Richard Sallis albums

2025

Felix - 95%

Listening to this album is a great glimpse into the past but also the future. Only six songs but a full length album, this kind of throwback to music from the 1970s is actually appreciated and not a moment is wasted. Each song contains different takes on rock music evolution- either it’s a giant crescendo, or it has multiple parts, more akin to a rock opera with different peaks and some melodies repeated. One has to admire Richard Sallis' dwelling on the sounds of 20 years ago, something in the caverns of Arcade Fire and Modest Mouse at their prime ("Bouncing Masquerade Ball", 10 plus minutes of morphing dance balladry with two great themes) but also owing a lot to the brit pop of Doves, Interpol and Elbow ("Kid Has Gone Missing") around the same mid-2000's dwellings. There is also something of The Who’s Quadrophenia here and other thematic albums of the past. All these influences are transported to 2025 and form a sort of independent mindset, taking in the lengthy dirges of fellow Aussie Nick Cave as well (the harrowing and haunting ‘CONTROLLLL me’s’ bellowed out in "The Bill and Dean Orchestra") and making only six full length songs of true joy.

          Guitar rock takes over for the transcendent "A Song for the Broadcasters" which seems to ebb and flow between hot and cold, using great female dual vocals for the chorus. "My Old Unexpected Friends" is the biggest crescendo of all, starting at a slow simmer but building to quite the catharsis my the end of the seven-minute track- it would be a sing along if it wasn't telling such an intricate story along the way. Best of all, "No Time Like the Present" (play it LOUD) has to be the emotional and cathartic song of the decade so far- one that gets true the heart of rock music while telling a yearning for peace and prosperity among the fellow man. Just like the specter of a lost child haunts the entire proceedings, Sallis has made an album that is hard to shake once heard.

Best Songs: No Time Like the Present, The Bill and Dead Orchestra, Bouncing Masquerade Ball

2026

Casino - 73%

Since his last record was just about my favorite rock record of 2025, I had big expectations and this album seemed like a step backwards. Then I read in an interview that this was actually an old 2010 or so group of ideas Sallis had for songs and he wanted to release something between Felix (2025) and his next big emotional attempt (unnamed project). Ah, makes more sense now. Well, there still are some amazing tunes especially the complex hard rock of “Mandolin Gun” which is one of his best songs and matches the intensity of the best of Sallis work. Ballad “Contact Hours” is also very touching, while “Perfect Light” and “Table 41” are great examples of how he can write a pop song with light touches without really belonging to any traditional school. Just don’t expect Casino to be a true follow up to Felix, and you will most likely enjoy most of it.

Best Songs: Mandolin Gun, Contact Hours, Perfect Light