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The Soundabout-Chasing Ghosts. Pasadena, California is primarily known for being the home of the Rose Bowl (and parade) as well as for the little old lady in the Beach Boys song, but it's also home to Daniel Cleland, a/k/a The Soundabout. Cleland lists the Beatles, XTC, The Shins and My Morning Jacket as influences, and while some mixture of these bands yields an approximation of his sound, I also hear heartland rock like the Wallflowers in the opener "The Things You Come to Love". "As It Goes" has the buoyancy of some of the Shins' better efforts, while "Finding My Way There" shares its anthemic quality with The Jayhawks' "Smile". Another winner here is "Underground" with its "ooh-ooh-ooh" hook. Viva Pasadena! - Absolute Powerpop
If you mixed together Travis and Kenny Howes and they invited June and The Exit Wounds to join them, they may resemble The Soundabout a bit. Daniel Cleland has written a series of catchy pop songs with a confidence that makes it easy to listen to and hard to pigeonhole. It opens with "The things you come to love" a song that has elements of summer pop, alt. country and indie pop. "As it Goes" is a bouncy tune with hand claps and a smooth guitar solo that weaves in between the choruses. The musicianship is excellent and the production has a nice clean sound.
Tagged: Highly Recommended by Powerpopaholic - Powerpopaholic
Discography
Self titled debut, The Soundabout (2004.)
Chasing Ghosts (2007.)
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Bio
The Soundabout is the project of Southern California native Daniel Cleland. This is pop music with a direct link to greats of the past such as The Beach Boys and The Beatles, with an effort to keep up with the progressiveness of The Shins and My Morning Jacket. Daniel writes songs that are at once accessible with catchy but original melodies, and rhythms that keep you tapping along. His lyrics are personal, but universal, dealing with life’s joys and uncomfortable times with candor, and often times humor.
A self-released album in 2004 with nine original tunes highlights this classic, but fresh sound, prompting one reviewer’s remarks on how the opening track’s “Shotgun melody is rousing… which pays off nicely both lyrically and musically.” (Unisong) And now with The Soundabout’s second release, "Chasing Ghosts," the sound is intact but the arrangements have been flushed out with more care, and the lyrics have the heartfelt tone of introspection. With the ten new songs in this collection, it is clear the writing has gotten stronger. As one reviewer stated, Daniel “…Appears to effortlessly churn out pop gems.” (Great American Songwriting Contest)
But in the end, this is music that wants you to sing along. The Soundabout hopes you sing along as well.
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