The hits of the swinging sixties rightly remain the benchmark for many aspiring songwriters and Salim Nourallah from Texas is one of them.
While it would be churlish to criticise an artist for wanting to sound like The Beatles, there are issues than go with this ambition.
I mean no disrespect to that era when I note that some 21st century savvy is also needed to speak to a generation of listeners who weren't even born when Lennon was shot.
Wilco's Jeff Tweedy is just one of many who has realised that well crafted Beatle-esque pop songs are fine and dandy up to a point but that something more is needed if you want to pack more of a post-modern punch.
Salim Nourallah was born in 1967 and his Anglophile leanings and abiding love of the Fabs has informed his work with his siblings - The Nourallah Brothers and four previous solo albums.
His latest album was 'cut on the fly' in just 5 days at the Treefort Studios in Austin, Texas with his band, The Treefort 5, comprising members of happening Indie bands Buttercup, Apples In Stereos and The Polyphonic Spree.
Nourallah sets his sights high by aiming for a combination of The White Album, London Calling, and the Village Green Preservation Society. I can hear the Ray Davies connection but confess I don't hear too much of a Punk influence.
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The record opens with 38 Rue De Sévigné, a love letter to Paris which begins like a slow Kinks tune until an ELO-like Mr Blue Sky riff takes hold. The sunshine and optimism of the song is representative of the album's overall mood. Even when he's kicking against the pricks Nourallah comes out with a smile on his face.
Everybody Knows has a more strident rock beat but otherwise these songs are all celebrations of summery sixties pop.
Songs like The Quitter and Never Felt Better show that Nourallah has song writing credentials and the right nasally voice to carry this off with aplomb.
The melodies are strong and the songs are pretty good but being so much in thrall to his musical heroes leaves no space for his own voice to shine though.
Salim Nourallah's website
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