Hey! Hey! It’s the Glad Machine!

The first time I can recall hearing The Glad Machine was on a Big Blast Records sampler from 2021. The band’s “Slow Motion July” was one of the sampler’s highlights. Similarly, the tracks on Hey! (the band’s second album) highlight their dynamic vocals, distinctive guitar work and ace rhythm section. Most importantly, the choruses are infectious.

Lead vocalist Brad Thayer describes it this way: “As far as the overall theme of the album, I’d say it’s finding the silver lining. We lost quite a few loved ones while making this record, and we tried to create something to counteract that darkness. We ran it through The “Glad Machine” – so to speak.”

Brilliant Guitars & Big Harmonies

The album’s single, “San Francisco”, features spot on harmonies, a brilliant guitar solo and a chorus that sticks like fly paper. If counting songs can be considered their own genre (think XTC’s “Senses Working Overtime”, Elvis Costello’s “Every Day I Write the Book” or even 1910 Fruitgum Company’s “1-2-3 Redlight”), then The Glad Machine have a worthy entry with “We All Fall”.

Speaking of “1-2-3 Redlight”, “Baby It’s You” leans in that direction, sounding a little like something between The Sweet and Cheap Trick. “Shout” starts out rather unassuming before taking off as if it were shot out of a canon. And the bells and ringing guitars of “Days Gone By” make it one of my favorite songs on the album and a very appropriate note to end on.

The Glad Machine are Brad Thayer (vocals/keys), Greg Saulman (guitars), Neil Robinson (bass) and Mike Franklin (drums/vocals/guitars). Mike Franklin and Brad Thayer did a masterful job with production.

Get The Glad Machine’s Hey! Here

The Glad Machine’s Hey! is easily one of this year’s finest power pop efforts. Get your copy at the band’s Bandcamp page. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED