The Solicitors on 45!

In recent years, I have fully embraced digital music as a format. I possess a rather extensive iTunes library, and I stream new music on a daily basis. I don't hold on to any snobbish notions about the "inferiority" of the format. That said, I do have a strong personal attachment to vinyl. Maybe it's just my generation (growing up in the '70s and '80s), but I just like records! I like having a tangible product that I can hold in my hands. I love the packaging and artwork of vinyl records. And of course I get a rush from dropping the needle onto a record that I'm playing for the very first time. It seems that there are a lot of people who feel the same way, and that explains why vinyl is still going strong in our little corner of the musical universe. For example, I think it's incredibly cool that Germany's All Star Manufacturing Records came back from the dead after an 11-year hiatus for the sole purpose of giving The Solicitors' "If You Let Me Hold You" single a vinyl release. Tomo from All Star Manufacturing, like me, is a big fan of this Melbourne-based power pop band. And so this release is a true labor of love.

In what has been a great year for power pop, "If You Let Me Hold You" has stood out as one of the year's best songs. And now you can hear it on vinyl, backed by another previous digital single, "Quicksand". I have such a soft spot for The Solicitors because they remind me so much of all those new wave pop bands I grew up with (The Knack, Squeeze, Vapors). But more importantly, I think Lee Jones is one of the most talented songwriters to come on the scene in recent memory. He has this way of articulating things that almost all of us have felt but perhaps never found the words to fully express. "If You Let Me Hold You" really nails what it's like when you know you're in a relationship that's over - yet you still desperately cling to anything that that special someone is still willing to give you. And if you've ever had a give-and-take friendship with someone who did all the taking, "Quicksand" will definitely hit home. Both tracks are in The Solicitors' signature style of high energy power pop with sweet melodies chasing bitter lyrics. If you're still unfamiliar with this band, this single is the perfect gateway to the melodious wonders of The Solicitors. And if you're already a fan, here's your chance to experience two of the band's finest songs on your turntable! Pressing is limited to 300 copies (100 on white, 200 on black), so move fast if you want in on the action!



-L.R.

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