Friday, February 16, 2007
Orange Pop: New releases recall old sounds
Four local acts have released strong new albums.
By ROBERT KINSLER
Special to the Register
This week's Orange Pop column looks at three strong Orange County-based acts revisiting well-established genres with a firm grasp of the past and winning hooks designed to bring those sounds into the '00s.

A Choired Taste "Garden of Love" (independent) – Listening to the dozen tracks on A Choired Taste's latest full-length disc is like traveling back in time.

The sound and wide-ranging style created by the 14-member Huntington Beach-based collective is very much of the late 1960s and 1970s, with the folk-tinged rock on "Garden of Love" recalling artists such as Donovan, James Taylor and Peter, Paul & Mary. The group fuses many of the songs with diverse elements to enhance the songs; flute and fiddle bring the right Celtic moodiness to "Marie Christine," while the group brings the same kind of authenticity to the country-western-flavored "Kiloman Brooder."

The group also delivers a wonderful jazz instrumental, "Sweet Melodie," featuring standout work from saxophonist Wayne Wayne.

A Choired Taste, "To Mom"(independent) – Although everything from Beatles remakes and anti-war collections to holiday music-themed sets have become commonplace in recent years, the Orange County collective A Choired Taste has shaped an album geared specifically toward honoring admittedly-unsung mothers with a full-length collection of original songs. Well-produced and heartfelt, "To Mom" will please fans of '70s soft rock with warm songs such as the jazzy "Someday" (featuring singer Stacie Chavez) and the instrumental title track written by group leader HP in the late 1980s and finally released on this set.

Information:www.AChoiredTaste.com.

You might like if you enjoy:the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Cat Stevens.

Orange Slices

A Choired Taste, "Tasty" (independent) - A Choired Taste has just released "Tasty," the first of three releases the 10-member Huntington Beach band plans to release this year.
A Choired Taste is armed with a horn section, but the band's classic rock sound extends beyond the confines of any one genre as evidenced by the band's 12-song debut. "Tasty" features an eclectic mix of material ranging from a decidedly reggae number ("Not Me") and Santana-minded Latin rock ("Chemistry") to a country-tinged rocker ("Cruise Master Imperial").
Led by singer-songwriter-guitarist HP Laborde, the mix of styles really works. There are times the material sounds as if it might have been included on classic albums released by artists ranging from Randy Newman and the Eagles to Fleetwood Mac. "Hollywood Show" sounds as if it was an outtake from a classic Ringo Starr album.
Sometimes positioning one's self all over the map is a good thing; clearly it works for A Choired Taste.
Info: www.AChoiredTaste.com
You might like if you enjoy: Santana, Lou Reed, the Eagles

len amsterdam radio music audio review
http://www.soundclick.com/stations/stations.cfm?id=130966
we really like what we heard
a LEN AMSTERDAM RADIO REVIEW

The band offers up a real contemporary sound.
The production includes some interesting elements that
put this band right here in the 21st century.
A total powerhouse track from start to finish"

Len Amsterdam Show Broadcasting from Canada

"There's a new (old?) group in town: "A Choired Taste", based in Huntington Beach. These boys really know their stuff and fill any venue with original, eclectic music that you've got to hear live to really appreciate"...