THE LICKERISH QUARTET (ex Jellyfish) – Threesome Vol. 1 & 2 (2021)

When former JELLYFISH Tim Smith (bass), Roger Joseph Manning, Jr. (vocals, keyboards) and Eric Dover (guitar) – also members of Imperial Drag, Slash’s Snakepit, Alice Cooper in between – convened after a twenty-year period apart to knock around new tunes together, it led to the kind of musical partnership that’s been a godsend for fans of well-crafted melodic rock / art rock &pop.
Baptized THE LICKERISH QUARTET with the addition of drummer Jeremy Stacey, their “Threesome” Vol.1 & 2 is full of smarts, wit and arrangements that often reached toward heights rarely seen in rock since the days of Queen, ELO and Todd Rundgren. Or, for that matter, The Lickerish Quartet’s direct ancestor Jellyfish.

About “Fadoodle”, Dover says the words are an indulgence to his “six-year-old potty humor mind,” since fadoodle is used as a euphemism for sex. It’s a tune that Manning had on the back burner for a number of years. The song has a Sparks / XTC vibe to it.
“Bluebird’s Blues” starts with a building, wordless choral segment reminiscent of 10cc’s “I’m Not in Love” before shifting into an ELO vibe (the production sounds like Jeff Lynne’s as well). Manning first came up with the basis of the melody in 1988, so it had a long gestation – but it’s worth the wait.
Then “Lighthouse Spaceship,” is abit more progressive. There are some heavier guitars in this one, but the latter half of the piece shifts to a piano theme with vocals and some Beatle flourishes a la “I am the Walrus.” Goo goo g’joob indeed.

‘Sovereignty Blues’ lies somewhere in between the easy listening sounds of The Beach Boys and the 70’s vibes of the likes of ELO, and to make it just that little bit better it’s got harmonies stacked up higher than your average Queen song.
‘The Dream That Took Me Over’ moves on a decade or two and is overtly 80’s pop, it’s drenched in synths and has a floating, dreamy ambience to it.
‘Snollygoster Goon’ is very different from what has gone before, with its crunchy pop rock approach and an attitude that’s really carefree, and had me drawing comparisons with The Raspberries.

THE LICKERISH QUARTET delivers a bunch of ‘spark songs’ ready for the Summer that’s guaranteed to bring a smile to one’s face. This is top quality Pop/Rock, with some wonderful melodies and snappy intelligent lyrics.
Highly Recommended

 

01 – Fadoodle
02 – Bluebird’s Blues
03 – There Is a Magic Number
04 – Lighthouse Spaceship
05 – Do You Feel Better?
06 – Sovereignty Blues
07 – The Dream That Took Me Over
08 – Snollygoster Goon

Roger Joseph Manning Jr. – vocals, keyboards
Eric Dover – vocals, guitar
Tim Smith – vocals, bass
Jeremy Stacey – drums

 

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