Dion Read & The Afterthoughts

From Martin Raybold at whisperinandhollerin:

“Great pop songs are light without being lightweight. Take, for example the lines from The Lovin’ Spoonful’s 1966 classic .”Cool town, evening in the city /Dressing so fine and looking so pretty” which a sense of a time, mood and place with great economy.

It’s a difficult balancing act to pull off but Dion Read makes a fair stab at it with the five snappy songs on this ep. It helps that Read is the type of guy who appreciates girls with freckles and is not impressed by fancy clothes (a fact which is obvious enough from glancing the cover photos of him and his band looking like male models for Top Shop!).

Fashion is definitely not the be all and end all here, if it were we’d likely be hearing another blast of arty-punk or avant-rock. Instead, Read takes his cues from the melodic song writing skills and piano playing of Ben Folds: “most of my knowledge of chords and structures stems from there” he freely admits.

Given the sunny mood of this record it is appropriate that Read grew up listening to songs from his father’s 60s pop collection in the Sunshine Coast of Queensland, Australia.

His songs are sharp and unpretentious reflections on, you guessed it, summer, the city and pretty girls.

The best is the most self reflective. ‘Air Balloons’ epitomises Read’s ‘no worries’ philosophy as a young man who lives for the heart rather than the head. This song tells how he feels as lost as the hot air balloons he has seen on TV but, ever the optimist, he consoles himself the thought: “I think the best things in life are gonna pass me by / that’s okay ’cause I’d only ever put them all to waste”.

A nice, feel good record to add to next summer’s playlist.”

From pennyblackmusic.co.uk

“Dion Read and the Afterthoughts: Be Here Right Now

Reviewed By: Benjamin Howarth
Label: DRA Records
Format: CDS

Dion Read and the Afterthoughts are a piano-bass-drums trio, based in Melbourne. ‘Be Here Right Now’ is their second five-track EP.

Obviously influenced by that other piano-bass-drums trio, the Ben Folds Five, there are moments here that could have been taped during the sessions for ’Whatever and Ever Amen’. To be fair to Read, he never hides the influence – it was Folds’ songs that he played during his childhood piano lessons when he wanted a break from the classical music his teachers preferred.

And yet, there is evidence here of a spark of individual talent. Dion Read is a fabulous pianist and has the talent to emulate his hero Folds, while the Afterthoughts are more than just a backing band, adding drive and texture to Read’s power pop.

Though Read (at this stage in his career) lack Folds’ skills as a lyricist – he does not seem to have Folds’ sharp wit – his compositions are easily melodic, to the point where you quickly forget that you’ve heard something like this before.

The record closes with ‘Air Balloons’, a gorgeous ballad – the kind Ben Folds specialises in and one that he would surely have been happy to have written.”

From Hubbub UK:
“Fresh out of Melbourne comes this new offering from Dion Read and his piano power pop outfit, The After Thoughts. Originally from Queensland before re-locating to Melbourne Read manages to combine thoughtful and meaningful lyrics with superb piano accompaniment. Backed up by strong musicianship from James K Pere on bass and Kyle Goldsworthy on drums the trio who have been together since 2007, bring you quirky stories of love and lust along with everyday dramas, whilst maintaining an upbeat dynamic tempo. After tales of a lovers tiff in the title track “Be Here Now” the EP then flits to besotted adulation in the catchy “In the City” before a dose of realism strikes with the final track “Air Balloons”, finishing with the line – I think the best things in life are gonna pass me by, there they go, I don’t put up much of a fight. This is a well produced and superbly performed collection of songs, a new album must surely be in the pipeline.”

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.”

