Pop singer-songwriter Bill DeMain offers a delightfully nostalgic escape with his seven-song EP Vaudeville. The six swinging originals and one cover (Harry Nilsson’s “Garbage Can Ballet”) give “a tip of the hat to vaudeville, swing and jug & jive,” per the liner notes, and underscore DeMain’s encyclopedic knowledge of pop music going back to the first half of the 20th century. The Swan Dive co-founder’s singing has never been better than it is on this material arranged by multi-instrumentalist Jim Hoke, who accompanies him on all the tracks. Celebrated jazz pianist Larry Goldings contributes piano to the finale “Shut-Ins,” which he and DeMain co-wrote.
Best Short Trip to the Prewar Era
