Danny Ayala: "Only Fools Love Again" (2025) Vinyl Review

Danny Ayala is known for his work with The Lemon Twigs, playing bass and keyboards, as well as providing vocal work, for that band on its tours. And both Brian D'Addario and Michael D'Addario of The Lemon Twigs joins him on his fantastic new solo album, Only Fools Love Again, as does The Lemon Twigs' touring drummer Reza Matin. This album features all original material, written or co-written by Danny Ayala. Danny Ayala plays several instruments on these tracks, including bass, piano, electric piano, organ, synthesizer, and glockenspiel. These tracks also feature the work of Fernando Perdomo, who plays acoustic guitar, electric guitar, mandolin, bass and percussion. Fernando also produced most of the tracks with Danny (two tracks were produced by The Lemon Twigs). By the way, though it's a single album, the packaging has a gatefold, something that always takes me back, in a good way, to my childhood, when I'd be seated in my dad's den with the record jacket open on my lap while I listened. So, yes, I had the gatefold open on my lap while I enjoyed this record.

Side A

The album opens with "I Was Wrong," which begins with the line "I was wrong to ever leave you alone." An admission, or confession, to put things in motion. This is a wonderful pop song. The other day someone was again telling me how bad current pop music is. I know where the guy was coming from, but obviously he hadn't heard this record. This fits in with the best stuff from the power pop bands, with some Paisley Underground influence, basically showing how good pop music can be in the right hands. "You bring out the best side of me, girl," Danny sings. And the chorus is incredibly catchy. This is one of the tracks to feature The Lemon Twigs, and it's followed by another track to feature Brian D'Addario and Michael D'Addario, "Something With You," this one also produced by The Lemon Twigs. It is an interesting and thoughtful sort of love song, featuring an excellent vocal performance, and some nice work on piano. If you're a fan of Chris Stamey's music, you'll love this music too. It has a sweet, pretty vibe, and contains some excellent harmonies. "Am I wrong to let go of a future/That I really want to know/I can't tell if it's true/Several soul mates or just you/I imagine all of it with you."

There is a delicious pop energy to "I Don't Like Her," with a rhythm that can drive us straight into the sky, over the rainbow and back. This is the other song that was produced by The Lemon Twigs, and both Brian and Michael join Danny on it. It contains a great, powerful instrumental section, featuring some excellent work by Brian on electric guitar. This is one of my personal favorites. It's followed by "Life's Always Worth It." "I know things pass/Good times won't last/I know all these things I know." This is a perfect song for our strange, unsettling times, reminding us "Life's always worth it." Sure, everything passes; sure, this is all too brief. All the more reason to choose life, to enjoy ourselves, to not get caught up in the manufactured troubles. This track features a beautiful vocal section, with Danny providing his own harmonies, as well as some powerful moments. The first side concludes with "The Ballad," a magical, wonderful song. Kaitlin Wolfberg plays on this track. A one-woman string section, she plays violin, viola and cello, helping to create this track's great appeal. Plus, Danny plays glockenspiel, and Fernando Perdomo plays mandolin, those instruments adding to the delicious sound. This one takes us on a journey through changes, through different sections, and is gorgeous at times. Brian and Michael provide excellent harmony vocals. "Let the stars shine on your face/Let the moon shine on your soul/Wherever you may go." This is another of my favorites.

Side B

The second side opens with "The Village." Strange, delightful and even haunting at moments, this song stands out, even among these excellent songs. This one also features the work of the extraordinarily talented Kaitlin Wolfberg, who again plays violin, viola and cello. And at the track's heart is a moving and beautiful vocal performance. "So tell me what's the difference if you lie/I couldn't ever tell the difference if I tried/So use me and abuse me, I'm the perfect guy/I'll wipe the tears when I'm supposed to cry." What an unusual and outstanding song. Then "Pluto" comes on hard with a great force, the drums driving us into the track. We grew up with nine planets, and somewhere along the way, Pluto was kicked out of the club, reclassified, redefined against its will. This is a fun, wild song from the perspective of Pluto, featuring some excellent work by Fernando Perdomo on electric guitar. "Am I too cold or too dark for you to say that you want me/Am I too far from your home/I know it's hard to be alone." And Pluto tells us straight out, "I wanna be a planet."

"Don't Hold Me" has a steady, familiar rhythm. In fact, when it begins, it feels like a classic rhythm and blues number from the 1960s. It has that vibe in its opening moments. There's a really good bass line, and I love that guitar work in the instrumental section toward the end. "I don't know if I have what it takes/To break what could be beautiful fairly." Lexi Snow provides harmony vocals on this track. That's followed by "I Wanna Come Back To You," which was written by Danny Ayala and Nick Kivlen (of Sunflower Bean). Danny plays glockenspiel again on this one. There is a soothing aspect to the song, especially to the vocal work, and the repetition of the title line is particularly effective. We all understand where he's coming from. This track also features some wonderful touches on electric guitar. Danny then wraps up the album with a cheerful pop gem titled "Smile For Me," a song that makes me feel that the world is a much better place. And, hey, maybe it is. Music has the power to transform reality. "And oooh we'll make it better." This is yet another of the record's highlights. "How does that sound?" he asks. It sounds perfect.

Record Track List

Side A

1. I Was Wrong
2. Something With You
3. I Don't Like Her
4. Life's Always Worth It
5. The Ballad

Side B

1. The Village
2. Pluto
3. Don't Hold Me
4. I Wanna Come Back To You
5. Smile For Me

Only Fools Love Again was released on September 26, 2025 on Reminder Records.