Dion Read & The Afterthoughts

From The Dwarf:

“Title track Be Here Right Now – if not the whole EP, depending on who might be listening to it- whispers Coldplay, with a tinge of cheer- the kind Chris Martin seems unable to reproduce in his musical endeavours, but abundantly so in his casual persona.

The quirky and charming songwriting of frontman Dion Read is still as ever-present as in The Shoes & Gloves EP. “I’m so in awe of the way you can smile when you haven’t had your coffee” he croons over the band’s piano-based pop stylings on In the City, an endearing modern-day love song (certainly a realistic one.) “I don’t know how you do it but you make the most out of your horrible work clothes” he tells some faceless lover, whom we can only imagine is as effervescent as our protagonist.

Make my Day settles for somewhat more songwriting-by-numbers lyricism but is still airily pleasant. The EP ends with the heartrending Air Balloons, where Dion tells us, “I know that I’ve been a disappointment to all of you, but that’s okay, ‘cause I’m still young and foolish and that’s just what we do” and you believe him because he sounds ever so remorseful.

Dion Read is quickly rising in my top recommendations list, and not just because he’s a top bloke, but also for his original lyricism and ability to foster a sort-of young and upbeat Tim Freedman vibe. Check it out, and try and tell me I’m wrong.”

From Absolute Powerpop:
“Last year, Dion Read & Co. had one of the more promising debuts with their Shoes & Gloves EP. Now the Aussie piano power popper is back with his second EP, and it’s another treat. Since it’s de rigeur to compare piano power poppers to Ben Folds, let me analogize in this fashion: Read’s new EP is to his last one what The Unauthorized Biography of Reinhold Messner was to Whatever and Ever Amen. For the Folds-unfamiliar, the new EP is more understated affair than the first, which doesn’t mean it isn’t fine in its own right. The title track is the peppiest of the bunch, while “The Blame” recalls Folds’ “Don’t Change Your Plans” from Messner. And the closer “Air Balloons” is a wonderful ballad that ranks up there with “Smoke” or “The Luckiest”. Don’t let this one be an afterthought.”

You too can look like Nat Bass with your very own Dion Read & The Afterthoughts T-Shirt. Head to the Merchandise page for details.

Or view one by one here.