11L Radio NY International Takeover! Powerpopaholic will takeover the airwaves! Show time is LIVE 7:30 PM Eastern, this Sunday (7/26). We have new power pop hits, rare XTC, a deep dive on Todd Rundgren and rejected James Bond themes. Tune in!
Listen in on WBCQ (5.130 MHZ) or at the links below:
https://169.61.85.22/grits
http://splatterbox.us/rni
A very quick chat with Dressy Bessy led by songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist, Tammy Ealom and guitarist John Hill (The Apples in Stereo). We chat about BETTY BOOP’S BIRTHDAY BASH on August 8, host by actress, comedian, and musician Kate Micucci. We also get into the band’s newest material too. BTW, I checked and we are all wrong on Betty’s age. Betty Boop was created in 1930, making her 96 years old as of 2026.
Here is the new video from The Tammy Shine!
Mo Troper returns with one of his most personal and melodic albums yet, “Today I Played My Guitar And Sang.” We talk about the new record, songwriting, influences, recording at home, and the stories behind these sharp, hook-filled songs. If you’re a fan of power pop, Teenage Fanclub, Fountains of Wayne, or The Beach Boys, this conversation belongs on your watch list.
Let’s start great fresh cover of Bob Dylan’s “Subterranean Homesick Blues” courtesy of The High Frequencies with power pop queen Lisa Mychols continuing to churn out great music every year. Look out for the full Dylan comp on Jem Records. I am thrilled to find out that Bleu is back with a new album and ‘Sargeant Pepper Grinder’ boasts his signature power pop sound, “Start a Band” is a tribute to long time friend, engineer Ducky Carlisle. Minneapolis-based The Long Honeymoon has a very deliberate songwriting method, and it’s all from the heart. Check out “Beauty in Reality.” My Raining Stars is an under rated new wave styled pop band that also deserves attention, listen to “It Will Take Me a While.” Great song writing by Thierry Haliniak. I don’t know much about Twin Bloom, but I liked the Teenage Fanclub vibes of “Summer’s Gone.” L.A. punk poppers The Private Eye have a lot of balls naming a song “Can’t Buy Me Love by the Beatles” but these guys are worth staying for the rest. I liked “Necessity Problem” and “Mary Couldn’t Carry.” Enjoy!
Mo Troper returns with an album that turns personal struggles into some of his strongest songwriting yet. The cover features what appears to be a psychological evaluation for Asperger syndrome or ADD, setting the stage for an honest, self-examining collection of songs. Rather than becoming weighed down by introspection, Troper transforms anxiety, frustration, and self-doubt into irresistibly catchy power pop.
This is Troper at his most tuneful. His familiar bedroom pop aesthetic receives a fuller treatment thanks to producer Jon Titterington, who adds warmth and dimension without sacrificing the intimacy. Opener “The Best Seat In The House” bursts forward with layered jangling guitars and an irresistible bass line.”The Feast of Fancy” follows with crunchy guitars and a loose acoustic break that captures the feeling of everything threatening to come apart. The emotional high point is “When She Says My Name,” a gorgeous slice of sunshine pop that owes an obvious debt to Brian Wilson’s ‘Pet Sounds’ era. The lush harmonies and soaring horn arrangement make it one of Troper’s finest songs to date. Elsewhere, “Let’s Get Back To Music” sums up the album’s central idea. Music becomes the only dependable escape from an increasingly chaotic world. Yet Troper keeps his feet on the ground, delivering one of the album’s best lines, “To make the hits we take some hits along the way.”
Troper never hides behind clever lyrics, though. The bitterness of “Rotten” and “Moscow To The Ground” exposes genuine frustration, giving the album emotional weight beneath its bright melodies. With the Beach Boys-flavored “That Could Leave A Mark,” Troper proves once again that the sweetest hooks often carry the deepest bruises. ‘Today I Played My Guitar And Sang’ balances infectious melody with vulnerability, humor, and self-reflection. Highly Recommended.
—
The Blusterfields refuse to treat power pop as a formula. On ‘Thoughts & Prayers,’ the North Carolina band mixes jangle pop, punk, psychedelia, and classic guitar rock into a collection of songs driven by sharp melodies and even sharper opinions. The album title itself mocks the routine response of politicians to gun tragedies.
The swirling opener “Any More” and “Big Celebration” celebrates a future with our dark cynical present. Fans of Andy Partridge and XTC will recognize the strong harmonies, inventive guitar work, and hook-filled songwriting, while touches of garage rock and psychedelic textures give the album extra depth. Every arrangement feels purposeful, with ringing guitars, confident rhythms, and memorable vocal harmonies carrying the message. Highlights include the raging “Never Been to Detroit” and the ultra-catchy “Mr. Secretary.”
The Blusterfields never let the lyrics overwhelm the music, delivering songs that work whether you’re focused on the message or the melodies. From the grim scenario of an ICE raid in “Daddy’s Not Coming Home Tonight” or the takedown of the administration on “Here Come the Idiots,” it mostly works. Even listeners who don’t share the band’s politics will have a hard time ignoring the craftsmanship. Highly Recommended.