From their singles review section on January 15:

“Guessed Biography: Dion Read is a young, sweet, wide-eyed
guy with a suburban Melbourne offi ce job and a guitar he plucks
away at on weekends to the delight of his equally young, sweet,
wide-eyed, administrative girlfriend. They’ve been together since
just after high school, they share a fl at, and together they’re carving
out a simple but wonderful life together. Then she dumps him.
Dion’s heart is shattered. He stops going to work, starts not shaving,
and cries a lot. His earnest heartache is overpowering, and
with his friends quickly bored by his grief, the only thing he can do
to make any sense of this new world is write songs. Dion frequents
cafes with his notebook. He travels on the bus, humming. He feeds
ducks, stares at clouds and contemplates his torn soul. Songs like If
I Was There For You and Unloving You emerge – sweet, wide-eyed,
impeccably-lyriced and full of whimpering hurt, like the song an
articulately witty dog would write when you go for a walk without
them. By the time Dion pieces a band together and records four
catchy singer-songwriter tales, he’s a bit world-wiser and a tiny bit
more jaded, but he’s still all about the love.
Actual Biography: Originally from Brisbane, Dion formed
The Afterthoughts in Melbourne in 2005. With a classical piano
background, QUT Bachelor of Music degree and love of ‘60s pop,
this is Dion’s debut release. The press release is very scant on details
about his love life. Probably still hurts too much.” – Simon Topper

He did the whole “guessed biography, actual biography” thing with everyone. Not so accurate, but entertaining anyway. The most obscure review so far, what do you think?

You can download the latest edition in pdf at www.ravemagazine.com.au

Another two reviews for the EP have popped up:

Absolute Powerpop

“An impressive debut from this piano-based Aussie. He cites the Bens (Folds, Lee, Kweller – and Affleck) as influences, and you can hear certainly hear them (OK, maybe not Affleck). It’s only four songs, but it’s worth every penny as the quality is high. Had this one come earlier in the year, I’d have found a spot on the top 10 EP list for it.”

Powerpopaholic

“Dion Read is almost the textbook example of the quirky piano pop meister, with his opening track “If I was there for you.” It has echos of Ben Folds and that song from Apple’s iphone commercial by Orba Squara. It’s got a nice melody and the follow up “Unloving You” is even better, with some sweet multitracked harmony. This four track EP is an impressive debut worth a spin on the ipod. Hey, Apple can you use Dion’s song for the next tv spot? 8/10″

The lovely Lisa (aka dolly dagger) at The Dwarf (an Australian music website) has written a review of our humble EP:

“Charming. Dainty. Smile. Delicious. Sweet. Quirky. These are the words coming to mind as I absorb the opening track- If I Was There For You- on Dion Read and The Afterthoughts’ The Shoes & Gloves EP.

Lyrics like “What’s your boyfriend’s name? Are you sure that he’s not gay? I guess it’s true what they say, not funny ha-ha, but slightly funny strange” make Dion instantly endearing. A slightly softer- and more amusing- Josh Pyke, a less country Ben Kweller, Dion sings the kind of songs that make girls want to take their men home to Mama. Or whomever they have at home. The Triple J endorsed Unloving You bursts with catchy, jangly piano and Dion’s particular husky vox. The way he says “you” in songs isn’t detached- it feels like you. No, this song isn’t for anyone else, it was written for me, you think. The Ben Folds influence is clear: not in a defamatory way, simply in their sharing of pleasing harmonies, delectable piano and humorous, quaint lyrics. I am constantly surprised, when listening to this EP, that Dion & The Afterthoughts- that’d be James on bass/synth/table tennis spectating and Kyle on drums and gristle- have not been snapped up by some indie label and plonked into major airwaves so everyone else can love them too.

Serious rounds off the 4-track EP in a stunning cloud of keys and gorgeous vocals from Mr. Read, and I am intensely disappointed I have no more to listen to. If you like the kind of indie-acoustica that is slathering all over the music industry these days- both underground and mainstream, it’s everywhere!- Dion Read beats all of that. Pavarotti once said; “Compare music to drinks. Some is like a strong brandy. Some is like a fine wine. The music you’re playing sounds like Diet Coke”. I believe bands like The Shins are Diet Coke (nay, Coke Zero!); all flash and gash, no real flavour, mostly artificial. Dion Read is the sweet wine lulling me off to sleep. Get into ‘em, kids.”

Read the same thing in its real place here.

Better than a kick in the balls, innit? Thanks Lisa, and it’s good to know that someone else besides me thinks that I’m better than everyone else…