Boasting the regal reputation as England’s greatest ’60s tribute band, the Overtures obviously maintain a heavily booked schedule. Aside from entertaining the general public, the group counts a number of famous faces among their fans, having staged private gigs for stars like Paul McCartney, Elton John and Elvis Costello.
Although the Overtures have been around since 1989, they just released their first album of original material. Comprised of a dozen glowing gems, OnceInAWorld indicates the band to be as virile as the mop tops and mods they mimic. All the required boxes are checked, from excellent songwriting to perfected phrasing, to impeccable timing to vibrant vocals.
Flush with jingly chords, gripping breaks and swinging backbeats, “Til Your Luck Runs Out,” “She Belongs to Yesterday” and the title cut of the album quote chapter and verse from the twin influences of the Searchers and the Hollies, while the brassy bounce of “Still On My Mind” resembles the Tremeloes getting their Motown on.
Garbed in psychedelic impressions, “Watching the Grass Grow” shimmers to a pumping groove, and “The Hollow Bells” favors a mid-tempo clip, flourishing with sophistication and beauty. Strummy riffs, pierced with the cry of a harmonica conveys a West Coast folk rock feel on “You’ve Been Gone,” and the boogie-bleached “Red Dolls House” features a gnarly guitar solo.
Gushing with harmony and melody, OnceInAWorld reins in as a priceless package of purebred pop rock. After decades of honing their skills on the covers circuit, the Overtures have channeled their instincts into something bright and bountiful. An outstanding collection of old school styles performed with fresh energy, OnceInAWorld promises to make many Best Album of the Year lists.
- How ‘Hollies Sing Hollies’ Showed New Promise After Graham Nash’s Exit - November 14, 2024
- Barry Melton on Country Joe and the Fish, Woodstock – and That Chant - August 15, 2024
- Bachman-Turner Overdrive Set a New Standard With ‘Not Fragile’ - August 7, 2024
