hour. Singh also created a great stop motion video for the song “Wash My Hair” at www.myspace.com/stevesingh.

Top tracks: “The Past Tense” and “Wash My Hair”

Rating: 8.1 out of 10

Steve Singh – Heavy Metal Sunset (CD)

Steve Singh – Heavy Metal Sunset/CD/2008/10 tracks/Self-released/www.myspace.com/stevesingh

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