Thelonious Monk, Brian Wilson, (Harry) Nilsson, The Rutles, Donovan, The Kinks, Burt Bacharach, Dick Cavett, Woody Allen, Michael Palin, Bob Newhart, Bob and Ray, Quinn-Martin Productions, Steely Dan, The Monkees, Bob Dylan, Jimmy Webb, The Zombies, Tony Hatch, Henry Mancini, Vic Mizzy, Pizzicato 5, The Beatles, Carole King, Laura Nyro,Todd Rundgren, Fantastic Plastic Machine, Curtis Mayfield, EWF, The Spinners, Proctor and Gamble and Huff, The Muppets, Mummenschanz, Christo, Chad and Jeremy (or Tchad and Germany), The Fuzzy Trapezoid, “Bennie and the Jets” by Elton John, “Lowdown” by Boz Scaggs, Tim Moore (the hilarious travel writer), Mark Twain, Orson Welles, hearing jazz and funk on t.v. as a kid, all those greats from Brasil: Jobim, Lobo, Valle, et al; pretty much all jazz artists on Riverside and Blue Note.
Sounds Like
REVIEWS
"Musically, Brookman brings to mind The High Llamas’ homages to Brian Wilson. These atmospheric tunes are melodic, witty, yearning and sometimes melancholic. They’re also frequently hypnotic and always engaging…….."
David Gofstein, Cool and Strange Music! Magazine.
"...an essential addition to the collection of anyone who holds Mr. Wilson dear to their hearts. "
David Bash, Amplifier, Volume 4, 4
"[Brookman's music] is for those who like pop, specifically the sun sad pop of Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys masterpiece, Pet Sounds or the smart British pop of Skylarking-era XTC. Meticulously arranged, brimming with complex harmonies and melodic hooks, For Those Who Like POP is a strange summer journey across “Polka Dot Bridge” through “The Undersea World of Sherlock Holmes” where “Uncle’s Telescope” is suitable for peeping on both the pariah poet “Stearnes Pantywaist” and Edgar Stith, “The Sinister Cyclist.” Like many intellectual posters before him, from Randy Newman to Scott Miller, Scott Brookman has turned a love for his record collection, a reverence for the form, and a sly wit into a work that should be greatly appreciated by all those who like Pop."
John Daniel, The Sonic, July 1999.
"Scott Brookman writes what I'll call, for the lack of a better phrase, some of the most charming and appealing pop songs I've heard in a long time, with a sense of humor and an utter lack of pretension. The strengths of [his music] are almost too numerous to mention. First off, Scott's songwriting and arrangements are impeccable, and his vocal harmonies are at times truly something to behold! More than just straight-forward crooning over acoustic strum-strum-strum, his songs are filled with exciting interplay between vocals, guitar, and bass. "
Review of early cassette, can't find reviewers name!
"Brookman's work reminds one of the days when actual songs, not "tracks," were written, while remaining wholly original and new. If, after the first listening, you don't play this album again immediately, you may have missed something important musically.......He could easily be named one of the most diverse musicians and songwriters right now, so not giving this album at least one listen would almost be a crime."
L. Anne Carrington Indie Music Stop 2007
"Well this is just a warm, fuzzy, pop jewel and that's all there is to it.
Scott Brookman's For Those Who Like Pop is a solid showcase of an extremely talented individual. At times evocative of Brian Wilson's finest moments, Brookman's greatest accomplishment are the fine arranging skills within. Tracks like Ballad Of A Boy Named Dracula and The Undersea World Of Sherlock Holmes are every bit the evocative film scores that they pretend to be - and Karen and In The Scheme Of Things are two of the loveliest purely melodic numbers you'll hear. The vocal arrangement on In The Scheme Of Things is particularly worth noting, with Brookman's intertwining multi-layered vocal perfectly complementing the simple piano-driven beat.
Even The Beatles come to mind in parts, as on the mesmerizing Then You See Her which takes Lennon's piano-pounding style and marries it to McCartney's stronger pop sensibilities. Swing My Way adds to the playful nature of much of For Those Who Like Pop, thanks to its swinging organ (stop laughing!) groove and Ashley Bell's drums.
For those who like pop, you really should get to know Scott Brookman - I think you'll like him, too.
* * * * out of 5"
Claudio Sossi, Shake It Up
I have been writing and recording tuneful pop songs since the mid-80’s, when I was suddenly able to do it. I wrote many of the songs performed by the well-received regional band, The Apes of Wrath, who gigged around Virginia in the 80’s. At around the same time I began recording home demos on a variety of 4-track portastudios, discovering that I could improvise harmony with myself that sounded pretty good. The so-called “home tapers” movement accepted me and I began sharing music with a larger body of listeners. All in all there were something like 6-8 tape releases from the end of the 80’s through the mid 90’s.
As the 90’s ended, Twee Kitten Records from California released my music: one 7”, a cd-ep, and one full-length cd, For Those Who Like POP. The latter release in particular was, considering its zero budget, successful. Not only did it sell well, but it was picked up for reissue in Japan by Vroom-Sound. Music from the cd was used extensively in the PBS kids show, "Dragonfly TV". There were flattering reviews in underground ‘zines, a few larger circulation magazines and even Japan’s "Beikoku-Ungaku". Somewhere along the line I wrote an original song used in the film "Golfballs".
Spring 2007 saw the release of a new digital download album, “A Song for Me, A Song for You." It includes 14 songs merging styles ranging from bossa nova, to jazz/rock to Beatley numbers. It has been a privilege to work with Jack Shannon, Anthony Allen, Stewart Myers, Palmer Wilkins and Ashley Bell in making this music. The same album is now finally available as a compact disc.
Since the "A Song for Me..." album, I've been working with Palmer and Anthony PLUS the amazingly talented Roland Wolff, of Riviera, a great German pop group. Roland's all around musical genius is undeniable and must be heard to be believed. Hear him on "Summer's Two Weeks Notice." Other than drums and piano, he plays everything and sings a lot, too.
A Song for Me, A Song for You now available on COMPACT DISC and as DOWNLOADS at Cd BABy
Or....order directly from me (I get more money that way!) by going to my website: www.scottbrookman.com/order.php
Scott, I watched and listened to Mayumi-san's "live" performance on video. It is so wonderful. She is so nice and your song is really great. I felt it is just Brookman's music even if it is jazz style. I felt warm and a little sad from this song. So nice.
And thanks for comment again. I am so glad every time. Your daughter is intelligent. She knows well
How have you been lately? Yes...those martians have been after my secret for a long time. They think it's my gear...little do they know it's really inside my head! Hope they won't find out, that might become nasty!
Yo Scott! I love 'Lemon Lane', and interesting to hear the instrumental of The Way... I have just uploaded a new song 'Oscillator' if you get a chance to nip over to Blighty for a minute or 4... keep in touch. Love, the 'dog x.
I'm just listenning now to "it's too late, it's friday" it sounds perfect for my friday afternoon. Thanks for your music once again! Have a nice weekend
Yo there in Brookmania! PDB is very catchy. I love the multiple strummed acouctic guitars (something which I'm technically unable to emulate BTW) and the kind of Birdsy feel of it all, but with a garage band vibe added. I really like that album (whispers) possibly more even than it's successor...bye for now.
Online Now!
She knows well
x
