Music Junk Selection #3: The Major Labels

THE MAJOR LABELS - AQUAVIA

     Keeping the genres on a good rotation here, the next artist I want to shine the spotlight on is “The Major Labels” and their one and only album “Aquavia."

                                                      GENRE: Pop

                                                      SUB-GENRE: Power Pop

                                                      MEMBERS: William "Bleu" McAuley, Mike Viola, Ducky Carlisle

     'A collection of songwriting and production veterans' is how I would describe these gentlemen and Aquavia should be evidence to that statement.  The Major Labels is a side-project from 2008 that was an outlet for a few artists to do something a little outside of their regular sound.  The choice to do this was a good one as this project ended up sounding something like unreleased Beatles tunes WHICH is obviously a big claim, but one I’m willing to make.  These guys have a strong grasp on what a pop song should sound like if you want multiple generations shouting it at the top of their lungs in the car and then listening quietly and introspectively to the very next track.  There are songs that are fun, some are seriously progressive, and some are both, all while maintaining a theme across the album that is reminiscent of something that would have been on pop radio in the sixties.  This album is a modern songwriting achievement and shows that artists today can still have an amazing sense of what the human ear and psyche is actually wanting out of a song.

     One of the qualities that helps The Major Labels stand apart from other pop groups are the singers, Bleu and Mike Viola.  Both of these men are prolific songwriters and have been recording and releasing music since the 90s.  Mike Viola co-produced and sang lead vocals on the title track for “That Thing You Do” and has consistently been putting out music with the Candy Butchers, as well as a solo act since then.  Bleu, while having not done something quite as ‘name-droppy’ like That Thing You Do, has a unique and attractive voice and has been writing some great pop as a solo act for a decade and a half (along with a number of other side-projects).  The Major Labels is closer to Viola’s sound, but with the addition of Bleu’s voice and flare it makes the music reach a new level of power and conviction.  This is what made the Beatles great and it's what makes The Major Labels great: One band with two gifted songwriters that worked well with one another.  Ducky Carlisle, while not being a songwriting powerhouse, has had decades of production experience and that undoubtedly brings a consistently professional sound to the record.

The album starts off with a couple fun tracks, but it doesn’t really lay into your musical senses until track 3 with “Velveteen Queen.”  The melody moves to pleasantly expected places as well as the powerful unexpected places, all coupled with a traditionally sweet chord progression.  Unadulterated songwriting greatness.

                                                              VELVETEEN QUEEN

The next track I would like to highlight is “Hummingbird.”  This is a beautifully written acoustic piece that is paired with a gentle and moving melody.  Any joker with an acoustic guitar can write a song and meet the criteria to be considered a song, but Viola and Bleu do it to a caliber that few can, while still working with so little.

                                                              HUMMINGBIRD

The last track I want to talk about is the 3-part song “The Sweet.”  Definitely an interesting song that takes a different direction than what is expected and really demonstrates the care for craft that they have for their music.

                                                              THE SWEET

In the end The Major Labels bring a pop sensibility that otherwise seems to have been lost a long time ago, making Aquavia a real diamond in the rough.  Here are the specific good qualities of this gem:

1. Songs That Go Places

2. Rich Chord Progressions

3. Vocals With Interest & Character

4. Genuinely Moving Ballads

5. Not Over-Produced

There is only one album by The Major Labels, but I hope that they come to their senses, get back together, and make another record.  They are all still making music in some shape or form in other projects, but here’s to the hope of them reuniting for a follow up to Aquavia.  I hope that I gave you something new to add to your regular listening and thanks for taking time to hear these guys in the first place.



Official Music Junk Video links here:
Velveteen Queen - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0sy1_Y55OLY
Hummingbird - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOPmGchnHeY
The Sweet - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcRGN2Nu1gg