The glorious The Lovetones have take everyone by surprise by issuing a shimmering compilation album entitled ‘The Song Is My Friend’. Songwriter Matthew J. Tow describes the compilation as a very personal collection:
You’ll find some familiar tracks, along with some rare and deep cuts in there too. Curated in a way that gives those who are already familiar with the band along with those new to our sound, a fresh perspective on our music. Many of the tracks I chose have special significance for me and I want to share some of my favourites from the past 25 years. These ARE the songs that saved my life. These songs are my friends and these songs now, I give to you. Enjoy the music. Dream on dear friends and stay golden.
Needless to say it is a collection that positively shimmers in a twelve-string pop heaven – filled with songs with that distinctive jingle jangle sound and soaring, euphoric anthem melodies. There are thirty stunning tracks – consistently brilliant and immeasurably and achingly beautiful.
The more recent tracks released over the recent years appear – ‘Shout It To The Wind‘, ‘Seven Days‘, ‘Everything Changed‘ as well as songs from the band’s vast brilliant catalogue, ranging from the Beatlesesque tones of ‘What Am I To Do’, ‘Free Yourself’ and ‘Be What You Want’ to the Brian Jonestown Massacre onslaught of ‘What Am I To Do’.
Tracks like ‘Pieces of Me’ are stunning cinematic tracks with a horizon wider than the skies over the outback, and just as brilliant and radiant. ‘Way The Light Dances’ is positively transfixing, making the hairs on the back of your neck stand to attention with its Roy Orbison falsetto vocals. ‘Journeyman’ evokes a sixties harmony-laden delight that out Byrds The Byrds with the sweeping strings and ringing, shimmering production, while ‘Memory Lane’ could have fitted on ‘Pet Sounds’.
This is an absolutely absorbing, immersive collection of pop gems that shimmer and shine like stars in the firmament and is a testimony to the power and voltage of The Lovetones.
‘The Song Is My Friend’ is an essential collection and currently available to stream only now via all the usual sites. It’s a stunning exploration of the creative mind of Tow. This would be an outrageous collection in vinyl. Hint, hint.
