Rogers & Butler – Poets & Sinners (Zip)

Rogers & Butler is Birmingham, UK-born, NYC-based Edward Rogers, who has released seven top-notch solo albums and two with his duo Bedsit Poets, and Stephen Butler, frontman (along with his brother Brian) for New Jersey power-pop bands Smash Palace and Quincy. With the two ebullient, sound-alike, Ray Davies-evoking crooners trading lead vocals, aided by veteran bassist Sal Maida (of Roxy Music, Milk ‘N’ Cookies, Sparks, and Cracker), Smithereens drummer Dennis Diken, and the vibrant production of Don Piper, their debut full-length continues the melodic, jocular, and robust pop/rock of 2019’s Diana Dors EP. While there’s a decided Kinks influence throughout – see the shadowy, paranoid title track and jaunty ragtime/dancehall of “Skimming Milk from the Cream” and “Noel Coward,” a paean to the funny and flamboyant English playright, actor, and singer – the diverse LP also recalls plenty of other harmonious heavyweights, from Teenage Fanclub (“A Satisfied Mind”), The Beatles (“Writing to the Moon”), and TV Smith (“Olde Store Fronts”), to The Who/Byrds (“Jump Like Alice”), Moody Blues (“Luv Lock Bridge”), and David Bowie (“The Other Side of Midnight”). (ziprecords.com)

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