Eric Frisch
Goodbye Birdcage
(self-released)

Combining a distinct Beach Boys vocal harmony sound and other ’50s and ’60s pop influences (The Beatles one of the biggest among them), plus his own distinct voice and flangy acoustic guitar playing, we get quite the interesting collection of  nine songs here. Originally from Toronto and now making his home in NYC, Frisch has played plenty a show in both cities.

Goodbye Birdcage opens with “Pretty Girls,” a song rich with Beach Boys-like harmonies, horns and acoustic guitar. I like the laconic flick-a-flicka acoustic and Frisch’s upfront vocal on the plaintive “Learn To Swim,” which has some beautiful harmonies and a deceptive retard in the chorus. The title track features Eric on piano and quite the confessional lyric. It’s probably the biggest sounding track here with drums, low lead and a very effective single-note horn line at the singalong-able tail. “Mary Ann” is just a square dance-like send-up, distinctly unlike anything else here, with high, ascending vocals, electric, chunking drums and piano and hootin’ and hollerin’ backing. “The Sun In Santiago” features some fun, flumpy drums and bass, and again a great mix of vocals (it’s Frisch singing and playing mostly all the parts here). Frisch’s voice might be the sweetest (and completely melodically perfect) on the soft and floaty “All Over Town.” The ender here has what sounds like an audience singing along to a plucky “Heaven Only Knows.”